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About

On Hitched.co.uk since 2021

Last update: May 2025

Smeetham Hall Barn is a privately owned, 16th century wedding venue just outside of Sudbury Suffolk on the Suffolk/Essex boarder.

You have access to the barn the day before your wedding to set up with your loved ones so that there is no stress or rushing around on your big day. Our packages are incredibly simple and include everything you need at your wedding from your venue - including your food for a certain number of day guests (80 at a weekend and 50 mid-week.) Our package caterer, Splinters have been with us for 20 years hence why it works so well!

Our barn is the perfect setting for small intimate weddings to the larger ones, we can accomadate up to 150 guests for the wedding breakfast and up to 200 in the evening. The barn itself has high vaulted ceiling, exposed timber beams, and vintage chandeliers. All of our fairy lights you see on the pictures are included in the hire price. We also have a marquee which is attached to the barn via a lobby just in case the weather is not kind and the drink's reception needs to be held inside or for winter weddings. It has beautiful panoramic sides out to our courtyard with a seated area with festoons.

We are a small team at Smeetham Hall Barn and incredibly proud of it, Victoria and Tom run Smeetham, you will see Victoria during your wedding, in the office or speaking to a supplier while by day Tom is in charge of maintenance and the grounds, by night you will see him running the bar at your wedding. Sophie has been with Smeetham a long time and will be with you every step of the way.

We are a no corkage venue, this means you can bring your own drinks into the venue for the drinks reception and wedding breafkast with no charge from us for serving or opening. This is a huge USP for us!

We do not have accomadation on site, but we have a lot of very good options all within 10/15 min MAX drive.

We have been hosting weddings for over 25 years now, come and see us so we can have a chance at hosting yours!

Over 400 5* reviews

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Frequently asked questions

Venue type:

In the country
Historic
Church
Barn
Outdoor license

Ceremony options:

Civil ceremony licence

Dining options:

Seated meal facilities
Alcohol licence
Buffet meal facilities

Evening entertainment:

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

Venue staff assistance:

Wedding coordinator

Other features:

Exclusive use
Accessible facilities
Car parking
Helipad
Confetti permitted
Changing room for wedding guests
Pet-friendly
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Reviews for Smeetham Hall Barn

Daniel
Daniel Sent on 02/06/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Unforgettable Experience from Start to Finish

We honestly couldn’t have asked for a better venue than Smeetham Hall Barn for our wedding. From our very first visit, we knew it was special - not just because of the beautiful barn and stunning countryside setting, but because of the people behind it.

Sophie and Victoria were absolutely incredible throughout the whole process. They were calm, kind, responsive, and reassuring at every stage, from our first enquiry all the way to the big day itself. Nothing ever felt too much trouble, and their organisation behind the scenes gave us real peace of mind, meaning we could just relax and enjoy it all. On the day, everything ran so smoothly and a huge part of that was down to their brilliant coordination and quiet confidence.

The venue itself is just gorgeous. The barn was the perfect mix of rustic charm and elegant character, and we were so lucky with the weather which meant we could really make the most of the surrounding gardens and countryside. We’ve had so many comments from guests about how beautiful the setting was and it created the perfect atmosphere and felt so personal to us.

A special mention also goes to Splinters, the caterers recommended by the venue. The food was absolutely amazing; delicious, beautifully presented, and served with such professionalism. We’ve had endless compliments from guests about the canapés and wedding breakfast, and the team made everything feel so effortless.

Smeetham Hall Barn is not just a beautiful venue, it’s run by people who truly care. We felt so supported and looked after throughout, and we’re incredibly grateful for the role the whole team played in making our wedding day so unforgettable.

We’ll definitely be back for one of your open events to say hello and to relive just a little bit of the magic. Thank you again for everything.We honestly couldn’t have asked for a better venue than Smeetham Hall Barn for our wedding. From our very first visit, we knew it was special, not just because of the beautiful barn and stunning countryside setting, but because of the people behind it.

Sophie and Victoria were absolutely incredible throughout the whole process. They were calm, kind, responsive, and reassuring at every stage - from our first enquiry all the way to the big day itself. Nothing ever felt too much trouble, and their organisation behind the scenes gave us real peace of mind, meaning we could just relax and enjoy it all. On the day, everything ran so smoothly and a huge part of that was down to their brilliant coordination and quiet confidence.

The venue itself is just gorgeous. The barn was the perfect mix of rustic charm and elegant character, and we were so lucky with the weather which meant we could really make the most of the surrounding gardens and countryside. We’ve had so many comments from guests about how beautiful the setting was, it created the perfect atmosphere and felt so personal to us.

A special mention also goes to all the team at the caterers, Splinters. The food was absolutely amazing - delicious, beautifully presented, and served with such professionalism. We’ve had endless compliments from guests about the wedding breakfast, and the team made everything feel so effortless.

Smeetham Hall Barn is not just a beautiful venue; it’s run by people who truly care. We felt so supported and looked after throughout, and we’re incredibly grateful for the role the whole team played in making our wedding day so unforgettable.

We’ll definitely be back for one of your open events to say hello and to relive just a little bit of the magic. Thank you again for everything.
Ruben
Ruben Sent on 08/05/2025
5 out of 5 rating

10 star service!

There needs to be an option for 10 stars as Smeetham Hall Barn are out of this world, Vicky, Tom and Sophie were an absolute pleasure to work with, their experience and ability to pre empt what we needed and wanted was one of the main reasons we enjoyed our special day. They gave us a such a personal touch that it felt as if they were our family who wanted the best for us. If you’re reading this review then stop reading and book with Smeetham Hall Barn. Thank you Vicky, Tom and Sophie. Lots of Love, Ewa and Ruben.
Danny
Danny Sent on 03/06/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Amazing Wedding Venue

We had an absolutely brilliant wedding at Smeetham Hall Barn. The barn itself, and the grounds looked absolutely stunning.
Sophie and Victoria were excellent throughout our journey from the first open day we attended right through to the wedding day itself.
Our wedding went very smoothly with very good guidance throughout the day from Victoria.
The wedding breakfast provided by Splinters was exceptionally good - many guests commented on the quality of the food.
HIghly recommended venue for a wedding.
Lucy
Lucy Sent on 23/04/2025
5 out of 5 rating

The most romantic barn setting in Essex

If you are looking for a romantic barn setting Smeetham hall barn is the one…we can not thank Sophie and the team at Smeetham hall for being nothing but incredible through the whole process of planning our wedding and to the most amazing day we could have ever wished for…what we would give to relive the day all over again

Thank you once again for being so amazing

Mr & Mrs Field (Lucy & Rob) 05.04.25 X
S
Sarahw Sent on 01/04/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Our Perfect Day

We first found came across Smeetham Hall Barn 7 years ago. After looking at other venues we kept being drawn back here. The venue and grounds are absoutely stunning. Sophie has been amazing from the very beginning, nothing was too much trouble even arranging for my nan to come along in her wheelchair which meant so much to us. Our day could not have gone any smoother. Our wedding breakfast was fantastic, a lot of guests complimented the food and the service from Splinters Caterers. We could not have asked for a more perfect wedding day!
Charlotte
Charlotte Sent on 02/03/2025
4.8 out of 5 rating

Our wonderful wedding

Smeetham Hall Barn was the perfect venue for us. It was the only venue we viewed and an easy decision - it had everything we were looking for. It certainly lived up to our hopes and dreams. The barn and setting are naturally beautiful, without requiring loads of additional decoration. Their twinkly fairy lights set the scene perfectly. Having so many scenic spots for a variety of photograph opportunities is ideal. Our experience from booking to our big day was seamless. We were always kept informed and knew we’d hear back quickly if we had any queries. Sophie helped so much behind the scenes to ensure everything went to plan, she consistently eased any neves and went above and beyond for us. Splinters the caterers who are included within our wedding package were brilliant. The wedding breakfast was delicious and all our guests were very complimentary. Thank you to all at Smeetham Hall Barn and Splinters for being part of our perfect day. We loved every second and will forever hold the fondest memories 🤍
L
Laura Sent on 07/03/2025
5 out of 5 rating

A Dream Wedding at Smeetham Hall Barn

We fell in love with Smeetham Hall Barn from the moment we pulled up in the car. The venue is absolutely beautiful. Sophie was fantastic, from the very first email to arrange a viewing, right up to the big day. She took the stress out of planning our wedding and allowed us to simply enjoy the process. Nothing was ever too much trouble, and emails were replied to within the day. Our wedding day was the best day, and this is thanks to
Sophie and the team at the beautiful Smeetham Hall Barn. The only downside was that the wedding flew by so quickly; we wish we could relive it all over again.
Beth
Beth Sent on 28/10/2024
5 out of 5 rating

The perfect venue

They say it’s the people who make your wedding, and that couldn't be more true. We were not only surrounded by family and friends but also by a team who truly felt like part of our celebration. A huge thank you to the entire Smeetham Hall Barn team, but with a special mention to Bridget, who welcomed us so warmly on our first visit that Smeetham instantly felt like home, and left us with no question that this was the venue for us. And to Sophie, thank you for all of your support throughout our planning journey, for always being just an email away with answers to our questions, for welcoming us at open days, and for being such a friendly presence on both our setup and wedding day whilst making sure everything went smoothly - we couldn’t have asked for more.

Smeetham Hall Barn itself provided the perfect setting for our autumnal wedding. Having worked in events ourselves, we were eager to find a venue with authentic charm, not a corporate feel. After viewing several other ‘barns,’ we started to wonder if we’d have to compromise, but Smeetham exceeded our hopes - it was everything we’d been searching for and more. With its unique, rustic character and all the amenities needed for a perfect wedding day, Smeetham Hall Barn truly stands out, and we feel very lucky to have stumbled across such a beautiful venue, less than half an hour from home. We were given complete flexibility to customise the space to suit our theme and add personal touches, with helpful recommendations for suppliers along the way. Having a full day to set up allowed us to truly enjoy the experience, extending our celebrations and ensuring everything looked just as we’d envisioned, without the stress or time pressures - a rarity in the wedding industry.

Looking back, our only wish is that we could do it all over again - it was truly the perfect day. We couldn’t recommend Smeetham Hall Barn more highly to anyone searching for their wedding venue.
Mirydass
Miryam Sent on 01/11/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Amazing place and people!

Smeetham is such a perfect place to get married. The team supported us every step of the way, even when we were asking so many questions, and they were always so happy to help. Everyone is so kind and they understood our vision for the day. Everything went so perfectly and I couldn’t have ask for a better day! Thank you so so much!
T
Tiffany Sent on 11/09/2024
5 out of 5 rating

The wedding day of our dreams!

From the moment we walked into Smeetham Hall Barn we knew it would be a perfect match for us. The attention to detail and the personal service was amazing from the get go, we felt like Bridget and Sophie were old friends and nothing was too much hassle to ask for. The setting is absolutely beautiful, all of our guests were blown away by the barn and the grounds. Despite having plenty of space to hold lots of guests, the character of the barn gives it such a warm and intimate feel. We chose an indoor ceremony and the barn looked so romantic. It was a real bonus being able to get in a day early to set up; this meant we could part ways at the venue with the peace of mind that everything was ready to go. Leading up to our wedding day, Sophie & Laurie were so helpful - from the big things to the small last minute questions - they couldn't do enough for us. We cannot thank them enough for this especially as the last minute nerves crept in!

We got such a good impression and felt that we could trust the SHB team with our special day, and they absolutely smashed it! On the day everything flowed seamlessly, Sophie and Laurie are total pros and handled everything amazingly. We also chose several of SHB's recommended suppliers, knowing that their recommendations could be trusted. They did not disappoint! If you're looking for a romantic, beautiful barn wedding venue, please visit Smeetham Hall Barn!! We can't believe the day is over now, but we are totally chuffed with the choice of venue we made and the beautiful memories we have. Thank you Team SHB, you are truly wonderful! x
Priddy
Priddy Sent on 21/10/2024
4.8 out of 5 rating

Made to feel like centre stage

Picking a venue is just….woah. It’s a LOT. Except when it’s not, because you’re made to feel like centre stage from the outset. We’d viewed a few venues which were starting to blur into one and a feeling a bit overwhelmed with it all. So if it’s the people that make a wedding, you can definitely include the Smeetham Hall team with that.
From the open evening, to booking and run through to the event (and MANY emails in between) they were only too happy to help. And encourage some out of the box fun with it.
SO many positive vibes from our guests about the venue itself from the ceremony on the lawn, the outdoor drinks reception and the barn itself for the wedding breakfast. Each element creating it’s own little piece of the day.
Great vendor partners on hand too to make sorting details like the food, DJ, lighting etc a breeze.
Thank you Sophie and Victoria.
James and Laressa Human
Bethany
Bethany Sent on 05/09/2024
5 out of 5 rating

So glad we chose this venue! 10/10 - amazing!

Wow. What a day we had! It was the most perfect day we could have ever dreamt of. Sophie & the team are amazing from the minute you enquire to the big day. We knew the minute we walked into the venue for a show around, it was going to be THE venue. Sophie helped us the whole journey to ensure we had everything perfect for our big day - and perfect it was! Great value for money, beautiful venue & grounds and Sophie is just amazing!!! Thank you so so so much for ensuring our day was so perfect & just as we imagined. We wish we could do it all again!! Highly recommend!
M
Mairead Sent on 29/11/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Beautiful venue, exceeded all our expectations!

Sophie and Victoria were absolutely brilliant in the lead up to our wedding, they were always ready to answer my many many questions 😂 They were so organised and made the day run perfectly. Tom behind the bar was brilliant too.
We’ve had so many compliments on how beautiful the venue was and how amazing the day was. We are both so grateful to the whole team at Smeetham Hall for everything they did for our perfect day. Would highly recommend!!
L
Lauren Sent on 22/08/2024
5 out of 5 rating

The Best Day of Our Lives

We recently held our wedding at Smeetham Hall barn and we have to say everything was magical and the day was perfect.

We had a few venue changes before we found Smeetham and we are so happy that by the will of the universe we not only found the venue but the PERFECT venue for any type of wedding.

From the first visit to look around Sophie and her team were amazing, they were clear and concise in all aspects of what the venue offered and how they would help us plan our perfect day. They really are specialists in what they do and we are so grateful and privileged for their expertise.

Our day went without a hitch as Sophie, Zoe and the team guided us through, thinking of every detail to ensure that our day was catered for our individuality.

The venue is excellent value for money, the best possible when we compare to our original venue. The rustic feel of the barn and the gardens make it a perfect place for exquisite photography and still allows for modern twists. They were able to accommodate our various form of entertainment easily and seamlessly, whether it be the games and bouncy castle in the courtyard for the children, our acoustic live sessions after the ceremony, and the live band and DJ sets for the reception, literally the team will do ANYTHING to make your day perfect. Their ability to make you feel comfortable, looked after and keep everything flowing on your big day is second to none. Our guests commented on how beautiful the venue is and how the atmosphere was perfect. WE THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR MAKING THIS THE BEST DAY OF OUR LIVES.

The catering for our big day was unreal, many of our guests commented that the food was among the best they had ever eaten at any wedding they had ever attended. Hayley helped us choose our perfect menu letting us change minor details where we needed to accommodate specialist dietary needs to give us our perfect menu and Lucy was our representative on the day and we could not fault her at all. She and her team prepared everything from the reception drinks, through to the wedding breakfast. Her attention to me and my now husband in particular was lovely. Lucy would literally find us no matter how far we were whether it was checking if we were okay, or bringing us a drink to calm the nerves or cool us down.
Wilton and flower were also amazing, providing us with all the decorative touches we needed. They helped to guide us as we really had no idea what we needed. Highly recommend!

We highly recommend Smeetham Hall Barn, the venue is perfect for any wedding!

Mr and Mrs Salsbury
N
Nicola Sent on 24/09/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Simply the best!

WOW…where do we start! Firstly, we planned our wedding from Australia and from our initial video call with Bridget we knew there was something very special about Smeetham Hall Barn and we were in safe hands. Sophie - you were amazing, quickly getting back to my questions over the year and ensuring everything ran smoothly on the day. Tom went above and beyond for the evening bar, honouring a special request we had for an evening drink - so incredible! The whole process was seamless and we couldn’t be anymore grateful to everyone at Smeetham Hall Barn for making ensuring we had the best day of our lives, which we truly did! Cannot recommend SHB enough - thank you everyone, we want to do it all over again ! ♥️
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Map

Smeetham Hall CO10 7EU Sudbury (Suffolk-Essex Border) (Essex)
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