Osmaston is one of the prettiest villages in this part of Derbyshire, a couple of miles south of Ashbourne, all thatched cottages and a village pond, with St Martin’s church at its heart. Behind it lies the Osmaston Estate: 3,000 acres of woodland, rolling hillside and lake, still in the hands of the family who bought it in the 1880s. The great house that once stood here — Osmaston Manor, built for the ironmaster Francis Wright and finished in 1849 — was demolished in 1964, but its garden terraces survive, and there is something rather moving about where the wedding venue now sits: the marquee is pitched on the original foundations of the old house.
That marquee is a permanent, purpose-built structure rather than a hired tent, and it arrives fully equipped with power, lighting, flooring, furniture and proper washroom facilities, with open lawns around it for guests to wander. It is essentially a blank canvas, which suits couples who want to bring their own look to a day, and it is large — the site takes up to 500, seated or standing, which is a rare figure in Derbyshire. Ceremonies can be held inside the marquee or outdoors on the grounds, with lakeside settings a favourite; St Martin’s in the village is a short walk away for anyone who wants a church.
Catering comes from an approved list, and there is no corkage charge, which gives you far more control over the drinks bill than most venues allow. Bookings are exclusive and entirely private — the estate is yours — and the season runs from 1 April to 31 October, so this is a venue for long evenings and light skies rather than midwinter candlelight. There is parking on site, and enough space around the marquee that nothing ever feels squeezed.
Where the band plays
Live music and discos are both welcome, and a marquee of this size is a fine place for a band — open, high and forgiving, with none of the awkward pillars and low beams that historic buildings throw at you. The scale does mean it pays to match the act to the room: a large tent with several hundred guests wants a band with enough front line to fill it, and it is worth talking through the layout so the stage end is set against the dancing rather than lost across a long span. Vehicle access right up to the marquee makes the load-in refreshingly simple.
How the evening runs
You have the estate to yourselves from 9am until midnight, which is about as unhurried as a wedding day gets: a morning to set up and settle, a long golden drinks hour on the lawns, and an evening that can run its full course with the band’s last set landing well before anyone thinks about leaving. Since this is open country with the estate around you, ask about music finish times for the marquee itself when you book, and let your band know — they will pace the night accordingly.
Bands available in Derbyshire and perfectly at home in a venue like this.
More live music in Derbyshire.
- Wedding Bands in Derbyshire
- Events Bands in Derbyshire
- Derbyshire Tribute Acts
- Derbyshire Wedding DJs
- Derbyshire Corporate Entertainment
Worth reading before you book: Sound Limiters Explained. More questions answered on our England & Wales FAQs.