Our dry hire wedding venue option gives you the freedom to bring your own caterer and create a celebration that reflects your traditions, your culture and your vision, all within the historic setting of Blake Hall.
For couples who want complete freedom when planning their wedding, dry hire allows you to bring in your own professional caterer and design a day that is truly personal.
The venue, the barns, the gardens and the full support of the Blake Hall team are all yours. You just bring the caterer.
As with all weddings at Blake Hall, dry hire is on an exclusive use basis. Your guests will have the run of the stunning barns and surrounding gardens throughout the day, with the natural flow of the venue working beautifully whatever your plan.
The beautifully restored barns provide a wonderful canvas for the day:
The Hay Barn is licensed for indoor civil ceremonies.
The Saddlery offers a charming outdoor ceremony space beneath its historic canopy.
The Essex Barn, dating to the 17th century, provides the setting for dining and evening celebrations. Seating up to 150 guests for the wedding breakfast and licensed for up to 200 guests in the evening.
The Gardens – gorgeous colour for all seasons, formal lawns and ancient trees. Yours for drinks receptions and photography.
Dry hire doesn’t mean starting from scratch. Blake Hall provides a generous amount to make sure your day runs smoothly from the moment suppliers arrive.
Included with your booking: exclusive use of the venue; a dedicated wedding manager for your day and a morning coordinator to welcome suppliers and oversee preparations; use of the Potting Shed dressing room before the ceremony; access to the gardens for photography; tables, chairs, easels, cutlery, glasses and table linen; tables laid up by the Blake Hall team; a kitchen porter for dishwashing; waste facilities for your caterer; and complimentary use of Stable Cottage on the night of your wedding.
Dry hire gives you the freedom to choose a caterer who truly understands your menu requirements, whether that’s a specialist in South Asian cuisine or a particular style of feasting.
To maintain the high standards our couples and guests expect, all caterers must hold a 5-star food hygiene rating and carry appropriate insurance. They will also need to coordinate with the Blake Hall team ahead of your wedding day.
The evening bar service will be provided by our trusted partner Waters Edge Catering, ensuring smooth service throughout the celebration.
Dry hire is particularly popular for cultural weddings where the food, rituals and traditions of a celebration are deeply personal. From South Asian weddings to multi-faith ceremonies, this option means Blake Hall can be the setting for a day that feels completely and authentically yours.
With space for up to 150 guests during the day and up to 200 for the evening, the venue comfortably accommodates both intimate gatherings and lively, large-scale celebrations.
If you’re looking for a venue that gives you the freedom to create something truly personal, we would love to show you Blake Hall and talk through what’s possible.
