Open since June 2012, Southend Barns is a family-run wedding venue located on what was once a working farm. Nestled in the beautiful West Sussex countryside, Southend Barns has been lovingly restored with rustic charm and romantic touches. Built and run to be as eco-friendly as possible, the barns have been carefully transformed to create the perfect setting for a romantic civil ceremony and wedding reception.

Ceremony

Fully licensed for all civil ceremonies and partnerships, Southend Barns offers two ceremony spaces, which can be finalised on the day of your wedding.

The Dairy Barn is our indoor ceremony space. It has a serene ambience and simple yet romantic styling to complement all wedding day themes. Featuring a sweeping aisle, wooden beams and a crisp, neutral colour palette, the Dairy Barn provides the perfect backdrop to add your own style.

The Secret Garden is our outdoor ceremony space. It is a fantastic way to create a unique wedding inspired by nature, adding a sunlit sparkle to daytime ceremonies. Nestled in a peaceful spot between our fields and the flint walls of the Dairy Barn, the garden is lined with elegant concrete benches and surrounded by beautiful borders. The sweeping 50-foot aisle leads to a sheltered pagoda where vows are exchanged.

Reception

The Collecting Yard is a beautiful space for your drinks reception. Spacious and perfectly maintained, it is ideal for mingling with guests, live entertainment, musical performances, or relaxed conversation. The all-weather Collecting Yard includes a terrace bar, sheltered alfresco seating and a roaring fire pit.

The Threshing Barn is a magnificent space for your wedding breakfast and evening party. Exuding countryside opulence with exposed wooden beams and original features, it offers flexibility for all sizes and styles of wedding receptions. The barn provides a stunning backdrop for your celebrations, whether as a dining hall, a lively space for dancing or a banquet setting for festive or winter-themed occasions. Our experienced event managers can recommend layouts to suit your vision perfectly.

Accommodation

The Milking Parlour is the perfect finishing touch to an unforgettable wedding. With its serene, stylish interiors, you can relax and indulge in the memories of your day. Located in a private courtyard with a rose garden and water feature, it provides a calm and luxurious retreat. A freshly prepared Roots breakfast hamper is delivered the next morning for you to enjoy. The Milking Parlour can also be used by the wedding party to get ready, with large mirrors, comfortable seating and all the facilities needed for those important preparations.

Mama Lou Shepherd’s Hut is the epitome of first-class glamping. Set in the alpacas’ grazing field with its own festoon-lit private pathway and garden, it has been immaculately restored to create a sumptuous and unique retreat. In the fridge, you’ll find chilled prosecco, fresh juice, milk and coffee to accompany your breakfast delivery.

Enjoy a night of luxury under the West Sussex sky with our beautiful bell tent accommodation. In total, there are nine tents sleeping up to 18 adults and 2 children – including eight luxury bell tents and one spacious family tent that accommodates up to 2 adults and 2 children. Each luxury bell tent sleeps two adults and comes equipped with lighting and charging points, double beds dressed in Egyptian cotton bedding, and exclusive access to bathroom facilities including showers and WCs, complete with indulgent Land & Water toiletries and soft towels.

In the morning, guests can head to our brand-new Piggery Pit Stop, an additional tent serving a delicious continental breakfast in a relaxed, grab-and-go style. With freshly prepared pastries and muffins to start the day, plus Nespresso coffee machines for takeaway coffees, it’s the perfect Southend Barns send-off.

Food & Drink

Roots Catering is our in-house team of talented chefs who are passionate about fusing fresh, local ingredients with creative flair to create mouth-watering menus that evolve with the seasons. From sharing platters and street food to decadent three-course feasts and plant-based dishes, the chefs look forward to designing a wedding menu tailored perfectly to you.

At Southend Barns, choosing the right drinks is just as important as the food. From signature cocktails and mocktails to an extensive wine list and our very own Southend Craft Lager and Southend Crisp Cider, every option is chosen to enhance your celebration. Drinks are served in elegant glassware and poured by a dedicated team, adding to the experience and creating memories that last forever.

Sustainability

At Southend Barns, sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. As a countryside venue on a working farm, we are dedicated to protecting and nurturing the buildings, land and surrounding environment. Our efforts mean we can proudly offer carbon-neutral weddings to our couples.

Sustainability goes beyond the barns themselves and extends to Southend Farm, where we focus on soil regeneration to increase organic matter and microbial diversity, improving long-term soil health.

Roots Catering also prioritises buying locally, supporting nearby suppliers and reducing food miles – and therefore reliance on fossil fuels. The addition of our on-site allotment has further enhanced our home-grown offering of seasonal vegetables, berries and herbs.