Wedding venues
These 36 venues in Essex, London, Hertfordshire, Kent, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire let you choose your own caterer, so you can bring me in to cook your wedding breakfast. Some allow it only on their dry-hire option, and I've said which. Each card shows what the venue's own website says about catering. Travel is included wherever the venue is.
I've listed these from the venues' published rules, checked on 8 and 9 October 2026. It isn't a recommendation of venues I've cooked at, and rules change, so always confirm catering with the venue before you book.
Illustration, not the venueBurnham-on-Crouch
Exclusive-use converted barn on a working farm near Burnham-on-Crouch, hired by the weekend, with courtyard, garden and lodging for 30.
Exclusive use by the weekend. The bar is run by the venue.
Venue website →
Illustration, not the venueGreat Braxted
Country estate near Witham with an Orangery ceremony room, walled garden and a Pavilion reception space for up to 350.
Own caterer on dry-hire bookings, with a catering kitchen. Otherwise the in-house team.
Venue website →
Illustration, not the venueBeauchamp Roding
Rural events room in the Rodings with a ceremony room, dining space for 100 and a fully equipped catering kitchen.
Equipped catering kitchen. Couples using their own caterer pay a refundable deposit.
Venue website →
Illustration, not the venueFeering
Dry-hire country house wedding venue near Feering with 13 bedrooms and space for celebrations of up to 220 guests.
Whole venue is dry hire, with kitchen facilities for your caterer.
Venue website →
Illustration, not the venueOngar
Exclusive-use historic barns and gardens near Ongar, with on-site cottages and stable accommodation for wedding parties.
Own caterer on dry-hire bookings; caterers need a 5-star food hygiene rating and insurance. Dry-hire dates are limited in 2026 (no Fridays except March, November and December), so check your date with the venue.
Venue website →
Illustration, not the venueCoggeshall
Exclusive-use farmhouse and barn wedding venue near Coggeshall with terrace bar, catering kitchen and optional overnight accommodation.
Own caterer on the dry-hire option, with full use of the catering kitchen. Otherwise the venue's preferred caterers.
Venue website →
Illustration, not the venueGreat Dunmow
Privately owned house and grounds near Great Dunmow used as a dry-hire marquee, sailcloth or tipi wedding site.
Marquee, sailcloth or tipi site, so I bring a field kitchen.
Venue website →
Illustration, not the venueHainault Forest
Barn built in 1856 and restored as a function room in Hainault Forest, with high ceilings and exposed beams, licensed for weddings.
External caterers welcome; licensed bar. Seats 70, so best for smaller weddings.
Venue website →
Illustration, not the venueIlford
Historic mansion with gardens on Emerson Road; several rooms, including the Drawing Room, are licensed for ceremonies.
External caterers welcome; full kitchen. Seated dining for 100.
Venue website →
Illustration, not the venueWoodford
Civic hall on Broomhill Road, opened in 1955, with a main hall, side hall, foyer, stage and grand piano, licensed for weddings.
External caterers welcome; full kitchen and servery on site.
Venue website →
Illustration, not the venueShoreditch
Industrial warehouse event studio in the Shoreditch Triangle, with two studios, a mezzanine lounge and a south-facing courtyard.
No kitchen beyond a wash-up kitchenette; caterers build their kitchen in the courtyard. Courtyard curfew 8pm, licence to midnight.
Venue website →
Illustration, not the venueClerkenwell
Historic almshouse on Charterhouse Square with the Great Hall, Great Chamber, Norfolk Cloister and Old Library; civil ceremonies in most rooms.
External caterers once agreed, £500 + VAT fee; they can't use the kitchens but space is given for a temporary kitchen. Events 8am to 10pm.
Venue website →
Illustration, not the venueKingston upon Thames
Charity-run venue in Kingston town centre whose conference room converts for wedding receptions, with an atrium and glass conservatory.
Partner caterer or your own; fully equipped kitchen with the atrium. Seats 200 banquet-style.
Venue website →
Illustration, not the venueTwickenham
Council-run hall at York House, Twickenham, with a stage, dressing rooms and grand piano, hired for weddings.
External caterers by Catering Waiver, sent 8 weeks before. No cooking facilities: a small prep kitchen only, and no gas, open flames or chafing gel, so I bring all-electric cooking kit, agreed with the venue in advance. Caterer brings linen, crockery and glassware. Licensed to 1am Fridays and Saturdays; music ends an hour before your booking does. Confirmed by the venue, 9 October 2026.
Venue website →
Illustration, not the venueWare
Jacobean-style country house hotel near Ware with Japanese and formal gardens, lawns for marquees and 78 bedrooms.
Own caterer on dry-hire bookings, which means exclusive use of the whole hotel.
Venue website →
Illustration, not the venueWatton-at-Stone
Private Hertfordshire estate offering exclusive-use marquee weddings in walled gardens or parkland, with accommodation for 20.
Marquee weddings using the estate's approved marquee suppliers; caterers approved by the venue. I bring a field kitchen.
Venue website →
Illustration, not the venueHatfield
Exclusive-use mansion house, gardens and Pavilion near Hatfield, operated as a dry-hire venue with 26 guest bedrooms.
Dry-hire venue with an equipped kitchen; caterers approved by the venue, deliveries on the day.
Venue website →
Illustration, not the venueHatfield
Historic estate in Hatfield offering the Tudor Old Palace, Riding School and Motor House as wedding spaces; no on-site bedrooms.
Own caterer on dry-hire bookings; you bring crockery, cutlery and linen (I supply these).
Venue website →
Illustration, not the venueGreat Offley
Country house near Hitchin with the Hester Ballroom, Manor House, rose garden and parkland; 16 bedrooms available.
Own caterer on the Dry Hire package; £300 waste fee for caterers.
Venue website →
Illustration, not the venueSevenoaks
Restored community centre in north Sevenoaks, run by the town council, hired dry for weddings with a large hall, small hall and garden.
Own caterers in the catering-standard kitchen; no outdoor cooking. Music to 11pm, empty by midnight.
Venue website →
Illustration, not the venueRochester
Council-run 1698 building on Rochester high street; the Queens Hall seats up to 270 for a banquet and the Princes Hall up to 80.
Outside caterers welcome for an extra £500; kitchen and servery. In-house bar.
Venue website →
Illustration, not the venueSevenoaks
Historic hillside gardens near Sevenoaks, hired dry for marquee weddings on the Walled Garden and marquee lawn.
Recommended supplier list, but off-list caterers allowed for a £300 fee and a site meeting. No kitchen: suppliers bring the catering tent and generator.
Venue website →
Illustration, not the venueChiddingstone Hoath
17th-century manor house near Edenbridge with six acres of gardens, three licensed ceremony spaces and a hall for the wedding breakfast.
Free choice of caterer; optional stretch tent above 100 day guests.
Venue website →
Illustration, not the venuePaddock Wood
Grade II listed barn and converted oast house at The Hop Farm, Paddock Wood, offering dry-hire and all-inclusive weddings for 40 to 150 guests.
Outside caterers subject to venue approval; catering prep area for approved caterers.
Venue website →
Illustration, not the venueMarkbeech
Family estate near Edenbridge with a converted Victorian threshing barn for up to 80 guests and a marquee lawn for up to 200.
Own caterer welcome; the Barn has a fully fitted catering kitchen. Caterers new to the venue are welcome; the venue charges the couple £250 + VAT for a newcomer caterer (to cover a night manager), and takes no commission from caterers. Lights out 11.30pm. Confirmed by the venue, 11 October 2026.
Venue website →
Illustration, not the venueBilsington
Restored medieval barn with a meadow at Court Lodge Farm, Bilsington, for up to 100 day guests and 150 in the evening.
Own professional caterer for a £650 facility fee after a site meeting; caterer removes food waste. In-house bar.
Venue website →
Illustration, not the venueHadleigh
Charity-run medieval guildhall and town hall complex in Hadleigh with several licensed rooms, Grand Hall and walled garden.
Kitchens available to outside caterers by arrangement.
Venue website →
Illustration, not the venueAlpheton
Family-owned historic barns near Sudbury with separate ceremony and reception barns set in 25 acres of meadow and woodland.
Caterers not on the venue's list need its approval; commercial kitchen on site.
Venue website →
Illustration, not the venueBury St Edmunds
Medieval guildhall in Bury St Edmunds town centre with Georgian Banqueting Hall, Court Room, walled garden and catering kitchen.
Own caterer allowed, with a £150 admin fee and the guildhall's kitchen; no fryers.
Venue website →
Illustration, not the venueCambridge
Victorian church and community centre near Cambridge station with a Church Hall for 250, an Upper Hall and a Lower Hall, hired for receptions.
Bring your own catering; wedding packages include all the kitchens. Hire 8am to 11pm. Grade II listed.
Venue website →
Illustration, not the venueChittering
Blank-canvas wedding pasture on a working farm between Ely and Cambridge, with a licensed oak pagoda for outdoor ceremonies, May to August.
Use any suppliers; pasture, power and water included, marquee not. No corkage. Non-staying guests leave by midnight.
Venue website →
Illustration, not the venueHiston
Manor house grounds three miles from Cambridge, hired dry for marquee or stretch-tent receptions on the lawns.
Welcomes caterers of your choice; fixed dry-hire fee, no corkage, no ceremony licence. Couple supplies the marquee. Takes five weddings a year and is fully booked for 2027.
Venue website →
Illustration, not the venueGamlingay
Three-acre meadow and open barn with a stretch tent outside Gamlingay, licensed for ceremonies, for up to 200 guests.
Free choice of caterer, no tied suppliers, no corkage; kitchenette and 3-phase power on site.
Venue website →
Illustration, not the venueWicken
Rustic barn and courtyard on a working farm in Wicken, each for about 150 guests, with pop-up glamping on site.
Bring your own caterer; barn hire includes tables, chairs and a staffed bar. Amplified music to 11pm.
Venue website →
Illustration, not the venueLittle Thetford
Private meadow-garden venue about a mile from Ely with a large tent on wooden centre poles and wooden tables and chairs for up to 150.
Choose your own caterer. The venue supplies a sink with water and electricity, but not for cooking: ovens run on Calor gas, and for a three-course sit-down the caterer sets up a hired-in kitchen behind the marquee, so I bring a field kitchen. Closed over winter; the marquee goes back up in spring for the 2027 season. Confirmed by the venue, 9 October 2026.
Venue website →
Illustration, not the venueNeedingworth
Riverside marina venue near St Ives with a permanent marquee seating 450 or more and a private island ceremony area.
Preferred list, but external caterers welcome; extensive kitchen facilities. Music licence to midnight.
Venue website →