What are the best wedding venues in Winchester?
Here in Winchester, Hampshire we’re super lucky to have so many fabulous wedding venues right on our doorstep. From luxurious country houses, rustic barns, light-filled glasshouses to stunning vineyards, there are just so many incredible places to tie the knot.
But where to start? Finding the right wedding venue for you shouldn’t be too hard, although, with so many options, it can get a bit overwhelming. So, to help you get inspired for your own wedding, I’ve rounded up some of my favourite wedding venues in Winchester and within a 30 mile radius of the city.
So grab a cuppa and enjoy browsing!
Wedding Venues in Winchester
Winchester Registry Office
Are you looking for a stylish and centrally located spot for your civil wedding in Winchester? Then look no further than Winchester Registry Office. Just a short walk from the hustle and bustle of the city centre, Winchester Registry Office is housed in the beautiful 19th century Castle Hill building. Oh, and guess what? It photographs like a dream plus there are loads of gorgeous spots nearby for photos afterwards!
Details
Capacity: Winchester Registry Office has 4 ceremony rooms. The Castle Room is the largest room with capacity for 42 guests. The Basing Room can seat 26 guests. The Westgate Room seats up to 16 guests. The Avalon Room is the smallest room with space for up to 10 guests.
Hire: Prices range from £281 during the week to £719 on Sundays and bank holidays. These prices are until end March 2024. From April 2024 to March 2025, prices range from £331 during the week to £785 on Sundays and bank holidays.
Location
Winchester Register Office, Castle Hill, Winchester SO23 8UH (in Winchester city centre)
More info
Winchester Registry Office website
Hotel du Vin, Winchester
Winchester’s Hotel du Vin is a short stroll from the historic centre, boasting gorgeous Georgian architecture, a beautiful terrace (perfect for Summer weddings), and a French-bistro inspired menu with seasonal ingredients. The hotel offers cosy and luxurious rooms, an exceptional wine list, and truly exceptional service. It’s a popular wedding reception venue in Winchester (and only a 5 minute walk from Winchester’s Registry Office), with the option to exclusively reserve the entire hotel for you and your guests. The hotel is also licensed for civil ceremonies.
Details
Capacity: Up to 92 guests seated in their private function rooms, or up to 150 in a courtyard marquee.
Hire: Prices start at £250 per head
Accommodation: 24 luxurious and uniquely-decorated ensuite rooms.
Location
Hotel du Vn, 14 Southgate St, Winchester SO23 9EF (in Winchester city centre)
More info
Winchester’s Hotel du Vin website
Winchester College
Winchester College, with its historic charm, stunning architecture, and expansive grounds, provides an enchanting backdrop for weddings. The College’s rich history and grandeur offer a unique ambiance, adding a touch of splendour to every ceremony. Whether exchanging vows in the breathtaking College Chapel – a reserved privilege for Old Wykehamists (former pupils) and those in the College community – or hosting a lavish reception in one of its magnificent halls, Winchester College presents a captivating setting for your wedding.
Details
Capacity: The college offers a variety of different spaces and can accommodate a maximum of 350 guests.
Hire: Reception prices range from £8,450 and £12,950 on bookings before 1st September 2024.
Location
Winchester College, College St, Winchester SO23 9NA (in Winchester city centre)
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Chesil House, Winchester
Nestled on the banks of the River Itchen in the heart of Winchester, Chesil House is a real hidden gem. What I love most about it has to be the stunning secluded gardens with colourful blooms and the stunning riverside views, just perfect for your outdoor ceremomy, reception drinks and photos. What is also great is that the Chesil Suite is tech-ready, so for indoor ceremonies you can blast your favourite tunes or show off a photo slideshow as you walk down the aisle, and livestream your ceremony for pals who can’t make it. They’ll even make a video recording for you to keep!
Details
Capacity: Chesil House can accommodate 20 to 100 guests.
Hire: Contact the venue for more information.
Location
Chesil House, 4 Chesil St, Winchester SO23 0HU (in Winchester city centre)
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The Great Hall, Winchester
If you’re looking for a historic building with wow-factor in the heart of the city, did you know that you can get married at Winchester’s medieval Great Hall, home to the world-famous Round Table? Exclusive use of The Hall would also give you and your guests access to the area outside The Hall, including the courtyard and the beautiful Queen Eleanor’s Garden. Hello photo ops!
Details
Capacity: 350 standing, 300 seated
Hire: Prices start at £3,600.
Location
The Great Hall, Castle Avenue, Winchester, SO23 8PJ (in Winchester city centre)
More Info
The Hospital of St Cross, Winchester
The Hospital of St Cross is one of Winchester’s hidden gems with it’s stunning Norman architecture and stained glass windows, making it a great option if you’re considering having a traditional church wedding. As well as the chapel, you can hire the Master’s Garden offering a gorgeous backdrop for your reception drinks and wedding photos afterwards. It’s also possible to put up a marquee for your reception on the bowling green.
Details
Couples with a genuine connection to St Cross and are living in the parish are given priority. But if you live outside the parish and are able to worship at the chapel for a time, then you are usually eligible to join the Electoral Roll which will then allow you to marry at the chapel.
Location
St Cross Hospital, St Cross Road, Winchester, SO23 9SD (1 miles from Winchester city centre)
More Info
The Hospital of St Cross website
Wedding Venues near Winchester
Lainston House Hotel
If you can’t decide whether you fancy your wedding at a gorgeous country manor house, a barn, or a ruined chapel, then Lainston House Hotel could be the perfect option as it has all three! And what’s more is that this oasis of luxury and tranquillity is only a 15 minute drive from Winchester centre, so all amenities, travel connections, accommodation options for your guests are right there. Plus, if that wasn’t enough already, Lainston House is also home to Hampshire’s Chef of the Year, so top notch nosh is guaranteed!
Details
Capacity: From 20-120 guests, with the additional option of having a marquee with a maximum of 350 guests.
Hire: prices start at £15,000 for exclusive use and at £4,000 for non-exclusive use weddings in 2024.
Accommodation: 50 luxury bedrooms and suites
Location
Lainstone House, Woodman Lane, Sparsholt, Winchester, SO21 2LT (4 miles from Winchester city centre)
More Info
The Barn at Avington
Set in the beautiful Hampshire countryside on the banks of the River Itchen, The Barn at Avington – just a 10 minute drive from Winchester – offers a tranquil location and a modern light space for a fantastic celebration! Perfect for couples who are looking for a blank canvas to make their own, and love festival vibes.
Details
Capacity: 160 standing, 120 seated.
Hire & Accommodation: Prices start at £8,235 for 100 day guests and an additional 50 evening guests for weddings in 2024-25. The hire price includes exclusive use of The Barn and grounds, the stunning riverside ceremony area, Event Manager, bar staff and ssecurity.
Location
The Barn at Avington, Park Farm, Avington, Hampshire, SO21 1BZ (6 miles from Winchester city centre)
More Info
The Grange, Northington
Does the idea of saying your vows on a romantic lakeside portico followed by dinner and dancing into the wee small hours among the crumbling walls of a grand old Hampshire country mansion sound like your idea of wedding heaven? Then be sure to take a look at The Grange! It could be just the place you’re looking for…
With its elegantly distressed interiors and classically romantic surroundings, The Grange isn’t a completely blank canvas, but neither is it a finished product, so you will have plenty of opportunity to flex your creativity and style the place exactly as you want it.
Details
Capacity: 200 standing or 100 seated. If you’re having a larger wedding, it’s also possible to put up a marquee in the grounds.
Hire: 3 day-hire (to allow for set-up and take-down) starts from £16,750 venue hire.
Accommodation: There’s plenty of accommodation on site, including a farmhouse sleeping 16, a 2-bedroomed apartment sleeping 5, a garden cottage sleeping 4, and Abbotstone Wood Camping is only a 5 minute drive away, ideal for guests.
Location
The Grange, Grange Park, Northington, Hampshire, SO24 9TG (10 miles from Winchester city centre)
More info
Houghton Lodge Gardens
As a big garden fan, Houghton Lodge Gardens is one of my favourite wedding venues near Winchester. Overlooking the River Test, with panoramic views over the water meadows, it offers a truly idyllic backdrop for your wedding. Choosing between the intimate riverside fishing hut, the walled garden conservatory, the light-filled Orangery, the circular Music Room hand-painted with blue skies, clouds and swallows, and the Chinese Dining Room with exotic birds and exuberant peony silk wallpaper, you’ll be totally wowed by this venue!
Details
Capacity: From 6 – 100 for your ceremony, and a maximum of 500 for your reception in the riverside marquee.
Hire: Prices start from £2,500 for your ceremony, and £3,500 for your reception.
Accommodation: There is room for 12 guests to sleep in the beautifully designed en-suite studio rooms, The Apple Rooms.
Location
Houghton Lodge Gardens, Houghton, Stockbridge, Hampshire, SO20 6LQ (11 miles from Winchester city centre)
More Info
Houghton Lodge Gardens website
The Clock Barn
With history and brimming with rustic charm in a countryside setting, The Clock Barn is a great venue for a relaxed and laid-back wedding. Just 20 mins drive from Winchester, The Barn is full of stunning details including high ceilings, exposed beams, oak pillars and wrought iron chandeliers. The addition of fairy lights also helps create a wonderfully romantic atmosphere for your special day.
Details
Capacity: 160 seated, 200 standing.
Hire: Prices from £2,500. Price includes exclusive use of the venue.
Accommodation: At the end of the night, you can escape to The Hayloft, a wonderfully luxurious honeymoon suite. As well as The Hayloft, The Clock Barn has 9 bedrooms in Tufton Warren Farmhouse, just a two minute walk from the wedding barn.
Location
The Clock Barn, Tufton Warren, Whitchurch, Hampshire, RG28 7RB (13 miles from Winchester city centre)
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New Place Hotel
New Place Hotel never fails to leave a lasting impression as you enter through its ornate wrought-iron gates, and definitely has that wow factor. This grade I listed manor house beautifully blends Tudor and Elizabethan influences with a contemporary touch. Designed by renowned architect Sir Edwin Lutyens as a wedding gift, it exudes sophistication and historical charm, making it a fitting venue for your wedding celebrations. And foodies will definitely love the chance to put their own stamp on the wedding breakfast menu in liaison with their head chef!
Details
Capacity: There are several options (and both indoor and outdoor ceremony options, with seating for 40-100 guests, or 150 evening party guests.
Hire: Prices range from £125 to £135 per head (2024 prices) for their all-inclusive wedding packages.
Accommodation: 111 ensuite rooms.
Location
New Place Hotel, Shirrell Heath, Southampton SO32 2JY (14 miles from Winchester city centre)
More info
Gilbert White’s House & Gardens
Love the idea of a rustic barn wedding venue in the Hampshire countryside? Then look no further than Gilbert White’s House & Gardens which boasts of gorgeous gardens, acres of parkland and views over meadows. The barn can seat 100 and 150 for your evening party. For larger weddings, there’s an option to hire a marquee or tipi in the grounds. Or for smaller, intimate parties, there are beautifully decorated rooms inside the 18th C house.
Details
Capacity: 30 – 150
Hire: Prices start at £6,500
Accommodation: Sleeps 6
Location
Gilbert White’s House, The Wakes, High Street, Selborne, Hampshire GU34 3JH (21 miles from Winchester city centre)
More Info
Gilbert White’s House & Gardens website
West Green House Gardens
Another stunning Hampshire garden wedding venue, West Green House Gardens offers a range of reception venue options depending on the size of your celebrations. Choose between the flower and natural-light filled Greenhouse seating up to 80 people (little decoration needed here!), the Orangery which is perfect for parties of up to 20, or a marquee pitched in the Lake field or Apple Orchard for larger celebrations. And of course, the gardens themselves will make a fabulous backdrop for your wedding photos!
Details
Capacity: 20 seated to 100+ in the marquee (depending on your choice of marquee)
Hire: Prices start at £600 for a wedding ceremony in the gardens.
Location
Thackham’s Lane, near Hartley Wintney, Hook, Hampshire, RG27 8JB (28 miles from Winchester city centre)
More Info
West Green House Gardens website
