The Compasses at Pattiswick

Hedgerows brimming with cow parsley, foxglove and honeysuckle lead you along picturesque country lanes to this hidden gem, set in beautiful surroundings with breathtaking views across the rural landscape of North Essex.

The Compasses wraps you in warmth, character and rustic charm from the minute you walk through the door. The well-designed interior with contemporary decoration and personal touches shows that the building, and everything in it, is loved and cared for.

Warm sandstone floors in the bar with new oak timbers and sage green sash windows give bright, clean light to complement the warmth from the fireplaces.

The gardens are spacious and well presented with large patios and stunning views across countryside to mature woodland. Pattiswick sunsets are famous for their beauty, and stunning pink skies set the perfect backdrop for beautiful wedding photos.

Ever accommodating, The Compasses creates bespoke packages for small and intimate gatherings, as well as larger events for up to 120 guests, with exclusive use available for all. Here, wedding arrangements are all about fitting in with you; ‘Your Venue, Your Vision, Your Very Special Day’ is the team’s motto, and together they have a wealth of experience to help any couple build a day to remember!

Couples have access to the Preparation Room from 10am, where the wedding party can get ready before the ceremony. There is room for plenty and the contemporary space boasts four mirrors and chairs for hair and makeup, as well as a comfy seating area and full length mirrors.

The ceremony area itself is comfortably large without feeling barn-like and retains a sense of intimacy. With traditional beams decked with greenery and wild flowers, offset with rustic bunting, the ceremony area is light and airy with views over the garden and fields.

Chiavari chairs, included in your venue fee, give this room a touch of classic chic and clever use of fabric curtains allows the space to adapt for each couple’s requirements. With no minimum numbers, the ceremony area suits a gathering of 15 just as much as it does 120 of your friends and family.

With the sun shining, the patio doors are open and the curtains flutter in the breeze as your guests spill out onto the spacious patios and garden area. With canapes and drinks being handed around, garden games entertain your guests, and the children traverse the exciting play area.

On less clement days, the log fires are lit and the traditional yet contemporary interiors offer plenty of space for your guests to mingle comfortably without feeling hemmed in.

However you choose to style your wedding, The Compasses provides a canvas that sits well as it is or takes decoration with your accent colours of choice.

With an extensive range of accommodation in the local area, The Compasses will provide you with a recommended list of where to stay.

This includes intimate hideaways for you to share your wedding night alone, houses that sleep 16 guests, perfect for the family to gather, bed and breakfasts for your aunties and uncles or good-value lodges for those who just need a pillow!

Whatever your accommodation needs, your dedicated wedding coordinator will work with you to make sure you get the best value from the places you choose.

Formerly a gastro pub, The Compasses has garnered a host of regional and national awards over the years, including Great British Pub of the Year, Family Pub of the Year, Best Restaurant in Essex, and Best Gastro Pub in Essex. Its entry in the Michelin Guide, amongst others, was a testament to the pride the team take in the quality of the food on offer.

With an impressive reputation for the personal touch and an understanding of the importance of flexibility, The Compasses has a range of catering options available from light finger buffets through to full-blown wedding day service. With each catering plan tailored to the couple, you will not be forced down the line of fixed price menus, formulaic food service or pre-prescribed dishes. This is about good food, cooked well and in the way you want.

Turning to the bar, there is a sense that, like everything else in this venue, it is cared for. Clean, bright fridges stock a varied range of soft drinks, and the bar features a selection of pumps, including Adnams beers and ciders. And, of course, the mandatory Guinness pump. A healthy selection of gins, rums and other spirits adorn the shelves and, encouragingly, the reasonable bar prices are displayed with pride.

Pattiswick is a typical rural English village, and, watching the sunset over the woods as you stand on the patio at The Compasses, you could be forgiven for believing you were hours from civilisation. In reality, the surrounding countryside hides and wealth of delightful villages brimming with history and beauty. The nearest village, Coggeshall, dates back to at least Saxon times, and the abbey stands testament to the importance of this village over the centuries.

Further afield, along the old Roman road that is now the A120, Colchester underlines the Roman influence in the area and leads further into the beauty of the Dedham Vale and Constable country.

Turning North brings the Suffolk border and equally stunning countryside, and just a short journey before we reach the market town of Sudbury and John Constable’s home.

Just a mile from the main A120 road running across East Anglia, and situated a mere 20 minutes from Chelmsford and Colchester, The Compasses is perfectly located for easy access to the South East and less than an hour by train from Central London.

The nearest train station is Kelvedon, with Braintree and Marks Tey only a few minutes further. Stansted Airport and the M11 are only 20 minutes away.