Beamish Hall Wedding Venue
If you're exploring wedding venues in the North East of England, Beamish Hall Wedding Venue is a standout choice. Nestled in historic parkland, this elegant country house offers a blend of romantic charm, flexible spaces, and full-service wedding provision. Below is everything couples need to know when considering Beamish Hall as their venue.
Why Choose Beamish Hall as Your North East Wedding Venue?
-
Beamish hall country house hotel is a Grade II* listed country house hotel set within 24 acres of landscaped parkland and woodland in the Derwent Valley, County Durham.
-
It is conveniently located approximately 30 minutes from Newcastle and Durham, making it accessible yet tucked away in the countryside.
-
The venue is fully licensed for civil ceremonies (including outdoor ceremonies) and offers exclusive-use packages to couples who want privacy and full control over their event.
-
With multiple function rooms, garden terrace, and woodland ceremony locations, Beamish Hall can accommodate weddings from intimate celebrations to large-scale receptions.
Because of its beautiful grounds and carefully crafted interiors, Beamish Hall is also a favourite for photographers. If you're a couple seeking a North East wedding venue that offers photogenic spaces throughout, this is a strong contender. And for any North East wedding photographer, the visual possibilities here are very rich.
.jpg)
Mick Merriott Photography
I am Mick Merriott, an award winning Yorkshire wedding photographer. I offer candid,creative wedding photography for couples who want natural, relaxed storytelling images.
Venue Spaces & Capacity
​​
​
Beamish Hall offers several distinct wedding areas to match different guest numbers and styles. Here are the key spaces:
​​
​
Winter Gardens: (Orangery / marquee-style room)Light, airy, glass-roofed room with terrace access. Wedding breakfast capacity - 80 to 280 guests. Evening reception capacity - Up to 300 guests
​
Shafto Hall: Traditional oak-panelled, stained glass, minstrel gallery. Wedding breakfast capacity - 70 to 120 guests (Often used for smaller evening receptions)
​
Monboucher Suite: Elegant bay windows overlooking grounds. (Often used for mid-size weddings)
​
Common Room : More intimate, period features. Wedding breakast capacity - 20 to 40 guests. Evening reception capacity - up to 70 guests
​
Outdoor Terrace / Gardens: (for ceremonies). Terrace beside Winter Gardens in a woodland setting. Wedding breakfast capacity - Up to 120 guests. Ceremony only (then guests move indoors)
​
​
Across the venue, Beamish Hall advertises that it can host weddings up to 400 guests, depending on configuration.
Many couples opt for the exclusive-use option, which gives them full access to all these areas and the grounds for a private, immersive wedding experience.
​
As a photographer: Beamish Hall provides so much scope from sweeping lawns to bridal-prep suites, staircases, terraces, and period interiors, the variety of backdrops makes Beamish Hall ideal for creative photographic storytelling.
​
​
Wedding Packages & Pricing
​
While specific prices and package details may vary year to year, here is a general guide based on publicly available information:
-
Beamish Hall lists a per-person wedding cost starting around £95 per guest.
-
Venue hire (or exclusive-use hire) can range from £2,250 up to £22,000 depending on scale, season, and inclusions.
-
Their wedding packages typically include:
• Venue hire of your chosen function rooms
• In-house catering (from reception drinks, to wedding breakfast, toast drinks)
• Luxury bedrooms (they have 43 individually decorated rooms, plus a Charron apartment)
• Use of the hotel’s bridal suite and prep rooms
• Décor, lighting, and table styling options (often with trusted supplier lists)
• Dedicated event or wedding coordinator throughout the planning and on-the-day support. -
For exclusive-use weddings, all guest rooms and spaces can be reserved for your guests, giving you greater control over the flow, décor, and schedule.
-
​
Because weddings are highly bespoke, I highly recommend all couples to request a wedding brochure from the venue for the most accurate, up-to-date package options.
​
​
​​
Location and Contact
Amenities at the Hotel & On-site Facilities
​
To support a smooth wedding experience, Beamish Hall offers a number of amenities and features:
-
Accommodation: 43 individually styled guest rooms + Charron Apartment (sleeps up to 8)
-
Restaurant / Bar: The Stables Bar & Restaurant (in converted stable block) serving seasonal menus, local produce, and drinks options.
-
Event & Meeting Rooms: Seven function rooms available for various events; for weddings, multiple suites are available as above.
-
Free Parking: On-site parking for guests.
-
Accessibility: Ground-floor function rooms and accessible facilities (check with the venue for specific disabled access).
-
Outdoor spaces & gardens: Beautiful landscaped gardens, terraces, woodland paths — ideal for portraits, ceremony use, and guest mingling.
These amenities make it easier for couples to centralise their wedding day at one venue, reducing travel and complexity.
​
​
Location, Getting There & Travel Tips
​
-
Address: Beamish Hall Hotel, Beamish, Stanley, County Durham, DH9 0YB
-
Phone: 01207 233 733 (for bookings and enquiries)
-
Website: beamish-hall.co.uk (wedding section)
​
​
Travel & Transport
​
-
By Car: The venue is well connected via regional roads. It is about 30 minutes from Newcastle, 30 minutes from Durham city centre.
-
By Air: Newcastle Airport is the nearest major airport and is approximately a 30-minute drive away.
-
By Train / Bus: Guests can travel by train to nearby stations (Durham, Chester-le-Street) and complete onward travel by taxi or local bus.
-
Nearby Landmarks: Beamish Museum (open-air heritage museum) is just a mile down the road and can be a charming point of interest for guests staying in the area.
-
Parking: Ample on-site parking is available for guests.
-
Nearby Cities: The venue is centrally placed for guests coming from across the North East — e.g. Tyne & Wear, Teesside, County Durham and Northumberland.
Because it is somewhat rural, arranging shared transport (coach, minibuses) can help guests who do not drive or are unfamiliar with navigation in rural areas.
​
Tips for couples & photographers
​
-
Book your preferred rooms early: Especially in peak wedding season, the best bedrooms and suites (and timeslots) go quickly.
-
Venue scout with your photographer: Because Beamish Hall offers many photo opportunities (gardens, staircases, architectural features), a walkthrough with your North East wedding photographer can help you map out your timeline.
​
-
Plan for lighting: Some interiors (especially oak-panelled rooms like Shafto Hall) may require extra lighting assistance or lanterns for evening shots.
​
-
Consider ceremony timing: Outdoor or terrace ceremonies work beautifully, but be prepared with a backup indoor option in case of weather.
-
Exclusive use gives flexibility: If you take the exclusive-use package, you can more freely orchestrate transitions between ceremony, drinks reception, photos, and evening reception without conflicts with other events.
​
For photographers, the breadth of styles at Beamish Hall — classic, garden, woodland, architectural — makes it a rewarding location to build a varied wedding portfolio. It's definitely a venue you’d want to highlight on your “North East wedding venue” shoots or advertise to couples looking for a scenic, full-service location.
​
Summary
​
Beamish Hall truly stands out as a premium North East wedding venue. Its combination of historical character, flexible space, on-site accommodation, and scenic versatility makes it ideal for couples wanting a cohesive, beautiful wedding day. If you’re also a bride or groom seeking a skilled North East wedding photographer or North Yorkshire wedding photographer (or exploring options in the broader region), this venue provides rich environments for stunning imagery.
​
What should you look for in a North Yorkshire wedding photographer's portfolio ?
When searching for a North Yorkshire wedding photographer, it is important to pay attention to composition and lighting in their portfolio. The overall style of photos should align with your vision for your wedding day, capturing moments and emotions that you want to remember. By carefully reviewing a photographer's portfolio, you can ensure that they have the skills and creativity needed to beautifully document your special day.
Real Weddings
When couples enquire with me I am always more than happy to share full gallery's of real weddings. This allows you to get a true feel for my work and what you can expect. This is in my opinion a really important part of your research to ensure you get the right wedding photographer for you.
Creative & Unique Yorkshire Wedding Photographer
Creative & Unique Yorkshire wedding photos are my passion. So if you're planning a Yorkshire wedding and want great photos to remember it by, please get in touch. I love photographing documentary wedding and rustic wedding celebrations throughout the UK. I would love to chat about your plans and check my availability for your date. There's no obligation to book, just a friendly chat about how I can help capture your day as newlyweds. Let's photograph weddings together!
I'd love to chat to you about being your wedding photographer at Beamish Hall Hotel or being your North Yorkshire Wedding Photographer.
​
​
​
Feel free to have a browse of my FAQ's here or better still...