Aldwick Court Farm—these days usually known simply as Aldwick Estate—has been in the same family since 1905, and in 2008 they did something rather brave with it and planted vines. Nearly 20 years on, 11 acres of vineyard run down the south-facing slopes at the foot of the Mendip Hills, and the wine is pressed and bottled on site rather than sent away, which means the bottle on your table was grown in the field your guests can see from the terrace.
The wedding side of the estate has grown up around the old farm buildings. The 17th-century Old Barn is the principal room, all exposed beams and stone, opening onto a courtyard and a broad terrace with lawns beyond; an oak-framed gazebo gives you somewhere to make your vows outdoors with the vines behind you. There are 11 bedrooms across guest rooms and family apartments, sleeping up to 22, plus a lodge kept back for the two of you on the night itself. There is even a tennis court, which is the kind of detail that quietly rescues a Sunday morning.
It is an exclusive-use estate, so for your dates the vineyard, barns, gardens and rooms are yours. Catering is handled in-house, the bar runs all day, and the family are hands-on in a way that larger venues simply cannot manage—expect to be shown round by someone whose surname is on the wine. Practically speaking it is also easy to reach, sitting a few miles from Bristol Airport and a manageable drive from the M5, which makes life simpler for guests travelling in.
Where the band plays
The Old Barn takes around 150 seated and up to 200 in the evening, with the dancefloor and the bar under the same roof so nobody drifts off and fails to come back. Stone and old timber make for a full, warm sound and there is height to work with, so a band of five or six sits very comfortably in here. Bands appreciate the flat approach from the courtyard, too—gear comes off the van and straight in, which is not something you can say about every barn.
The shape of the day
Ceremonies happen indoors in the barn or outside in the gazebo or among the vines, and drinks afterwards spill naturally onto the terrace and the lawns with the Mendips rising behind. Something unamplified works beautifully at that stage of the afternoon while the tasting glasses are going round. The evening generally runs through to midnight, so there is room for a proper two-set set-up with a break, and with rooms on site a good part of the party simply walks upstairs at the end rather than waiting on a minibus. Worth checking when you book whether amplified music finishes a little earlier than the bar does.
Bands available in Bristol and perfectly at home in a venue like this.
More live music in Bristol.
- Bristol Wedding Bands
- Bristol Events Bands
- Tribute Acts in Bristol
- Wedding DJs in Bristol
- Corporate Entertainment in Bristol
Worth reading before you book: Sound Limiters Explained. More questions answered on our England & Wales FAQs.