Alpheton Hall Barns
Based on a weekday wedding in May.
Alpheton
Sudbury
CO10 9BL
Based on a weekday wedding in May.
- Exclusive use of the South (reception) Barn for 48 hrs (over three days).
- Outside spaces for your confetti, welcome drinks, garden games and pizza / evening food courtyard.
- Fitted caterers kitchen and bar. Couples choice of suppliers with no corkage payable.
- Access for the couple and their photographer / videographer to the wider grounds of Alpheton Hall.
- On the day venue coordination.
These items are not included in the price above but can be added for an additional fee:
- Hire of the West Barn or Woodland Ceremony Glade for your ceremony (small additional fee applies).
Please contact the venue for detailed prices.
Located close to Sudbury on the Suffolk / Essex border, the Barns are part of an ancient settlement at the end of a quiet, mile-long road. Yet they are easily accessible from the popular villages and market towns of Lavenham, Bury St Edmunds, and Long Melford.
Together with the Church of St Peter and St Paul, Alpheton (and Alpheton Hall), the Barns sit within approximately 25 acres of woodland and meadows surrounded by organic farmland, often with sheep grazing nearby.
The venue offers two distinctive options for your ceremony: the intimate West Barn, a dedicated indoor space, or the Woodland Ceremony Glade, available from May to September and with the comfort of the West Barn as a fallback in case of bad weather. Both settings can accommodate up to 200 guests but are equally suited to more intimate celebrations. For a traditional church wedding, the adjacent parish church of St Peter and St Paul, Alpheton, offers a picturesque alternative, subject to qualifying criteria.
Follow your Ceremony with confetti in the Confetti Arboretum, which includes a heart-shaped mown grass area surrounded by long grasses, wildflowers and young trees. Ideal for drone shots and any large-group photographs you may choose to take.
To begin the celebrations, you can entertain your guests with drinks and canapés in the Stackyard Wedding Garden, an enclosed grassed space with a brick terrace, tables, chairs, a charming bar cart, an oak pagoda, and an oak tree gazebo. These last two have power and lighting and are a popular spot for musicians and a beautiful backdrop for photographs. The garden provides plenty of space for garden games and other entertainment, whilst being safe for young guests.
The South Barn, the venue’s largest and oldest structure, is steeped in history with 10th-century origins. Its spacious interior comfortably accommodates wedding parties of 50 to 200 guests. The flexible layout allows room for dining, a bar, and dancing without rearranging furniture. Additional features include aisles suitable for photo booths or relaxation areas, vintage wooden ladders and iron hoops, all with hanging Edison lights that can be lowered for decoration with flowers, foliage, or ribbon. The barns have excellent acoustics, ideal for your live music or DJ, and plenty of space for dancing or even a Ceilidh.
Evening celebrations often extend to the Barn’s courtyard, which features a built-in pizza oven, outdoor kitchen, and cosy seating beneath twinkling fairy lights and a beautiful olive tree. Just add a few blankets and cushions to make it your own, or even better, hire a coffee or dessert truck to treat your guests and keep the party going.
While the venue does not offer accommodation, it is ideally located near Suffolk’s historic wool and silk-weaving towns, including Lavenham, Long Melford, and Bury St Edmunds, all within a 4-10 mile radius. These towns offer a range of hotels and B&Bs to suit all budgets and preferences. A curated list of recommendations is available to assist with your planning.
The Barns feature a fully equipped commercial kitchen and bar kitchen, offering flexibility to work with recommended caterers or approved external providers. The courtyard’s pizza oven is a popular choice for evening food, providing a relaxed setting between musical sets, and there is space for evening food or drinks trucks, too. The Barns are licensed for the sale of alcohol. Where couples wish to provide their own drink, no corkage is payable all day, and an open bar is permitted.
Choosing Alpheton Hall Barns supports the ongoing preservation of these Grade II listed buildings. Restorative works have prioritised natural and breathable materials, including seasoned oak, sheep wool insulation, and lime plaster. The venue’s commitment extends to planting new trees, hedges, and wildflowers each year to enrich the environment. Caterers are required to remove all food and service waste and recycle where possible, and couples and florists are encouraged to avoid floral foam and plastics. The venue has a store of wedding props, including vintage suitcases (for cards and presents), cake stands, easels, galvanised buckets for flowers, and directional signage, all available for couples to use at no additional cost to minimise décor waste.
Alpheton Hall Barns is surrounded by the historic wool towns of Lavenham and Long Melford, each boasting stunning architecture and cultural landmarks. Guests can explore National Trust properties, charming market towns, and museums.
The venue is easily reached via the A134, with ample on-site parking and provisions for coach access. Sudbury train station offers connections to London, and a taxi list is available for convenience.
The bridal party or frail guests can be dropped off immediately adjacent to the entrance to the South Barn or the Woodland Ceremony Glade (if required).
Free to attend, these events are an ideal opportunity for couples who are engaged and looking for a venue, as well as couples who have booked their...