Healey Barn

The venue opens in June and is made up of a collection of traditional stone farm buildings surrounding a sheltered courtyard.

There is the Long Barn, the main building, which has a spectacular oak “raised cruck” roof, three giant candelabra, many wall-mounted candle holders, a fairy-lit ceiling and, of course, a barn-sized stone fireplace, which together create an enchanting and romantic atmosphere, perfect for Civil Ceremonies or for the arrival point after a Church Wedding (later this becomes the dance floor!).

Leading off the Long Barn is the Dining Room, the old cow byre, with another lovely oak roof, a glass wall looking into the Courtyard on one side, and windows to a fantastic Northumbrian view on the other.

The Dining Room is designed to feel spacious and luxurious for smaller numbers, but will accommodate higher numbers. At the end of the Dining Room is a copper-clad bar which has a glass folding door, which opens onto a small terrace and then the garden. The Courtyard is sheltered by the buildings and is perfect for post-ceremony drinks on a mild day, and at night will be quite magical with fairy-lit trees, fire pits and lanterns.

There are 2 giant oak planters with seats around them, 6 umbrella-topped trees, 2 fire pits, and various benches, cosy sun traps and planted troughs and borders. There’s an open-sided building with garden furniture which provides a covered outside area and a smokers’ refuge.

The northernmost building, the Store Room, contains smart toilets and also the Bride’s Room, where, before Civil ceremonies, the Bride can arrive discreetly and see the Registrars before making her entrance into the Long Room.

Completing the package will be Cripps Kitchen's inimitable menus. Our food formula is "Buy the best, cook it simply, serve it generously". We like to make our food dramatic as well as delicious, so there’s an 8-spit rotisserie visible through a glass screen from the Dining Room, and grill maestro George Ellis is making us a mobile BBQ, like the one below, which can be moved in and out of sight as appropriate.