Hiring the Tithe Barn

Postlip's Tithe Barn is a working barn which we use for repair, maintenance and construction projects, and for storing things that need to be under cover.

It's also a wonderful space for people to enjoy wedding receptions.   We don't run it as a business, so it hasn't been tarted up or 'modernised' into mediocrity, but is still an authentic ancient building.   We don't try to compete with posher venues, but many people enjoy the ambience of a genuine medieval barn, so we hire it out four times a year. 

We haven't had a licence for civil wedding ceremonies until now, but from May 2013 you'll be able to get properly married in the barn as well as holding your reception there.  

We've minimised changes, but the barn does have ample power sockets, hot & cold running water and an adjacent lavatory block with disabled access.  The main space is about 30m x 9m, and there's a 5m square stage at one end.  We can set up a bar with the usual facilities at the other end. The barn will take about 150 people seated at tables, or about 100 if you also want adequate space for dancing.   There's level grassed parking nearby for about 50 cars, but many organisers bring people in and out by minibus so that they don't have to choose between drinking & driving.   We don't have facilities to cater for large parties, so people generally use outside caterers.

This was a Scottish wedding in 2008, with kilts, a piper, and people going 'Hooch!'

This is the barn set out for a humanist wedding ceremony and the reception that followed it (which then became an evening party and barn dance)

Weddings often spread out into Postlip's grounds, and the Top Terrace is a wonderful place for a glass or two of champagne on a sunny day

...and here comes the bride...

...to a rather romantically-ruined pavilion, very suitable for plighting troths and making vows

Community members put their own time into running events, and income from hiring the barn goes into maintaining Postlip (including the barn) so none of us is paid.  Because we live here we try to strike a balance between sharing Postlip with others and having time to enjoy it ourselves.  So we usually have only four weddings a year, and the barn's impossible to heat (people have tried!) so our season starts in May and ends in September.  The Beer Festival takes up the second half of July, and August isn't available because many of us are away and we can't provide the backup you deserve.   However, May, June, the first two weekends in July and the first two in September are usually possible so get in touch to explore what we can do.    Sorry, all dates in 2012 are already fully booked.

Wedding hires are for three days: one to set up, one for The Big Day, and one for you to clear up afterwards, and we'll charge £2150 for this in 2013.  If you also want to be married here in a civil ceremony then we'll charge £2550 for this in 2013 (You'll also need to pay the Registrar's statutory fees, which are about £400 paid to the Registry, not to us).   You get the barn, with its bar, stage, kitchenette and loos, the big grassy area down to the stream, the car park for around fifty cars (though we recommend you bring guests in by minibus) and two of us to help and advise.   You can also use the top terrace, woodland glade and pavilion in the pictures for the reception (the Registrar's rules don't let you get married there, unfortunately).   

People do seem to book early.   We're already fielding enquiries for 2013 & 2014, so contact us if you're interested in exploring what we can offer.

Here's a plan of the barn.