The Definitive Guide to the Best Wedding Venues In Brighton and Sussex in 2024

 

I’ve been shooting weddings in and around Brighton and Sussex for more than 10 years, so I’ve been there and done that for you so I can give you the best recommendations for the best wedding venues in Sussex.

I love the ease and beauty of countryside venues as well as the urban vibes of cool city spots, so I’ve included everything from beachfront bars, to working farms, posh hotels, big open art spaces and cosy pubs in our awesome list of the very best wedding venues in Sussex (and a couple outside just for options!), as well as my fave city centre wedding venues in Brighton.

I’ve divided up the venues by type – from woodland to farms to pubs and even quirky options. Scroll on and take your pick! There are also examples from weddings I’ve shot linked under each one to give you a good idea of how the venue will look in your wedding photos. 

 

Woodland wedding venues in Sussex

Wilderness Wood

My fave wedding venue in Sussex, and where I’d probably get married myself. It’s got woods, an outdoor cookout with rustic dining area, picnic benches, and the best bit – a legal wedding ceremony treehouse in the woods with a clearing for chairs or haybales, which doubles up as a stage for a band later on in the evening, for dancing in the moonlight surrounded by fairy lights. You can also camp at Wilderness in the field, and go for a head-clearing walk the next day.

Wilderness Wood wedding Inspo

Heather and Scott’s marquee wedding

Chloe and Scott’s treehouse wedding

Location

Hadlow Down, East Sussex

Prices

Prices

More info

https://www.wildernesswood.org/

Hawthbush Farm/Foxtail Weddings

So much to love – the light bright barn that’s a blank canvas for creative wedding receptions; the dappled woodland ceremony clearing; the firepit; the hot tub in the woods; the endless fields for sunset photos – Hawthbush Farm run by Foxtail weddings is perfect for DIY barn weddings.

Hawthbush Farm wedding inspo

Khara and Duncan woodland ceremony

Lucy and Rory

Lisa and Dean – wedding film

Location

Heathfield, East Sussex

Yoghurt Rooms

A gorgeous barn with camping and glamping fields and a woodland you can get married in. The venue is down a long track of a residential street, and is also on a hiking trail, which is fun seeing hikers come through! You could even walk the trail yourself to have a look at the venue!

It had a massive field for hanging out in and doing photos, as well as a cute garden by the owner’s house.

Location

East Grinstead

 

Barn/Farm wedding venues in Sussex

Chilley Farm

The venue can hold up to 80 seated guests, and up to 200 standing guests, with the potential for more if you add a marquee. It has a playground which is really fun, and a river running alongside the grassy area, and you can upgrade to include the massive camping field and stay overnight. The barn itself is super cosy, and has a patio outside, if you fancy an outdoor dancefloor, or speeches outside.

Chilley Farm wedding inspo

Matt and Becky

Location

Near Hailsham in the middle of the countryside, East Sussex

Laughton Barns

A barn with a massive field and outdoor terrace. There’s literally acres of land for games and outdoor activities, plus a patioed terrace for drinks reception. Perfect for a festival wedding!

Laughton Barns wedding inspo

Bree and Frankie

Location

Laughton, East Sussex

 

Hookhouse Farm

A barn with a cute garden for outdoor ceremonies. A working farm so you can say hello to the cows too!

Hookhouse Farm wedding inspo

Rosie and Dave

Location

Redhill

The Sussex Barn

The Sussex Barn is a beautiful 400 year old grade 2 listed oak framed barn situated on a working farm in the parish of Hellingly. With countryside views and stunning beams.

Location

Hellingly

 

swallows oast venue outside

Swallows Oast

Swallows Oast is a beautiful barn in Wadhurst, with a marquee and courtyard, plus lovely fields and woods for photos.

Swallows Oast Wedding Inspo

Sarah and Joe’s outdoor ceremony

Location

Wadhurst

 

Blackstock Country Estate

Blackstock is a barn venue in the countryside with a courtyard leading onto acres of land, complete with animals! They’ll even drive you around in a buggy if you don’t fancy walking down to the ponds for photos. Plus there’s a rose garden, two barns (one for the ceremony/party and one for dinner and speeches), a getting ready room with the best light (ok that’s just exciting for me) and the nicest people running the place. They don’t allow confetti outside though, but you can have it indoors!

Blackstock wedding inspo:

Kayleigh and Matt – June wedding with dinner in the Granary

Maria and Kevin – sunny wedding with singing waiters

Clare and David – rainy wedding in August with dinner in the Tudor Barn

Location

Hellingly BN27 4HF

Four Oaks Farm

A lake-side setting where you can put up a marquee or tipi and get married by the lake.

Four Oaks inspo

Al and Ruth

Location

Ditchling, East Sussex

 

Alfriston Gardens

A barn and marquee setup in a beautiful garden setting.

Location

Alfriston, East Sussex

 

bride and groom confetti during ceremony in a field at outdoor farm wedding

Rumbolds Farm

A barn for dinner and partying and a big garden for an outdoor ceremony and lawn games.

Rumbolds Farm inspo

Emily and Steve Glasto Wedding

Location

West Sussex/Surrey near Haslemere

 

Secret Barn

Secret Barn is such a chilled, lovely venue. It’s got an orchard for the ceremony, a barn for dinner, a small lawn for drinks and a huge field for camping. Plus the people who run it are florists and caterers so that’s three jobs in one!

Secret Barn wedding inspo:

Liz and Luc Wedding

Location

In West Sussex near Steyning

More info

https://petalandfeast.co.uk/the-secret-barn

Hendall Manor Barns

A stunning garden location with a barn for the ceremony and party, and a sunny terrace and lawn for the reception – perfect for lawn games or a sports day theme! The lawn is enclosed by the barn, so it’s super cosy, and there’s loads of space indoors to hang out too.

Hendall Barns inspo:

Livi and Alex’s Summer Hendall Wedding

Location

Uckfield, East Sussex

 

Pangdean Barn

Pangdean is a perfect English garden It has a family-run vibe and a homespun feel. The barn is converted into a huge venue with a bar, and a separate room with sofas for quiet time. You can even legally get married outside in the garden under an apple tree, which is proper English country garden style stuff when the sun’s out.

The Old Barn comfortably seats up to 190 people for a ceremony or for a meal.

Pangdean wedding inspo:

Venue showcase

Jess and Ben’s apple tree wedding

Juliette and Ross

Location

On the South Downs

More info

pangdean.com

confetti over the bride and groom outside the venue upwaltham barns

Upwaltham Barns

Two barns – one for the ceremony and one for dinner, so you don’t have to wait for the room to get turned around! Beautiful gardens for summery weddings. 

Upwaltham Barns inspo

Katie and Luke

Location

Petworth, West Sussex

 

Field/garden wedding venues in Sussex

Frickley Lake

A lakeside festival wedding venue with a marquee and an onsite cabin right on the water to stay the night.

Sim and Jay’s Frickley Lake wedding

Location

Battle

 

Crockstead Fields

A festival wedding dream! You can have a marquee and use the field to have tipis, cosy seating areas and top it off with a giant sign to make the festival wedding vibe complete. 

Location

Uckfield, East Sussex

 

A bride and groom are surrounded by confetti at their wedding.

The Party Field

A huge field, perfect for festival weddings. It’s just outside Lewes, and has parking, room for tents and glamping tipis, and works with regular suppliers who can supply you with a massive tipi and event coordination, so all the hard work’s done for you.

Location

Lewes, East Sussex

 

Pub/hotel wedding venues in Brighton and Sussex

Beak Taproom

A taproom on an industrial estate in Lewes. It doesn’t look like anything special when it’s not all dressed up, but throw some festoon lights and bunting up and it’s a super cosy industrial venue that’s perfect for low-key wedding parties.

Beak Taproom wedding inspo

Beak brewery taproom wedding

Location

Lewes

More info

https://beakbrewery.com/pages/taproom

Buxted Park Hotel

A grand hotel set in a huge parkland.

Location

Buxted

 

Ginger Pig

A trendy pub in Hove, not far from the beach. Has a back room for a private small dinner. Fab food!

Location

Hove (actually)

 

The Bell in Ticehurst

The Bell is Ticehurst is one of the coolest pub wedding venues in East Sussex. They have all sorts of weird stuff, it’s awesome. Plus it has a lovely back garden and a really cool backyard den you can stay overnight in.

Location

Wadhurst

Oh So Social

A free venue literally on the beach!

Location

Brighton

Prices

Free

 

Broyle Place

Broyle Place is a fab country house where you can get married in the garden and party in the marquee. The best thing? Your guests can glamp overnight!

Location

Ringmer, East Sussex

Village hall wedding venues in Sussex

Battle Memorial Hall

The memorial hall in Battle is perfect for DIY weddings. It’s on the high street and doesn’t have outside space so is perfect for rainy or winter weddings.

Battle Memorial Hall wedding inspo:

Battle Memorial Hall Wedding

Location

Battle

Queen's Hall Cuckfield

A village hall with a cute garden for a proper summer’s day picnic vibe wedding.

Location

Cuckfield

 

village hall wedding handfasting

Iford Village Hall

A blank canvas village hall with the option to put up a marquee. It also has a decent lawn for games and an outdoor ceremony under the big tree. Proper DIY venue, with a kitchen and room for a food truck outside too.

Location

Iford, Lewes 

Unusual wedding venues in Brighton and Sussex

Sussex Uni Meeting House

A super quirky venue in the Falmer campus of Sussex Uni. It’s got a chapel with rainbow-coloured walls, which makes for some cool photos. 

Sussex Uni Meeting House wedding inspo:

Sussex Uni Meeting House Wedding

Location

Falmer

Info:

https://www.sussex.ac.uk/chaplaincy/services/services

brighton fabrica wedding guests

Fabrica

An old church and now art space, it has incredible light and is a blank canvas for weddings.

Location

Brighton

 

Brighton bandstand

Perfect for an outdoor beach ceremony.

Location

Brighton seafront 

Wonderland Party Barn

An Airbnb with all sorts of quirky accommodation from an airstream to a dome.

Location

Henfield, Sussex

More info

Airbnb link to venue

 

Tasha and George's Wood Farm Everdon wedding, captured the bride and groom with their dogs in front of a VW bus.

Lewes Castle

Great for epic ceremonies – if you can hike up all the steps to get to the top!

Location

Lewes

 

I hope this guide to the best alternative wedding venues in Brighton and Sussex has inspired you for your wedding?

 

 

 

If you’re planning your wedding, and need awesome Brighton wedding photographers, check out our work and get in touch!