The Old Dairy at Hatherden Farm

About the venue

Converted dairy barn on a family farm outside Andover, seating 140 under oak beams and a giant milk-bottle chandelier. Three days' hire for £6,000, a commercial kitchen, and self-catering cottages and loft rooms a few steps from the barn.

Henry the bull, the resident of The Old Dairy, has pride of place under a chandelier made of huge milk bottles. Milk churns add to the character of the barn.

Jeremy and Peridot Dunning converted their dairy farm at Hatherden, less than ten minutes from Andover. The main barn now takes weddings, conferences and celebrations.

It is light and airy, with oak beams, wooden floors and walls of white paint and exposed white brick. Up to 140 guests sit at six-foot round or trestle tables on chiavari spindle chairs.

A glass mezzanine gives speakers or a master of ceremonies a view of the room. An audio system with wireless microphones is built in.

The space can be split into areas for dining, dancing, a bar or a conference. A fully commercial kitchen can cater for 140, and there are male, female and disabled toilets.

Outside, a paved patio looks over fields and meadows. Parking is out of sight on site.

The standard function package gives three days' use of the venue and an upstairs double bedroom for the bridal party or hosts. Hire costs £6,000, and naked flames are not allowed.

Guests can stay a few steps from the barn. The Calf Shed is a two-bedroom cottage with a log burner, and the Loft has three en-suite doubles above the barn. The Bale Cart adds a double for two. Rooms cost £120 a night, with breakfast items left in the fridge.

Waterloo trains reach Andover, and the A303, A34 and M3 are close. Highclere Castle, Stonehenge and Thruxton Circuit are all within easy reach.

Converted dairy barn seating 140

Milk-bottle chandelier and Henry the bull

Three days' hire for £6,000

Glass mezzanine with wireless mics

Fully commercial kitchen

On-site cottages and loft rooms

Rooms from £120 a night

Under ten minutes from Andover