Gildings Barns

About the venue

Family-run barns near Newdigate in Surrey, hosting weddings and events for over 30 years across two generations. The oak main barn was hand-built in the early 1990s from trees felled by the storms of 1987 and 1990, and the 20-acre site is surrounded by fields and ancient woodland.

The main barn at Gildings was built from some 60 or 70 small oak trees that blew down on nearby Holmwood Common in the storms of 1987 and 1990. Peter Hall, who had a passion for oak-framed buildings, put it up in the early 1990s with the local carpenter Alan Monk.

He studied traditional Sussex aisled barns at the Weald & Downland Living Museum before starting. In 1993 the Country Land Owners Association gave him its Farm Buildings development prize for the work.

Other parts of the site are around 300 years old. The family has now run weddings and events here for over thirty years across two generations, and the barns have been kept close to their agricultural roots, with little modernising.

Gildings Barn itself measures 16 by 8.75 metres, with a central height of 6.75 metres, and seats up to 110 for ceremonies, dining or dancing. Fairy lights hang in the roof.

Three smaller spaces connect to it. The Granary is a tiny licensed building that anchors outdoor ceremonies. The Side Barn holds vintage farm tools, and the Threshing Barn is used for toasts and canapés.

The barns sit within 20 acres of private fields and ancient woodland near Newdigate, about 20 minutes from Gatwick. Couples get a guaranteed set-up day before the wedding and can visit as often as they like beforehand to plan and practise.

Day catering comes from the venue's partner caterers. A hearing loop, a small ramp and an accessible toilet help guests with disabilities, as most of the venue is on one level.

Each year some dates are set aside for registered charities, which pay no venue charge.

Main oak barn hand-built from trees felled in the 1987 and 1990 storms

Family-run for over 30 years across two generations

Three interconnected barns, parts around 300 years old

Licensed for indoor and outdoor ceremonies for 110

20 acres of private fields and ancient woodland

Guaranteed set-up day before the wedding

Corporate dinners, meetings for 110 and product launches

Free venue dates for registered charities each year