Silchester Farm

Acres of open countryside, formal gardens, and an array of distinctive buildings surround Silchester Farm Estate. The estate offers exclusive access to couples and their guests, providing everything needed for an unforgettable rural wedding.

The estate’s features include:

• Formal gardens for quiet strolls or photographs.
• Expansive fields ideal for games, sunset photos, or peaceful walks.
• A charming kitchen garden and terrace, perfect for wandering.
• The Drift; a unique collection of hygge pyggies (people-sized pig arcs) for overnight stays.
• The Woodshed, designed for getting ready in comfort.

The estate is entirely yours for the duration of your celebration.

The venue has two licensed spaces to hold your ceremony or blessing. You can exchange vows beneath the oak beams of the 400-year-old Hampshire Threshing Barn, under strings of warm lights. Alternatively, if the weather is kind, you may marry lakeside, beneath open skies and beside a graceful weeping willow.

For those seeking a church ceremony, the flint-walled St Mary the Virgin Church, built on the site of a Roman temple, sits a short distance from the estate and offers a beautifully historic setting.

The estate offers a seamless flow of spaces designed for your reception. Following the ceremony, guests can enjoy drinks and canapés in The Old Hen House and its Mediterranean-style courtyard.

Later, the Cow Shed welcomes guests for dining and dancing. This barn features a picture window framing sunset views, a 7-metre-long cocktail bar, and an open-plan layout encouraging conversation and celebration. The venue also houses The Dutch Barn and an outdoor kitchen, perfect for informal gatherings.

For those seeking a touch of rustic whimsy, a vintage milk float and a classic Land Rover can host a cocktail hour.

Silchester Farm has onsite accommodation for up to 47 guests, offering a mix of suites and houses.

• The Drift – Nine hygge pyggies, each sleeping two guests.
• The Farmhouse – Seven bedrooms sleeping 15 guests, with space for sociable breakfasts or dinners.
• The Barn House – Five double rooms and one twin room, sleeping 12 guests.
• The Granary – A private, unplugged suite for two.

Every stay includes a breakfast prepared by the estate’s head chef, showcasing local produce.

Silchester Farm offers a relaxed, luxurious dining experience rooted in the best of British countryside food. The estate’s in-house chefs serve everything from formal seated meals to sharing platters and open-fire feasts.

The Cow Shed bar stretches over seven metres and stocks award-winning ‘Wingless Eagle’ spirits, locally brewed beers, fine wines, and unique selections. The bar team includes experienced mixologists and servers. Drinks can also be served from Ernie, the vintage milk float, or the estate’s classic Land Rover.

The venue takes its environmental impact seriously and has adopted a wide range of sustainable practices:

• Ingredients are foraged from the estate where possible.
• All fruit and garden waste is composted.
• Glass, cardboard, cans, and food waste are recycled.
• British sparkling wines and local beers are prioritised.
• Bars are plastic-free and use wheat stalk straws.
• Napkins are made from 100% recycled, compostable materials.
• Soft drinks in cans reduce carbon impact.
• Local and refillable toiletries are stocked in the accommodation.
• Furniture is vintage or pre-owned.
• Air source heat pumps heat and cool The Drift.
• Vodka is supplied in recyclable pouches, with saplings planted for every pouch purchased.
• The distillery refills gin bottles.
• Extra recycling schemes are offered to manage single-use event waste.
• Rare breed sheep help maintain the grounds.
• Local hiring practices reduce travel emissions.
• Native species are planted, and wildlife habitats are protected.
• Energy efficiency has been improved across buildings.
• Compostable coffee bags are used, and spent grounds are returned to the kitchen garden.
• Guests are encouraged to car share.
• Toilet rolls are supplied by ‘Who Gives A Crap’.

The estate continually reviews and improves its sustainability policies to minimise its footprint.

Silchester Farm is located in the village of Silchester, five miles north of Basingstoke and nine miles southwest of Reading. It is close to both the M3 and M4 motorways and has convenient train links to London, the South Coast, and the North.

The village is known for the Roman town of Calleva Atrebatum, which includes Britain’s best-preserved Roman wall and one of the country’s earliest Christian churches. The village pub overlooks the green and is within walking distance of the estate. Several scenic walking routes are also accessible directly from the farm.