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About

On Hitched.co.uk since 2022

Last update: May 2025

Folly Farm is an environmentally sustainable, countryside wedding venue nestled in the heart of a 250-acre nature reserve in Pensford, Bristol, yet conveniently located just 10 miles from Bristol and Bath. As one of Somerset's hidden gems, 'Folly' as it is affectionately known, offers peaceful seclusion and the most breath-taking views across Chew Valley Lake and the Mendip Hills; an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Facilities and Capacity

Surrounded by wildlife and ancient woodlands, Folly Farm is perfect in every season. From the carpets of spring bluebells and wildflower meadows of summer to the golden tones of autumn and the dramatic winter skies, the backdrop for your day is sure to be beautiful. Couples can choose to hold their ceremony in the charming oak-beamed converted barn, the traditional Old Dairy, or the glass atrium filled with natural light. Alternatively, you can choose to say 'I do' outside with a gorgeous ceremony overlooking the Chew Valley Lake, or a blessing in the orchard. The 20 farmhouse-style bedrooms accommodate up to 56 guests and, in the warmer months, additional guests have the option of camping in the paddock. The happy couple can spend the first night of married life in the venue's spacious bridal suite or choose to hire a bell tent for a night of glamping. For receptions, the property can hold up to 150 evening guests. There is also plenty of space for marquees, and the team can connect you with their list of suppliers.

Services Offered

Folly Farm offers exclusive use of the entire venue, including all of the 18th-century farm buildings, for a completely private celebration. Soon-to-be-weds are welcome to invite family and friends the day before the wedding and share the fun of decorating and personalising the venue, followed by a pre-wedding evening meal. Delicious, seasonal food is in abundance and is often picked from the kitchen garden. The recommended caterers will expertly tailor menus to suit every budget and taste. Food is incredibly important to wedding celebrations, so couples can choose from a traditional three-course meal, relaxed platters, a hog-roast and everything in between. Owned and managed by Avon Wildlife Trust, all profits are gift-aided back to the Trust to protect local wildlife and inspire people about the importance and benefits of nature. Your wedding will not only be an incredible day, but will leave an incredible legacy.

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Frequently asked questions

Venue type:

In the country
Unusual weddings
Historic
Woodland and festival
Barn
Outdoor license
Unique weddings

Ceremony options:

Civil ceremony licence

Dining options:

Seated meal facilities
Alcohol licence
Buffet meal facilities
In-house catering

Evening entertainment:

Marquee available
Dance floor
Entertainment licence
Live band facilities
Evening reception facilities
DJ facilities

Overnight accommodation:

Overnight accommodation for wedding couple
Overnight accommodation for guests

Venue staff assistance:

Wedding coordinator

Venue leisure facilities:

Hairdresser

Other features:

Exclusive use
Accessible facilities
Car parking
Confetti permitted
illustration notebook

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Reviews for Folly Farm Centre

C
Charlotte Sent on 27/05/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Incredible venue

I cannot rate Folly Farm enough. We had our wedding there on 24th May 2025. It is such a beautiful location for a wedding and the woodland is also a lovely place to walk around and have photos. The staff at the venue were amazing and really flexible, they did everything they could to ensure that the weekend ran smoothly.

Even though the weather wasn't perfect, we were still able to have the ceremony outside and enjoy toasting marshmallows around the firepit in the evening. The bar was also really reasonable and much cheaper for drinks than our local pubs. The cocktails were fab too!

The food provided by their caters was also incredible! All of the guests enjoyed the food and the portion sizes were fantastic! The rooms were great and a good size for guests staying. It was brilliant to have the venue over a whole weekend too as it was so relaxed.

All in all, and amazing wedding venue that provides everything!
Jenny
Jenny Sent on 30/04/2025
5 out of 5 rating

A Special Wedding Venue: Folly Farm

We got married a week ago at Folly Farm and can honestly say it was just the best weekend we've ever had. It just such special place for a special weekend.

We chose Folly Farm back in January 2024 after looking at several other venues in the local area. One feature that stood out to us is the venue can be booked all the way from Friday afternoon to Sunday, and that we could have lots of guests stay onsite for the weekend with us. We loved being able to start our wedding informally on the friday night with our nearest and dearest and carry on the party after the main wedding finished on the Saturday night. We have had no regrets from our choice whatsoever!

The food from Thyme Chef (the venue's catering company) was excellent, championing locally sourced food done well, and it has been such a highlight from guests. We loved our tasting night and choosing the wines for our wedding.

Over the last year, Matt and the team were attentive and gave us helpful prompts but also allowed us time and space to plan in our own way. We had open communication throughout the process via face to face meetings at the venue, email and calls. We felt that our wedding was special and that our choices were central to how the team worked with us.

As the wedding got closer we had lots of time to work through more of the specific details on how we wanted our day to flow. Matt took the time to really get to know us and supported us to achieve everything that we wanted from our wedding. All of that shone through on the day!

On the wedding day itself, Matt, Jason and the rest of the team setup all the venue spaces we had chosen for the day which included getting married in the courtyard outside and a marquee that attached next to the barn, which we hired to cater for our larger numbers. We had a ceilidh in the barn followed by a disco, and we ended the night with a silent disco and fire pit in the courtyard. Matt and the team were so prepared and linked with all the vendors making it a seamless transition between different parts of the day. The team took a lot of time to get the little things right and used intuition as well linking with us.

The venue itself is just beautiful. Our guests loved being able to wander around the nature reserve and venue and explore. There was lots of opportunity to make it our own and bring creativity whilst also enjoying the rustic beauty of the nature reserve setting and view over Chew Valley and Blagdon lake. It was just stunning!

We would 100% recommend getting married at Folly Farm!
S
Sergio Sent on 17/04/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Couldn't have asked for more

We got married at Folly Farm and honestly had the most amazing experience. From the moment we arrived to the moment we left, everything ran so smoothly – and that’s entirely thanks to Matt. He was absolutely brilliant throughout the whole planning process and over the wedding weekend itself. So calm, organised, and supportive – we didn’t have to worry about a thing and could just enjoy the day.
All of our guests commented on how lovely the venue was and how much they enjoyed their stay. The setting is beautiful, the accommodation was really comfortable, the staff friendly and proactive, and the whole place has such a relaxed and special feel to it. The food was absolutely delicious too – we had so many compliments.
Overall, we felt it was great value for money for the quality of the experience, and we’re so happy we chose Folly Farm. Huge thanks again to Matt and the team for making our wedding everything we dreamed it would be!
E
Eleanor Sent on 18/04/2025
4.8 out of 5 rating

April 2025 wedding

We recently got married at Folly farm. Our entire weekend from the Friday through Sunday was extremely smooth. Matt and his team were professional and accommodating throughout. Because of this, my husband and I felt very little stress throughout the entire weekend, making for a very enjoyable wedding! The venue is beautiful, all of our guests commented on this. The food was delicious - we have no faults with anything. We would highly recommend getting married here. Thank you so much to Matt and all the Folly farm staff
S
Squire Sent on 18/04/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Wonderful Wedding at Folly Farm

We truly couldn't have asked for a more perfect day. The team at Folly Farm were incredibly helpful, supportive, and attentive throughout the entire wedding experience. The venue is absolutely stunning; so many of our guests commented on how beautiful and unique it was. The staff on the day were amazing—friendly, efficient, and made everything run like clockwork. The food was simply outstanding—every dish was delicious. The accommodation was equally impressive: the rooms were impeccably clean, comfortable, and provided the perfect place for our guests to stay. Thank you
G
Goldsmith Sent on 08/04/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Folly Farm go above and beyond

Matt, Claire and all of the folly team were incredible from start to finish. They were so helpful and every detail was covered and everything ran seamlessly on the day, even when things slightly over ran, the whole team adapted and kept everything professional. The food was also delicious, we wanted everything on the menu. We couldn’t recommend this venue enough! The fact you have the opportunity to have a whole kitchen to yourself the night before and for breakfast to host all of your family makes this venue stand out from all the others as we managed to spend quality time with all of our guests. Thanks for making the experience and the day so special for us!
E
Ellie Sent on 03/04/2025
5 out of 5 rating

The perfect weekend at the perfect venue

We had our wedding at Folly farm a couple of weekends ago and could recommend this venue more.

Firstly what attracted us to Folly Farm was the transparency of the entire wedding set-up and pricing they offer on their website, as we were on a bit of a budget and didn't want costs to spiral. During the entire planning process, from initial booking to the final chat the day before, Matt and Clare were incredibly helpful and looked after us really well. We opted to have the venue for two nights Friday - Saturday so we had a nice relaxed dinner with the nearest and dearest. For this meal, Folly Farm were really flexible as we were able to self-cater our own dinner (ordered buffet food from a supermarket, which got delivered right to the kitchen!) and alcohol. This is a fantastic option for those on a budget who still want to extend the celebrations. As the venue has plenty of lovely accommodation we were able to invite everyone we wanted to stay for both nights. I think this made the guests feel a lot more relaxed as they weren't having to cope with travel stress on the morning of the big day.

The day itself was perfect. Folly Farm were super flexible - we had a bit of uncertainty around the weather so were expecting to have the ceremony inside, however at the last minute we were able to change our minds and have it outside. We were able to set up our own piano for the ceremony music, and all the guests commented on how beautiful the views were. What I really liked about this as well was having the bridal suite so close to the main ceremony / bar space, which meant I was able to escape whenever I needed for a breather and didn't need to worry too much about carrying lots of things around with me. After the ceremony itself and a drinks reception, we were able to sneak off for a short walk around the nature reserve itself for some beautiful nature shots with the photographer, which I can't wait to see.

The wedding breakfast itself was absolutely exceptional. I (and the same for a lot of my guests) have never tasted bread quite so good as what they make here! One of the reasons we chose Folly Farm was the extent of vegetarian food on the menu. As two vegetarians ourselves we wanted to offer our guests all-veggie options, and we were so surprised by how many choices we could pick from!

In the evening, we had the fire pit lit which was a wonderful addition for those who didn't fancy dancing at the disco, and, around this fire pit, we were able to wind down together into the night (we stayed up till 3am!). Although the bar was closed at this point, we were still able to access the venue as late as we wanted, there was no hard cut-off or any need to worry about packing down.

The only downsides I can even stretch to think of were that there are a couple of rooms in the Farmhouse that are not en-suite, but considering how much accommodation was provided and how much we paid for it, this felt more than fair enough. I would also say that for us, we think around 60 guests was the perfect number. If we'd had a lot more it could have potentially felt a little more cramped.

Ultimately, Folly Farm has given us the perfect day. I've had lots of friends and family mention this is one of their favourite weddings they've been to. It was relaxed throughout, a truly beautiful venue, somewhere you can feel really close to nature. I would honestly have expected a venue of this quality to be charging double what they are, and to be a lot stricter on how we used the place! The day itself we had absolutely no problems either, and Matt did everything he could to make sure we all felt at ease. This venue really is an absolute gem, and the team who work here are superstars. I don't think anyone could do better!
H
Harriet Sent on 09/03/2025
4.8 out of 5 rating

Our Perfect Spring Wedding

We recently got married at folly farm and had the perfect day all thanks to the wonderful team at Folly Farm! The venue was perfect for a relaxed morning getting ready and the breakfast provided was delicious. It was great to be able to get everyone together the night before the wedding too as it took the pressure off of the wedding day. The venue was perfect and looked so beautiful with minimal decoration, but the highlight of the day really was the food - delicious and plentiful! The day ran smoothly and Matt, Jason and the team were always on hand for any questions and also were available to provide any advice around set up, order of the day ect. We found the team at folly farm to be professional, helpful and personable and are really pleased we chose this venue!
Naomi
Naomi Sent on 25/02/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Unbelievably warm welcome

We would utterly recommend Folly Farm if you are looking to get married somewhere beautiful, with outdoor options, which also supports conservation and charitable outcomes.... We held a winter wedding with a 'rustic' vibe, at rather short notice due to family health issues. The team went totally above and beyond to help meet every access need and facilitate the event we hoped for. We were lucky to get a dreamy sunset too! What a professional and yet deeply kind team to have the pleasure to work with. Thank you!!
Chris
Chris Sent on 28/11/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Book here for your wedding

Right from the get go just a few months back the staff were welcoming, friendly and seemed really interested in our ideas and wanted to help. We did quite a lot ourselves so went to measure things a few times and they were all so helpful. It didnt matter about Storm Bert at all. The inside spaces were perfect. We had a band in Atrium Friday eve, used the kitchen and hotplate to cook our guests a full breakfast. The professionalism and speed and efficiency of the staff to turn the main room around was astonishing and when we asked for some changes they were accommodating and helpful yet again. The food was delicious and the service impeccable. We went in to clean up the next morning and staff were all over it doing a fantastic job. All our guests loved their rooms some even braved the storm and went for a hike before the event! loved it
Samuel
Samuel Sent on 24/10/2024
5 out of 5 rating

All round amazing

We had our wedding at Folly Farm Centre, and it was truly the most perfect day. From start to finish, the staff went above and beyond to make everything run smoothly. Their organisation and assistance both leading up to the day and during the event were impeccable, putting us at ease and allowing us to enjoy every moment. The venue itself is absolutely stunning, with its picturesque surroundings adding a magical touch to our celebration.

The food – where do we start? It was simply gorgeous! Every guest raved about how delicious it was, and it exceeded all our expectations. The team at Folly Farm Centre made the entire experience unforgettable, and we couldn’t have asked for more. We highly recommend them to anyone looking for a beautiful, well-run, and memorable wedding venue
S
Susie Sent on 23/09/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Wedding at Folly Farm

We had our wedding here this past weekend and I cannot recommend this venue enough! Nothing was too much for the staff and they were there the entire weekend to lend a helping hand.
It is also very rare to find somewhere that offers the venue from the Friday but you are able to cook for yourself and use the whole kitchen for this. This set up the weekend amazingly! It’s also rare to find somewhere that has the type of accommodation provided by Folly. The different room types meant all family and friends group could be organised well!
The food from Thyme Chef was also fantastic and all the guests were raving about it! The other thing guests were happy about was the options available for those who didn’t want to dance, we had the fire pit which meant that people could mingle outside but in a large group and with the warmth of the fire!
In summary- if you’re looking for a venue that can provide accommodation for a large group, a full weekend, the type of wedding that suits all groups or people and fantastic food then you’ve found the one for you!
Lucy
Lucy Sent on 18/09/2024
4.8 out of 5 rating

Fab wedding weekend at Folly Farm

My husband & I got married at Folly Farm on the 14th September & had the best weekend. We planned a 3 day event with a welcome dinner & drinks on Friday evening, the wedding event on Saturday & a brunch on Sunday before guests left. Matt, Clare, Jason & the team were incredibly attentive to ours & our guests’ needs and the whole weekend ran incredibly smoothly. We had 115 guests and it felt as seamless as having a smaller wedding. In particular, our guests commented on how tasty the food was & how stunning the venue & views were. The team were all very friendly, & there were enough people working all weekend to ensure sufficient service & we’re really grateful to the team for their flexibility. We loved having the majority of guests (c.100 people) stay onsite & people commented on how special this was. We were lucky enough to have such good weather to have our wedding ceremony in the courtyard. When we booked the venue, we were made aware that given the volume of guests we planned to invite, we would need to hire a marquee for the wedding breakfast. However, one point we weren’t aware of was that had the weather been poor, we would have needed to have the ceremony in the marquee as the Barn is only licensed up to 100 guests despite the overall capacity of the venue being 150. Overall, we had an amazing wedding weekend at Folly Farm & would highly recommend. A big thanks again to Matt, Clare, Jason & the team!
Roxana
Roxana Sent on 02/09/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Don’t look anywhere else!!

When we read the reviews for Folly Farm they all seemed to good to be true. I remember thinking that all of these places are just businesses in the wedding industry and are clearly good at pretending to care and be personable. I could not have been more wrong.
We fell in love with the surroundings and beautiful nature reserve in the pouring rain one day and knew instantly that if we loved it in the rain we’d love it in the summer. The barns are gorgeous, the rooms are great sizes and beautifully furnished and we could have spent hours more walking round the woodlands and orchards getting lost in our weekend.
Do not hesitate to book the food either! We went with Thyme Chef and got the BBQ platters for the wedding breakfast and we did not regret our decision at all. All our guests commented how refreshing it was to have plenty of food that was actually delicious.
It’s really hard to sum up quite how amazing the staff at Folly Farm have been - especially after my skepticism at the beginning of the process. Clare, Matt and Jason were quick to reply to us, great at calming stressful moments and helped us relish the moments of excitement and joy. Matt was amazing during the day times and was always preempting what I might have needed. We felt looked after continuously through the day and nothing was too big an ask. The big thing for us was what Jason and his team in the evening managed to help with though. My sister sustained an injury half way through the evening and the whole team rallied together to make sure she had the right medical attention and was looked after for the rest of the evening. I was gobsmacked to learn later it had happened because it had been so well hidden from me until I needed to know. I was so grateful that it wasn’t too serious and was told after the event once everything was sorted and all was well. This is just one of the ways they went above and beyond on our wedding day and we’re instrumental to our day. We cannot imagine holding our wedding anywhere else.

If you want to be surrounded by nature, want to feel chilled and know everything will be taken care of book Folly Farm. I cannot recommend this venue and the team behind it enough. THANK YOU TO YOU ALL.
L
Libby Sent on 15/11/2024
5 out of 5 rating

A Beautiful, Accomodating and Delcious venue.

We got married at Folly Farm in August 2024, having found them from a search along the lines of "eco organic outdoor wedding". Folly Farm delivered on that, along with wonderful staff and a fabulous venue.

Matt and Claire and the team are really lovely people who just want their couples to have a fabulous day, and that came through in the way they took every request in their stride, always with a smile.

We found that the venue worked really well, - with the lovely flow from the dining/disco area, to the bar, and out to the courtyard with the amazing views meaning that guests could be in the areas they wanted to, and could move between them easily.

The food is fantastic, plentiful and great value. No one went hungry, and we had feedback that it was the "best wedding food ever". We opted for the sharing platters, - homemade bread, delicious lamb and local veggies. It's hearty, souful and friendly. Both the food and drink are really good value too.

There are about 20 rooms on site, which was great as many of our guests could stay on site (and some camped). Some of the guest bathrooms are slighly tired in places, and some of the rooms really need clothers rails (we brought our own in), but they were all clean and comfortable.

We we a little worried that if it was really wet and we couldn't use the wonderful outside space, it might have been a bit cramped for the 95 or so guests we had (including about 20 kids, who loved using the open space) but we were blessed with a warm sunny day, so didn't find that out.

We'd definitely recommend this venue to anyone who is looking for a chilled, eco concious, relaxed venue.
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Badges

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Did the reviews win you over?

Folly Farm Centre Real Weddings

Naomi & Nick
27 photos · 17/05/2025
Ali & Alex
15 photos · 01/06/2024
Abigail & Simon
17 photos · 03/04/2023
Jane & Martin
25 photos · 25/06/2022
Rosie & Luke
60 photos · 18/08/2018

Deals

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Map

Folly Farm Centre BS39 4DW Pensford (Bristol)
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