Circle of Wife

Newcastle's Moot Hall is the first court building in the country to be granted a licence to host civil weddings. "The Moot Hall has a grand old staircase," said Ian Cuthbertson, Newcastle Crown Court's accommodation manager. "You can imagine the bride sweeping up and down it, with the guests watching from the balcony." Clive Martin, head of marketing, said: "So many marriages end up in the courts, we thought we would redress the balance by having some start there." The first ceremony, on 23 September.