The Setting
Grangefields is an exclusive-use wedding venue on the historic Trusley Estate in Ashbourne, Derbyshire. Located at the end of a long, private road that affords stunning countryside views.
The Vibe
This delightful venue features a large red brick ceremony room with an oak roof, an open fire, candles lining the walls, and large candlelit chandeliers. The sheltered courtyard is also available as an outdoor ceremony area. You will find a large fire pit and barbeque area here.
The Dutch Barn is the venue’s main dining area and features an open kitchen with a BBQ, French rotisserie, and pizza oven. The open-plan kitchen allows guests to watch their food being prepared over the open flames and pizzas being spun late at night once an appetite has been worked up on the dance floor.
In the courtyard, there is a huge Argentinian ASADO, which can be used to cook on hot days or as a firepit in the cooler months.
The Setting
On the outskirts of the quaint village of Barton Bendish lies Abbey Barn, a breathtaking rural venue where innovative design meets picturesque surroundings. Purpose-built for weddings around an authentic courtyard, this remarkable venue is ideal for unforgettable celebrations and is exclusively yours.
The Vibe
Your day begins in the Preparation Room, a relaxing space where you and your nearest and dearest can get ready before your ceremony. It’s peaceful, private and full of natural light, the perfect place to primp and preen.
When tying the knot, you can choose between two incredible settings: indoors and outdoors. The South Barn is an elegant space with exposed oak beams and full-height windows that give views of the surrounding fields. The Courtyard Pavilion lets you say ‘I do’ in the great outdoors, taking in your idyllic location from the centre of Abbey Barn.
The Courtyard is an ideal space to enjoy with guests throughout the day. Enjoy cocktails and canapés as you mingle with your loved ones, and there’s plenty of seating amid the blooming flower beds for people to relax with a drink after your ceremony.
The North Barn provides a warm and inviting space for your wedding breakfast, with an authentic feel provided by the exposed brick walls and rafters. This welcoming setting can comfortably hold 110 guests with the option to extend into the South Barn for larger celebrations of up to 150.
Expect the very finest food and drink at Abbey Barn, and the team will help you tailor your wedding breakfast to your desires. The talented team at UNV Kitchen will bring your menu to life and delight you and your guests with delicious dishes!
And after the celebrations have drawn to a close, The Farmhouse provides the perfect place to unwind, with eight bedrooms for you and your guests to retire to. The Honeymoon Suite is an exquisitely styled and calming space, ideal for relaxing and letting the day’s events sink in.
The Setting
Welcome to Hampshire’s party palace!
Avington commands a delicate balance of luxury and tranquillity. The dramatic staterooms, bursting with character, transport Avington’s guests to the opulent days of royalty past, the lavish accommodation grounding them in majestic modernity.
Avington has a rich history from 961 AD, recorded in the Doomsday Book. Charles II is credited with Avington’s party reputation! Portraits of the Tudors and kings continue to adorn the walls of this incredible estate. After its occupation by the army during WWII, the Hickson family took on Avington and resided here until late 2020. Today, the parties continue…
Sitting proud, Avington’s dramatic entrance hall looks out onto the stunning West Lawn, home to their cattle and flock of sheep. Beyond this sits the lake, packed with wildlife, including the occasional swan. Running to the estate’s north is the captivating Itchen River, made crystal clear by its clay base.
Avington Estate is fully licensed to conduct indoor and outdoor ceremonies. There is flexibility for you and up to 180 guests to create memories in their staterooms and grounds.
They are close to Winchester, just an hour and a half from London, with close links to nearby rail stations and Southampton airport.
The Vibe
Dreamy. Lavish. Raucous.
Avington is quintessentially British, befitting of its royal history and riotous reputation. The estate boasts rolling green lawns, cattle, and expansive trees, the house sitting proudly as the focal point.
Feel the wind in your hair as you whistle down the lime tree avenue driveway in their classic Rolls-Royce or Bentley. For the adventurous couple, why not swoop into your wedding with a river arrival on their motorboat? However you wish to arrive, the beautiful amber brickwork of Avington and the grand alabastrine portico greets you warmly.
Guests immediately enter into the decadent King Charles Hall before the staterooms reveal themselves beyond. The Library captures a historic warmth with its crackling fire and books from floor to ceiling. Yet, once the sun drops and the shutters are drawn, the Library transforms into a clandestine party haven reminiscent of parties past.
On a warm afternoon with the English sun shining, there is no better place than the Orangery to celebrate your first meal as a married couple. Punctuated by two conservatories bursting with citrus trees, magnolia and jasmine, the Orangery is truly a ‘living’ room. Let your imagination run wild there; reflect your relationship in bold or delicate décor, as the Orangery adapts to your special day.
The grand staircase leads guests up to the Versailles Ballroom. Adorned with gilt plasterwork and stunning hand-painted ceilings, there is no grander place to say ‘I do‘. Avington’s best-kept secret sits behind a door at the end of the Ballroom – when you visit the house, be sure to look in The Red Drawing Room.
Couples can relish in exclusive use of Avington Park. Because why share?! This ensures an entirely private celebration, with their team focussing solely on your special day, and the house and grounds will be accessible to you and your guests only.
After the party ends, you can retreat to the Duchess Chandos Suite and soak it all in. The king-sized bed looks across the West Lawn towards the lake and provides the perfect place to wake up. There are facilities for a further 42 of your nearest and dearest to reside on the estate during your wedding celebrations.
Avington is a dry-hire venue, meaning your wedding will be a completely bespoke affair. The team have carefully selected a fine choice of caterers so the day can truly be tailored to you. Couples can always liaise with the Avington team to assemble an advantageous group of suppliers if they wish.
Undeniably special, with a touch of ultimate luxury, an Avington wedding is like no other. There is no denying that William Cobbett was right when he described Avington Park as ‘one of the prettiest places in the county’.