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About

On Hitched.co.uk since 2022

Last update: March 2024

Surrounded by fields and beautiful countryside, yet within striking distance of Taunton, The Flying Fish Barn is a lovely wedding venue in Ilminster, Somerset. Your hosts, husband and wife team Buddy and Kate, together with a wedding coordinator, Julie, are experienced event planners who will guide you through the whole process. They cannot wait to show you around and help you begin organising your dream day.

Facilities and Capacity

The Flying Fish Barn is licensed for wedding ceremonies and can accommodate up to 100 guests for your seated wedding breakfast. Once the meal has ended, evening guests are welcome to arrive, bringing the guest list up to 200 people. Furnished with farmhouse-style log tables and beautiful limewashed Chiavari chairs, the barn is the perfect spot for an elegant evening of celebrations. Guests will fall in love with the canopy of twinkling lights and enchanting ambience as they witness this next chapter of your love story. The barn is fully outfitted with a private bar, PA system, mood lighting, and restrooms, ensuring a comfortable experience for all. Outside, a spacious garden overlooks fields and provides the perfect backdrop for your photographs. In addition, The Flying Fish Stables is a private onsite accommodation offering luxury lodgings for the wedding party. There is also a charming country inn on the premises ideal for day-after gatherings and boasts a wonderful conservatory with breathtaking views of the countryside.

Services Offered

All-inclusive wedding packages are available at this beautiful venue. For your big day, an in-house catering team can serve sumptuous hot and cold buffets, plated meals, hog roasts, barbecues, and Caribbean cuisine. Other services provided include overnight accommodations, bar services, and entertainment facilities.

  • Black-owned
  • Woman-owned

Frequently asked questions

Venue type:

In the country
Small hotel
Pub or restaurant
Unusual weddings
Barn
Outdoor license
Unique weddings

Ceremony options:

Civil ceremony licence

Dining options:

Seated meal facilities
Corkage option
Private catering allowed
Alcohol licence
Buffet meal facilities
In-house catering

Evening entertainment:

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
Beautician

Other features:

Exclusive use
Accessible facilities
Car parking
Confetti permitted
Changing room for wedding guests
Pet-friendly
Horse baraat permitted
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5.0 out of 5 rating
Hitched Wedding Awards 2024 Winner
36 reviews
  • Quality of the service
    5 out of 5 rating
  • Response time
    5 out of 5 rating
  • Professionalism
    5 out of 5 rating
  • Value for money
    5 out of 5 rating
  • Flexibility
    5 out of 5 rating
100% Recommended by couples
S
Silvey B. Sent on 12/01/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Our Magical wedding day

We had the most magical day at the Flying Fish, it really was the most perfect wedding and all we could have imagined. Right from the beginning Julie was so supportive, and was readily available to talk through any wedding ideas we had. The day itself was just incredible, it all happened so seamlessly, and without any stress or worry from our part. The venue is absolutely gorgeous, our photos our stunning, and the set up of the venue just looked fantastic. So many of our guests mentioned how perfect the venue was, and that the food was outstanding. I would highly recommend this venue (along with Julie & Team) to any future bride and grooms.
Mark
Mark S. Sent on 15/10/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Perfect day

Brilliant service throughout. Supplier made sure everything ran smoothly and they took all the stress out the planning and the big day

Fantastic team thank you for the perfect day
LuxuriousGreenDecor61240
Juliet W. Sent on 03/09/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Simply perfect

A simply beautiful setting that had us enchanted from the minute we stepped through the doors at our first viewing. From the start of the process the wedding co-ordinator Julie has gone above and beyond, answering all of our questions promptly and graciously, ensuring that our day was exactly what we wanted. All of guests had the most incredible time and we received so many compliments on what a beautiful and perfect day it was. The ceremony room looked absolutely beautiful on the day and was turned around so quickly for both the wedding breakfast and for evening festivities. The food was outstanding and everybody was full and happy. The views were absolutely amazing and made for a perfect backdrop for photographs. The free accomodation for Bride and Groom was incredibly useful, comfortable and clean. We even had breakfast in our room in the morning, taking the time to enjoy our first married morning alone, sitting opening ours cards over coffee and a full english. All staff were professional, friendly and accommodating. We would love to thank you all and say to any potential couples considering The Flying Fish, DO IT!
Katherine
Katherine W. Sent on 05/07/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Summer days Wedding

We can not rate the Whole Flying Fish team highly enough, especially our amazing planner Julie. From the first email to view the venue till the moment we left after the wedding nothing was too much trouble and our wedding went so smoothly that there was not a single minute of stress throught out the whole day.
The venue is so stunning, the food is amazing that we received so many compliments after about it. The staff are so efficent and helpful.
The accommodation is beautiful and the rooms large , airy and comfortable. I had 5 of us getting ready together with ease.
Julie goes above and beyond to ensure the day is so smooth and there is not a moment of stress that she is worth her weight in gold.
The Flying Fish is any bride and grooms dream venue that you will not be dissappointed in.
Samantha
Samantha Sent on 25/06/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Mr and Mrs Kennedy

Where to start with this Incredible wedding venue. From start to finish the co-ordinator Julie was on hand to help day or night and think of everything including the small details I would never have thought of. The owners Buddy and Kate were so laid back, helpful and welcoming. The food was delicious as agreed by all guests.
The accommodation is clean, tidy and has plenty of room with a huge bed. We had an incredible day with many guests complimenting every aspect of the venue. The venue is very fairly priced for all that it provides. We couldnt recommend enough.

Beki
Beki Sent on 26/05/2023
5 out of 5 rating

We couldn't have wished for more!

I knew as soon as I walked in we had to get married at The Flying Fish Barn. It's absolutely beautiful inside and out, and all the extra additional details like the lights, bunting, the love ladder and the authentic wooden cake stand were all the things I would have looked for myself! It was the perfect setting too, surrounded by rolling countryside but not far from the A358 making it easily accessible.

One thing that was also incredibly important to us - it's a dog friendly venue, so our Willow could be with us on our special day and stay the night with us!

We had a non traditional approach to the wedding and had a friend marry us so it was a bit nerve wracking not having that official body there to guide us but Julie was absolutely fantastic, she kept us in check and eased any worries we had on the day.

We're originally from Somerset but now live in Oxfordshire and right from our initial enquiry Julie was incredibly helpful and always happy to answer any questions and accommodate any random requests we had!

Both Julie and the team were great, the day ran so smoothly and we could 100% relax and enjoy our special day.

If you're looking for a relaxed, rustic, country venue we can't recommend The Flying Fish Barn enough!
Shell
Shell Sent on 21/05/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Everything we wanted from a wedding and more

The moment we stepped into the barn we fell in love with it. Julie is an outstanding wedding organiser. Extremely helpful, informative and ensured everything ran smoothly on the day. Nothing was too much. She kept in touch regularly and was always there to answer any questions and gave such good advice. Her team of staff were so professional and polite and helped to make our day amazing. The food and drink were of a outstanding quality and plentiful. We are thrilled we chose this venue. An absolutely perfect weekend.
Lorna
Lorna C. Sent on 28/05/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Absolutely Amazing Venue ❤️

Wow, where do we start?! ...From the momemt we looked at this venue for our wedding reception we both knew this was the one. The venue was beautifully decorated with bunting on the ceiling and also had nice little touches like card box & Love letters ladder & little decorations for your your use. Julie (wedding coordinator) was absolutely brilliant from the very first contact to our special day. No question (and I asked a hell of a lot of questions) was too much for Julie, she always replied promptly and in a very professional and friendly manner. Julie made our day very special to us and nothing was too much for her, she made sure our day ran smoothly as possible and kept guests happy too. The chef was amazing too the food was epic and everyone enjoyed their carvery and deesert! We couldn't ask for a better host and venue, truely exceptional!
Have plenty of precious memories to hold onto. Thsnk you making our day a very memorable day ❤️
10000% recommended!
Naomi
Naomi P. Sent on 11/05/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Excellent form start to finish…..

We went to look at the flying fish and met with Julie after visiting several other venues in the South West.
Julie instantly understood the brief - demanding bride, tight groom!
We had visited several venues and what shocked us with them was the hidden extras, this wasn’t the case with the Flying Fish what you see is that you get and the price was clear from the start.
The barn is beautifully decorated in sympathetic colours to match any colour scheme and it’s very easy to visualise what you want with Julie’s expert eye and guidance.
The team have been so helpful, kind and caring, answering all emails, putting up with crazy requests : can we bring the horse? Can the dogs stay over night? Can we use a scalpel to cut the cake? …. The list continues but nothing was too much trouble.
Buddy (Owner) got all the guests involved, from drinking rum, recommending rums with guests to gently encouraging them to sign the guest book. The food was stunning, beef cooked to perfection and the amount! 50 hungry vets & farmers generously catered for with food to spare nobody went hungry . The team behind the bar deserve a special thank you for running one of the guests home at the end of the Night when the taxi failed.
A special thank you needs to go to Julie who made us feel relaxed, ran around for us, put up with silly last minute adjustments and helped make everything just right.
We had the most amazing day and every single guest has complimented the venue, food, atmosphere and team. Thank you so much…. Can we do it again!
Naomi, James & the dogs. X 🐾 x
Cat
Cat M. Sent on 09/06/2022
5 out of 5 rating

Wonderful wedding day

My husband and I got married at the Flying Fish Wedding Barn last month and it was an absolutely amazing day. Buddy, Kate and Julie the wedding planner couldn't have been more helpful and they were a real pleasure to deal with. All of our guests commented on the stunning location of the barn and the incredible food. Having the beautiful outside area meant that people could mingle together in the garden or inside the barn itself and the accommodation was perfect. Good sized, clean rooms right on site. Thank you to Kate, Buddy, Julie and all your team for making our wedding day so special! xx
SunnyBlueHair87951
Leah V. Sent on 12/07/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Best wedding ever!

From start to finish, our whole experience with Kate, Buddy & Julie was amazing! We felt very relaxed in their capable hands and I didn’t need to do much to get the result I wanted from our special day because they took care of everything! Even the tables looked beautiful as they arrange them so I only added a few small touches.
Buddy and Kate (the owners) are super friendly, easy going and accommodating, which is the main reason we chose this venue as the formal and rigid scene is not for us.
We were also very enticed by the Caribbean buffet wedding breakfast 😍which was AMAZING! Options for all dietary needs and all of our guests complimented the flavour, quality and quantity of the food.
Julie (the wedding coordinator) and her team were incredible. Again super friendly, easy going but very professional and Julie really put me at ease, even when I made a major mistake on guest numbers, she sorted it all out with no problem.
The Barn is BEAUTIFUL 🤩 it was perfect for the amount of guests we had (under 100) and is beautifully decorated so unless you want extra frills you don’t have to do anything.
Again, the very kind and friendly owner Buddy, bought us a very nice bottle of Champagne! A very nice touch 👌🏼
Many of our guests commented that “this was the best wedding they had ever been to” and that is all thanks to The Flying Fish inn, the owners, the staff, the food, the views and the overall vibe.
So Thank you to all at The Flying Fish Inn for making our day so special, we couldn’t have done it without you!
I would recommend anyone to get married here, just amazing!
SunnyPurpleDecor648
Jamie E. Sent on 29/05/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Had the best day and many compliments from guests as well

Had our wedding at the Flying Fish wedding barn and can honestly say this place is amazing. Julie the wedding coordinator was amazing, super helpful and happy to answer any questions I had, she made sure the day ran perfectly and done a superb job. The rooms are lovely, very spacious and modern, every one of our guests commented on how amazing the venue was and the food was amazing, everyone thoroughly enjoyed their food and the entire day and evening. Buddy and Carol are amazing hosts and were there to make sure everyone was catered for. Breakfast the next morning was again superb.
Thank you for making our day amazing, we honestly couldn’t have wished for a better venue and hosts.
A
Amy Sent on 01/11/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Incredible

Wow what can we say - if you're thinking about getting married here then just book it, you wont regret it.
From the moment we viewed this beautiful venue we just knew it was the place we wanted to get married. The rustic feel, fairy lights/bunting and stunning views just felt like home.
Julie is an absolute diamond, nothing was too much trouble and leading up to and on the day of the wedding she was so helpful. Her attention to detail made our day so special and not only did she look after us, she also looked after our guests too.
Julie and her team made the barn look stunning and it was everything we ever dreamt of and more. They worked so hard all day/evening and everyone commented on how polite the staff were.
During the quick turnaround from the ceremony to the wedding breakfast, Buddy was on hand and had guests in stitches (he's one of those people that just makes a dark room light up).
Julie and her team asked us to view the barn before the wedding breakfast started so that we could take it all in for a moment. The transformation in such a short time left us speechless, it looked so beautiful and everything was set up perfectly. It really looked like an autumnal dream.
The food was exceptional, all our guests commented on how lovely it was and the children's food also went down a treat. The puddings were out of this world and Julie and Lionel made sure that we had food despite having our children to feed first. There was even enough food for seconds (and thirds for some).
The evening was just as lovely and still looked the part with many guests commenting on how beautiful it looked.
Our wedding was very much a family day and the children were very much part of our day - we had quite a few things to keep them occupied and Julie and her team made sure they all had a good time which meant alot to us.
We also stayed the night before the wedding and the night of the wedding - the rooms were so comfortable and spacious for us as a family (the breakfast was great too).
Thank you so much to The Flying Fish for making our day so special - it will forever have a special place in our hearts 💕
N
Natasha S. Sent on 15/10/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Incredible experience

Absolutely fantastic venue, we had the most amazing wedding day we felt so welcome and special. All the staff are so friendly and thoughtful, they went above and beyond to ensure we had the most incredible day. Everything was perfect from start to finish,all the food was delicious and the rooms are lovely comfy and spacious, all our guest commented on how beautiful this venue is and how organised the day was. We could not be more thankful to Julie who made sure we got the wedding day of our dreams, her passion for her work really shows and we are very grateful to her for all her hard work
P
Polly B. Sent on 10/10/2023
5 out of 5 rating

An amazing venue

We had our wedding at the Flying Fish and it was such an enjoyable experience from start to finish. Julie and the whole team are so welcoming and helpful, nothing is too much trouble. So many of our guests commented on how wonderful the venue is and we were really lucky with the weather meaning the kids spent hours playing outside. Would definitely recommend this venue to anyone, really great value for money too! Thank you to everyone at The Flying Fish!
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The Flying Fish TA19 9NX Ilminster (Somerset)
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