The Woodyard at Worstead Estate: A Brand New Norfolk Wedding Venue

Once upon a time a sawmill, The Woodyard, which includes a thatched barn and the surrounding outbuildings, has been lovingly restored with modern amenities fit to cater your every need whilst keeping true to the history of the building.

Ensconced in the North Norfolk countryside, the 16th Century Worstead Park forms the centrepiece of the estate, whilst the wider 2000-acre estate includes a working farm run by the Paterson family since the 1930s. The farm is carefully managed to provide a home for nature as well as to create a number of local products including Norfolk’s first Wagyu beef herd, ethically reared using sustainable farming methods.

Today, we’re getting to know The Woodyard, the wedding venue, in a little more detail…

What do you love most about the venue?

It’s challenging to pinpoint a single thing that we love the most as it has truly been a labour of love bringing the old sawmill back to life. Each area of The Woodyard has been renovated – offering modern amenities whilst still retaining original charming and rustic features. Both the Main Barn and the Mulberry Room are perfect to host ceremonies or wedding breakfasts.

They are both versatile depending on the couple’s style. The Mulberry Room, for example, is light and airy with high ceilings and lots of natural light. The room provides a romantic, whimsical backdrop to say, “I Do”. The Main Barn, however, has more of a rustic feel that will take your breath away with its vaulted ceiling, exposed timbers, weathered red brick walls and magnificent chandeliers – ideal for ceremonies or for a candlelit banquet.

Another feature that we love is the large terrace which overlooks the West lawn and stunning 400- year-old mulberry tree. guests can also meander down to the Lake for sundowners before heading back to The Woodyard for music, dancing and cake.

Can couples have an outdoor wedding at your venue?

Yes, they can. Worstead Park is licensed for outdoor weddings and duo ceremonies. We have the Lake Island, where couples can say their vows with a stunning rustic backdrop of trees, swans and wildlife. Brides can drift down the lake in a rowboat for that fairy tale entrance. Alternatively, couples can say their “I Dos” in the beautiful walled gardens of Worstead Park or on the West terrace overlooking the lawns as part of a duo ceremony. The choice is theirs.

What has influenced and inspired you in your décor?

We really wanted to keep The Woodyard’s original rustic charm, whilst offering couples all of the modern amenities they’d want in a wedding venue. We have used reclaimed timber throughout the venue, kept the original brick façades and walls exposed where possible and preserved the story of the building that has been entrenched in the estate for hundreds of years.

I suppose we really wanted to mix the old with the new, in a very subtle way. We have a beautiful bar area as well, with a long bar top for guests to gather and order their drinks as well as a large private kitchen for the chef and catering team. We wanted to develop a space that provided everything a couple would want to have on their big day and we are thrilled with how The Woodyard has turned out so far.

What is your favourite room and why?

The entire venue really is spectacular. The Main Barn, however, is really special. The original red brick walls with the vaulted timber ceiling and industrial chandeliers make for such a cosy vibe in what is quite a large space. Sympathetically threading the modern renovation work around the mosaic of history within the building has been challenging, but it’s really amazing to bring it all back to life again.

What can couples expect from a wedding at the woodyard?

Couples can expect the most premium, on-hand assistance from our incredible team of wedding managers, who will go above and beyond to ensure your day runs as smoothly as possible.

Couples can also expect the freedom to design the day they have always dreamt of. A place to blend really intimate memorable moments with wide spaces for spectacular celebrations.

From the décor to the choice of where they’d like to get married and host their wedding breakfast, dancing, cake cutting, etc – our couples have the choice to create the dream wedding they always envisioned. The estate is a naturally beautiful backdrop for photos and for guests to explore.

We have three luxury cottages on the estate sleeping a total of 25 guests, offering our couples and their guests the opportunity to stay together during the lead up to and on the weekend of the wedding.

All around, The Woodyard is an unforgettable venue for wedding and celebrations.