Great Lodge is the sort of place that makes you want to arrive early and leave late. It lies at Great Bardfield in north-west Essex, a rural estate that has been farmed by the same family for over a century and whose story runs a good deal further back than that — this was once a medieval deer park known as Great Park, held in the 14th century by Elizabeth de Burgh and grand enough to have received royal hunting parties. It later came to Anne of Cleves through the settlement that followed her annulment from Henry VIII, and the magnificent barn at the heart of the estate dates from that era. A mansion raised here in the 1620s was pulled down a century later, and the buildings that survived became the Great Lodge you see today.
What makes it distinctive now is that it is still a working landscape rather than a manicured events park. The Bardfield Vineyard was planted in 1989 and covers a little over a hectare, the original Bacchus vines joined since by Pinot Noir, Seyval Blanc and Pinot Meunier; the sandy clay soil and the dry East Anglian light between them produce award-winning still and sparkling wines, and you can serve your own estate wine at your wedding. Elsewhere there are alpacas to visit, woodland with a newly cut path meandering through it, a walled garden, croquet on the lawn and, if you fancy it, a fairground stall or two.
Weddings take place in the Grade I listed Tudor barn, and the estate deliberately keeps numbers low — around 25 weddings a year, and never more than one in a weekend. That means exclusive use of the barn, the walled garden and the wider grounds from Friday right through to Sunday lunchtime. Accommodation sits in three converted barns: Rose Barn, with a bridal suite, sitting room and dressing room; the Cart Lodge, with three double rooms; and the Stables. Suppliers are entirely your choice, there is no corkage on wine you bring, and a cash bar can be laid on at no charge.
Where a band fits in
The barn is the room for music, holding up to 150 for dinner and 200 for the evening, with the height and hard old surfaces that let a band fill a space without being pushed. Because the whole estate is yours and the nearest neighbours are fields, the atmosphere is relaxed rather than clock-watching. There is also a green oak pavilion by the lake, which couples use for outdoor ceremonies and which lends itself beautifully to acoustic music while guests arrive. As with any Grade I listed building, work out power, access and the stage position with the team in advance rather than on the morning.
How the day and evening run
With the estate to yourselves for a whole weekend, the wedding day itself can take its time — vows in the barn or by the lake, drinks among the vines, dinner under 500-year-old timbers. The evening usually carries on to around midnight, comfortably enough for two live sets and a last song before people wander back to the barns to sleep. If you are planning music outdoors, by the pavilion or in the walled garden, mention it when you book so the timings can be agreed from the outset.
Bands available in Essex and perfectly at home in a venue like this.
More live music in Essex.
- Wedding Bands in Essex
- Events Bands in Essex
- Essex Tribute Acts
- Essex Wedding DJs
- Essex Corporate Entertainment
Worth reading before you book: Sound Limiters Explained. More questions answered on our England & Wales FAQs.