DO I HAVE EXCLUSIVE USE OF PENTNEY ABBEY?
Yes, you have exclusive use of The Gatehouse, Barn and grounds from 12 noon until 12 midnight on the day of your wedding.
HOW MANY GUESTS CAN PENTNEY ABBEY HOLD FOR A RECEPTION?
The Barn can seat 100 guests for a sit-down meal and accommodate up to 170 guests for an evening reception. The Gatehouse can hold up to 40 guests for a drinks reception.
IS PENTNEY ABBEY LICENSED TO HOLD CIVIL CEREMONIES?
Pentney Abbey is fully licensed to hold civil ceremonies for up to 80 in The Gatehouse. It is possible to hold a duo ceremony outside in the gardens followed by a signing in The Gatehouse. We charge an extra £120 for a civil ceremony and £180 for a duo ceremony.
WHAT TIME CAN I GET MARRIED AT PENTNEY ABBEY?
Wedding ceremonies at can take place from 2 pm onwards. Please check what ceremony times are available with the registrar.
ARE CHAIRS PROVIDED FOR THE CEREMONY?
Yes, chairs are provided in the Gatehouse, but cannot be used outside. If you are having a duo ceremony, you would need to hire outdoor chairs separately.
Many couples book musicians to provide music during the ceremony, however you are more than welcome to use the sound system already in The Gatehouse.
WILL I HAVE THE SAME DEDICATED WEDDING CO-ORDINATOR THROUGHOUT THE PLANNING PROCESS?
At Unique Norfolk Venues we have on hand our own knowledgeable and experienced team of wedding planners who, as a group are able to offer you support in your planning process, along with help and guidance.
Having your wedding with Unique Norfolk Venues is choosing a complete support package for total peace of mind throughout your wedding planning process. We will guide you through your journey with care and understanding – we have a wealth of experience within our team and you can be assured that we understand your needs and vision whilst offering friendly support and advice every step of the way.
Every couple will have access to their own primary wedding co-ordinator from the Unique Norfolk Venues planning team, so there will always be someone to help guide you with questions or ideas. Closer to your wedding date you will then be assigned your designated coordinator to ensure every last detail is managed on your big day!
We take the opportunity to see you as many times before your big day as you wish. We are available for correspondence via emails, Skype or a phone call. We can arrange meetings with you seven days a week, including evenings and weekends if required subject to your wedding planner’s diary.
We require their phone number and email address. We will also need a copy of their public liability insurance before they can operate at Oxnead Hall. Please note that this also applies to any food supplier. If any supplier is using electrical equipment, PAT certificates must be provided in advance. By making a booking at Pentney Abbey, we assume that you agree to this condition.
CAN WE HAVE A LIVE BAND / MUSICIANS?
Yes. In accordance with our entertainment licence, a sound limiter is installed inside the Barn and is set at 92 decibels. Please make sure your contractors are aware of this and they agree they can play within this level. Please note, a booking at Pentney Abbey assumes that you have agreed this condition.
Please also make sure your contractors are aware of the venue’s finish times.
From 11 am on the day of the wedding. It may be possible to have access the day before your wedding to set up, depending on whether or not a wedding is taking place on this date. Please check this with your wedding coordinator four weeks before your wedding. If access the day before is not possible, we will set out your decorations at no extra cost.
Natural or organic confetti such as dried flower petals is permitted. Due to fire regulations, confetti is not allowed to be used in the Gatehouse.
Unfortunately not, due to the harm they can cause to livestock.
Yes, in Great Barn and outside, but the candle holder has to be taller than the flame. Flame candles are not permitted in The Gatehouse.
There are no dogs allowed at Pentney Abbey or in the accommodation.
Last orders are at 11:50 pm and the bar closes at midnight. Music should also finish at midnight. Please advise your guests to arrange their taxis advance. To maintain high standards, and keep the Barn looking its very best, the team quietly begins the clearing up process just before midnight.
We can extend our music and bar license until 1 am at an extra cost of £250.
There is no need to worry about this; your wedding coordinator and their team will clear up everything and pack away your decorations so you can relax. A member of staff will arrange to meet you before checkout to return your belongings. Please note we need to have the bouncy castle company’s insurance and PAT testing certificates. We also require you and the company to sign a risk assessment as Pentney Abbey will not take any responsibility. Our staff are unable to supervise the bouncy castle.
Yes, only if agreed before and only done by our preferre supplier Epic Event Hire.
WILL THERE BE EXTRA SEATING BY THE BARN?
Around the front of the Barn there will be some metal tables and chairs.
There is a large car park providing ample spaces for guests, and also an overflow car park. Cars may be left overnight, at the owner’s risk, for collection on the next morning by 10 am.
Yes. They must park in the car park.
Yes, these are to be situated on the lawn nearest to The Barn.
CAN WE HAVE MUSIC OUTSIDE?
Acoustic music is permitted outside until 5 pm but amplified music is not allowed outside. Evening music can only be held in the Barn.
Yes, we will work with you to provide the perfect menu for your wedding day.
Yes, we have vegetarian options in our catering brochure and we can also provide a different menu to accommodate guests who have food allergies. A vegetarian option is included within the standard menu prices.
No. It is essential that we provide a consistently high standard of catering at Pentney Abbey and therefore only allow our own in-house experienced chefs, who offer an exceptionally high level of service using quality locally-sourced ingredients.
There are a few different table plans that work well in the Barn, which your wedding coordinator can advise you on. We do require you to fill out the table plan and to mark if anyone has any dietary requirements so the events team are able to locate them easily on the day.
CAN WE HAVE A CHIP VAN, ICE CREAM VAN OR CRÊPE VAN OUTSIDE?
Yes. You are welcome to have any novelties that we can’t provide for the evening reception only, however, there will be no reduction in the cost of the package. We take a 10% commission from these vendors; the wedding couple must organise this with the vendor and pay us direct. Please make sure they have all the relevant insurance before booking them.
We recommend you provide any of your contractors with a meal if they will be spending more than five hours at your wedding. We have two options available: we can provide either a one, two- or three-course from your wedding breakfast menu or sandwiches.
we cannot accommodate private one-to-one tastings as these do not accurately reflect the whole experience that you would enjoy at your wedding. However, our head chef is available to speak with if needed.
sweet table, and favours on place settings.
CAN WE MAKE CHANGES TO THE PACKAGE?
You can increase the number of guests and add extras to the package, but you cannot remove elements or make any other changes.
DO YOU HAVE TO TAKE ALL THE ACCOMMODATION AT PENTNEY ABBEY?
We do require you to take all the accommodation, which is priced separately to the wedding venue hire. The accommodation includes two cottages and the Farmhouse – eight bedrooms in total on the estate.
IS A DAMAGE DEPOSIT REQUIRED ON THE ACCOMMODATION AT PENTNEY ABBEY?
Yes. A deposit of £500 required, which will be refunded within 14 days providing there is no damage to the accommodation.
The accommodation is available for your guests to check in from 3 pm. Checkout is 10 am the following day. Please note extra charges may apply if your check out late.
ARE OUR GUESTS ALLOWED TO CAMP?
Yes, we have a caravan site that has three hook-ups for caravans and pitches for tents. Prices are £18.50 per night for caravans and £6 for tents. There are no toilets or shower facilities on the caravan site.
You can book the accommodation the night before your wedding if it is available. There is a supplement of £2,000 in addition to the cost of the accommodation if you book the extra night more than six months in advance of your wedding date. Alternatively, you can wait and contact your wedding coordinator six months or less before your wedding; if the accommodation is available, you can book without paying the £2,000 supplement (just pay the charge of the accommodation).
Do you offer early check in to the accommodation?
A £750 deposit is required to secure your date.
You then will need to sign our booking form on the online portal sent to you by our reservations team.
You will then need to sign the venue and catering services contract and then pay your next payment.
£1,000 payment upon signing of your contract – within 4 weeks of booking. £1,000 payment 12 months prior to your wedding date. £1,500 payment 6 months prior to your wedding date. Remaining balance (less £750 deposit) is due 1 month prior to your wedding date. Please bear in mind both deposits and balance payments are non-refundable so we strongly recommend you take out wedding insurance.