Venue Review 5

Venue Five:  Thyme at Southrop


I used www.weddingvenues.com a lot in my search for a barn in Gloucestershire.  I didn't spot Southrop Manor on my first look, but I'm so glad I checked back!
If exclusive is what you're looking for in a wedding venue, then this is the one for you.  Priced at roughly twice the amount of the previous 4 wedding venues and only holding one wedding a month, this is a secret, albeit pricey gem for those looking for a wow-venue!

When you first drive up to this beautiful barn in the grounds of Southrop Manor, you can't help but take in the beauty of the Cotswolds around you.  The barn has been refurbished to an amazing standard, and has so much charm.  Anthony who showed us around matched that charm and was so accommodating I wanted to book it there and then (despite it being out of our price range!)

This place has the added excellence of an on site cookery school.  You can also have an alfresco meal in the herb garden too which also backs on to the stables with the most beautiful horses.

There is also an on site cottage, along with a farm house that is just being finished up to provide even more accommodation.  By the summer another building that has just been purchased will become a spa!  What more could you ask for!  They also own the local pub, The Swan.  Give it another 2 years and I'm sure they'll own the whole village!

There is no way we could go for something as extravagant as this, but we wanted to have a nose around to see what a larger budget would get us.  And this place really didn't disappoint.

If you are looking for an exclusive venue with character, charm and beauty then this is the place for you!

For us poorer folk, we'll have to stick to going to the Southrop Summer Fete just so we can grace this stunning venue with our presence again!

http://www.thymeatsouthrop.co.uk/

Venue Review 4

Venue Four:  Winkworth Farm


For our second round of visits, we wanted to head back to our favourite venue so far, Stone Barn.  I thought it was sensible to look at another venue on the same day too just to see the differences and to see whether we got the same feeling from it as we did the first time.
This is why we booked a viewing of Winkworth Farm in Malmsbury.

We had thought about it before, but cancelled it out as Andy has previous photographed a wedding in the grounds of Winkworth (before the barn was refurbished last year) and he wasn't sure whether he wanted our wedding to be there as it may not be unique to us.

However, I thought this place was amazing!  It had a really warm feeling and had lots of lovely, quirky details to it.  For starters, we could marry outside in the garden which would be beautiful on a hot, summer's day (pictured left), but obviously this is not a guarantee with our British weather!  
I did love the fact that Winkworth have a farmhouse on site with 4 double bedrooms.  They also have a bridal suite next to the barn that is available to brides from 11am.  That was a big selling point for me as it was a gorgeous little cottage, perfect for your first night as husband and wife as well as for the bridal party to get ready in the morning.
There is also a 28 bedroom Best Western hotel 4 miles away for the rest of your guests!


Winkworth pride themselves on being a green venue.  Everything locally sourced, and every inch of the land used to it's max.  There are two outdoor areas, the one to the rear has a great space for BBQ or Hog Roast.  Catering is usually provided by Relish, William's Kitchen or Manor Events, all of whom are very reasonably priced.

Winkworth are very open to decoration, another thing I am looking for in our venue to help achieve our country fete theme.  I love the archery idea (pictured right)!


Looking at their calender, they are getting pretty booked up, so I better get thinking!!....


http://www.winkworthfarm.com

Venue Review 3

Venue Three:  The Stone Barn


Now, what can I say about this place?....  I absolutely love it!  
I found the website and tried so had to get an appointment, and finally nabbed one on New Years Eve.  When I looked at the pictures online, I knew that Andy would love the rustic look of it.

As you can see from the picture, this venue isn't your typically traditional barn!


This venue offers the beauty of the barn, which is licensed for ceremony's and the rustic, relaxed feel from the cow shed!
It was quite refreshing to come across something so different.  It is a fairly new venue and has only been holding weddings since summer 2010.  It is run by the team behind Cripps Barn who have a fantastic reputation for holding great weddings and have a superb catering company.


This is highlighted even more so by Stone Barn's 'God Grilla'!  

Reported in the Telegraph as the largest BBQ in the word!  It can cook 1000 sausages or 7 whole lambs in one go!  If that isn't a wow feature then I don't know what is!
http://goo.gl/DkOIS

I really want the beauty of a converted barn, but after looking through many blogs from rustic, American, big barn weddings, this barn definitely fits the overall bill!


I can imagine the space (pictured right) would look fantastic bathed in candle light for the ceremony and the acoustics being amazing for a band in the evening.


Will I be able to find another venue that would satisfy both Andy and myself, and bring together all our rustic, vintage ideas and our love of food?


http://www.stonebarnaldsworth.com/