Chaucer Barn

When I was 16 I decided to start looking for a job like all my friends, I was extremely lucky in that the job which I (and one of my best friends at the time) found was one working at a Wedding & Event planning company. A large part of our time in this first job was spent researching wedding venues across the country for a database they were building at the time. We would spend our Saturdays, two teenage girls, looking at amazing venues up and down Great Britain and collecting information such as whether they offer exclusive hire, charge corkage, have set suppliers lists and many more tidbits to help build a picture of what they offered. Clearly we also spent a good portion of our time discussing what kind of wedding we would like to do one day when we eventually got married. It was during this time that I found Chaucer Barn. I still remember excitedly showing my friend the website and clicking through all the pictures together. I couldn’t believe how beautiful everything looked. It was exactly the kind of thing I had said I would want, a big country house where you could entertain friends and family for the entire weekend undisturbed and with a huge dose of creative freedom. No set suppliers so you can bring in whoever you like - you would not believe the amount of venues that make you choose from a very limited list of caterers, florists, stylists etc. No corkage meaning you can supply all your own alcohol without having to pay the venue another fee on top for the privilege - I remember my 16 year old self being outraged at the thought that if you have already paid for all the alcohol yourself some venues would charge you again just to be allowed to give it to people! Chaucer Barn ticked all my 16 year-old-self’s imaginary wedding boxes. Fast forward 11 years and I got engaged in November 2017 to my wonderful partner of 6 years, at the time, Julian. He took me out for a day of surprises and for each bit of the day there was a lovely handwritten card with a thoughtful note from him and then a choice. I was able to choose what we did all day and he had planned and prepared for either option throughout. It was fitting for us (given a few years earlier we had hiked through the Alps from Germany to Italy over the course of 11 days) that we ended up getting engaged in our hiking boots having a wander around in some beautiful gardens. I distinctly remember him saying to me, let’s take some time and just enjoy being engaged before we rush into the planning. I am pretty sure I agreed and then within a week and a half I had booked a visit to go and see Chaucer Barn. ‘There’s absolutely no pressure, we don’t have to pick this place I just always loved it and I figured it might be nice to take a look?’ I said to Julian as innocently as I could to persuade him to drive 3 and a half hours with me to what is almost the northernmost point of Norfolk. As soon as we got to the venue I could feel the excitement bubbling up, I was finally seeing this amazing venue. A fair amount had changed over the past decade or so but all of the changes were thoughtful improvements that extended or improved the charm and wow factor of this already beautiful place. I didn’t say anything to Julian as I didn’t want to spook him but I knew as soon as we stepped out of the car that this was where I wanted to get married. Even in the depths of January Chaucer Barn is still an absolutely stunning venue. The gardens are so carefully tended and the barn itself beautifully, luxuriously and warmly decorated - the whole place feels like coming home. Julian walked around with me and Jenna the very lovely venue manager for about an hour before admitting that the venue was just as amazing as I’d told him it would be and that he wanted to get married here too. We pencilled in a date that day and confirmed a few days later. We only ever visited the one venue. Fast forward another 18 months and on the 1st of June 2019 after a lot of hard work, ridiculously thorough planning, careful budgeting, self building, van packing and multiple visits to Norfolk we finally had our wedding. We hired the Barn from Thursday until Monday which gave us exactly what we were after - a long family and friends filled weekend constructing, enjoying and deconstructing a fairly epic DIY wedding. The joy of being able to have so many friends and family on site or close by (we had nearly 40 people staying onsite once you included the glampers and the barn residents) and have them come and help out with setting up was a huge part of what made our wedding so amazing. People mucked in, got to know each other, helped out wherever they could and generally had a pretty good time. I think it was really special for so many people to be able to feel like they had not only helped to make this wedding happen but also to get time with each other to chat, laugh and bond over the pain of creating huge flower arrangements or constructing a massive 7m long pallet wall backdrop. The flexibility and openness offered by Chaucer Barn allowed us to really make our wedding feel like us. It made the whole weekend one completely filled with love, good company, great wine and more cheese than I have ever seen in my life. I am so glad we picked this place to come and get married. It’s a truly unique and incredibly beautiful place, carefully looked after by a team of very special people who care very much about what they are doing. Every addition I saw come in the time since I first found the venue was carefully and thoughtfully considered and then carried out in a way that respected and improved upon the venue without infringing on the wonderful things that are already there. You can tell that this venue is a labour of love from James the owner and that’s what makes it such an incredible special place. In all my years of researching venues throughout the country I’ve never found another place better.

'The wedding itself was perfect!! We may not have got the weather, nor the outside ceremony, but actually inside was perfect! Intimate and filled with our nearest and dearest. The rest of the day all ran smoothly and I knew we was in good hands.'

What can we say?! From the moment we saw the barn we knew it was where we wanted to get married - the homely feel was just perfect. It's so beautiful and we were very sad to leave. Thanks for all of the hard work behind the scenes throughout the day.

Thank you so much for providing the perfect venue foir our wedding. Chaucer Barn was sinply perfection in every way! The barn and the grounds looked stunningand everyone was so proffessional and kind. We were so lucky to get married at such an amazing venue and I hope we will be able to come stay again one day. It really was one of the best days of our lives!

We recently held our wedding at the barn and from our first visit and subsequent booking, right through to the day Jenna, James and the team couldn’t do enough for us.. Our wedding was based over 4 days, 3 nights and we utilised the whole site, from a woodland ceremony to an evening Handfasting at the stone circle.. We used all the bedrooms and camp field for our just short of 100 guests and it was just perfect. The venue is just simply stunning, the barn itself is wonderful and has everything you need to be completely self-contained and the gardens are just out of this world… honestly the beauty of the place cannot be done justice with just words.. We arrived on Tuesday lunch Time to be greeted by Jenna (an absolute hero who made everything so simple and easy) and were re-introduced to the barn and then left alone to settle in with the reassurance that she was just around the corner if we needed anything.. Our wedding on the Wednesday went without a hitch, Jenna and the team guided us through the process and dealt with all the suppliers and registrars, leaving us all to just get on and enjoy the day.. The evening Handfasting within the stones went superbly and again words cannot do it justice. The Thursday we all de-camped and headed to Holt to get the Steam train to Sheringham (almost 70 of us) for fish and chips and ice cream on the beach. Thursday night we ordered pizza in and all chilled out within the beautiful grounds all reflecting on how awesome the past few days had been and wishing we didn’t have to leave. A massive thank you to Jenna, James and the whole team who totally got and understood our slightly ‘’left field’’ concept, not even our fire breather raised an eye brow.. Honestly if you are thinking of using the barn.. stop thinking and just book it… you really won’t be disappointed. In a world full of conveyor belt weddings where you struggle to put your own mark on the day the Barn is an oasis for those that want to be different and make their day as personal to them as their own fingerprint. Were already thinking of going back for our 1st anniversary just to do it all again…

When my husband and I first visited the Chaucer Barn as a potential wedding venue, we were blown away. It was just what we were looking for - a great space for a shared meal before the wedding, stunning guest rooms that could host the bridal party, and a beautiful location (both inside and out) for the wedding ceremony and reception. It had a lovely, warm, inviting feel to it - almost like we'd be welcoming our guests to our own home. Jenna helped us source and organise caterers, music, flowers etc.., and even helped us plan for both an external and internal wedding. Given April's unpredictability (and England being England), we got married inside amid a downpour That said, I'm actually glad it rained - the inside ceremony was incredible. Fairy lights, great accoustics, and a beautiful view across the lawn - we loved every minute of it. We had local caterers who prepared a very relaxed feasting-style menu, and a band which had us dancing into the night. Jenna was always on hand to help with anything (I'm told, anyway, as she mainly interacted with the best man and did an incredible job at melting into the background). If you are in two minds about picking the Chaucer Barn (wedding/party/group gathering) - just go for it. You honestly won't regret it, and it will be some of the most magical days you will spend together.

My husband and I got married at Chaucer Barn in July 2019. It is an amazing venue, and just as important it has an absolutely fantastic team behind the scenes that do whatever it takes to make sure your day runs smoothly. The barn is stunning, and all rooms and amenities are of a very high standard so it is a lovely space to have a weekend, we particularly enjoyed being able to have both of our immediate families on site for the whole weekend. The grounds were what really stood out to us when we were venue-hunting.. meadows, fields, wildflowers, a formal lawn, and even space to camp! There is so much versatility and so many beautiful places you can hold a ceremony and different parts of the day. The team were just fabulous, giving excellent advice all the way through the long journey of planning a wedding, and Jenna in particular was an absolute star both in the run up and in being an oasis of calm and making sure everything was just as we wanted it on the day. Having total flexibility over the suppliers we wanted to use was also a real advantage, and meant we could personalise every aspect of the day. We could not recommend the venue and the team more highly!!

We had our wedding at Chaucer Barn over a weekend in September and it was honestly the most perfect venue. Aside from all the wonderful help we got from Jenna, Emily and the whole team, the grounds and the facilities were absolutely faultless. We had family stay in the woodland lodges and they loved it. The rooms in the barn itself were gorgeous and so comfortable. Chaucer Barn would be perfect for everything from weddings to weekends away with a big family or group of friends. Cannot recommend this place enough!

My Wife and I got married at Chaucer Barn last weekend and we are thoroughly chuffed with how our weekend went and how much our guests loved their time with us. Jenna and the team were brilliant, answering all our questions on the lead up to our big day and on hand to make our day run smoothly when it finally came round. The plentiful rooms were all spacious and clean and the log fires made for a lovely homely feel whilst it was freezing cold outside. Everyone that stayed with us enjoyed themselves very much and didn't want to go home! We have no hesitation in recommending Chaucer Barn as a wedding venue and we are already looking to plan a visit with the family in the future.

10 months ago- Absolutely amazing venue. Had our wedding here recently and it was a wonderful experience. The barn provided a warmth and intimacy that really topped off the familial feel we were going for. We were hoping for sun but the weather went from sun to rain to hail every 15minutes. Originally this seemed bad but actually having the ceremony inside was amazing, contributing to the intimacy perfectly. Upon reflection, we'd have lost that a bit with the woodland ceremony we wanted. Jenna herself was top notch and made us feel confident. Thank you very much Jenna! I can't recommend this place enough and it's honestly one of those venues you must see before you make a call on it. What I would advise to couples getting married here is that it's not a place that copy pastes weddings and with that comes some effort from you to plan it. Either get a project manager or get involved as a couple. The biggest pro is that Chaucer Barn is completely malleable to what YOU want. The biggest drawback is that it's completely malleable to what YOU want so you better have an idea of what that looks like. Amazing venue! Thank you Jenna and the team at Chaucer!