Barn Wedding Venue near Brighton
Blackstock Country Estate is a barn wedding venue near Brighton, about 40 minutes out of the city, at Grove Hill in Hellingly, East Sussex. Two restored barns overlook grounds of more than 70 acres on a working farm, with the Tudor Barn licensed for civil ceremonies of up to 120 guests and The Granary seating 120 for the wedding breakfast. Only one wedding runs here at a time, so the estate belongs to you and your guests for the whole day. The sections below cover the drive out, what each barn is like inside, how the day moves between them, and what it costs.
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Come and walk round both barns with nobody rushing you.
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How Far Is Blackstock Country Estate From Brighton?
About 40 minutes by car, taking the A27 east out of the city. Our own directions put it at 26 miles.
The route runs along the A27 towards Eastbourne, then left at the Drusillas roundabout for Berwick, through Upper Dicker to join the A22. At the Boship roundabout take the second exit onto the A271 towards Horsebridge, go straight over the mini roundabout, and turn left at the traffic lights onto Park Road. Park Road becomes Grove Hill, and the estate is about a mile along on the left hand side.
Polegate station is seven miles away via the A22 and sits on the main line to London Victoria. Gatwick is 36 miles. There is plenty of parking on site.
Why Choose a Barn Wedding Venue Near Brighton?
Brighton has plenty of wedding venues, but if you want the room and character of a countryside setting, Blackstock Country Estate is around 40 minutes away. Here, you have a 500-year-old barn, more than 70 acres of grounds and the estate to yourselves for the day.
For couples with guests travelling from across the South East, having the ceremony, drinks, wedding breakfast and evening reception all in one place can make the day much easier. If being right in Brighton or close to the seafront is important to you, though, a countryside venue may not be the right fit.
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The Tudor Barn
The Tudor Barn is where ceremonies take place and is the oldest building on the estate. It is around 500 years old and has been restored with its ancient oak structural timbers still visible overhead.
The ceremony wing holds up to 120 guests and has a reveal curtain across the entrance, plus air conditioning for hot summer days. Chiavari chairs can be dressed to suit your colour scheme, with drapes, flowers and lighting to suit. Large chandeliers made from antique cartwheels hang through the main barn, with additional white or coloured lighting also available.
Above the bar is a fully refurbished minstrel’s gallery, an unusual feature to still find. The large oak-finished bar serves beers, spirits and wines.
The Granary
The Granary is the second barn and is where your wedding breakfast is held. It seats up to 120 guests.
It has a sandstone floor and a vaulted ceiling with exposed beams. Floor-to-ceiling glazed barn windows run along one wall, looking out over the landscaped courtyard and the countryside beyond. Antique cartwheel chandeliers hang overhead, while a large mezzanine overlooks the main barn and can be used for relaxed seating, a photo booth or photographs looking down over the tables.
Before the meal, welcome drinks and canapés can be served in the courtyard or out on the terrace, overlooking the Cuckmere valley with horses and llamas grazing beyond. It is also a popular spot for wedding photographs.
Moving Between The Two Barns
The two barns give each part of the day its own setting, which is something that is much easier to understand when you come for a viewing.
You marry in the Tudor Barn before everyone moves out to the courtyard or patio for welcome drinks. While you are outside, our team gets everything ready behind the scenes before you move into The Granary for the wedding breakfast. When your evening guests arrive, everyone heads back to the Tudor Barn, where the live music or DJ can already be set up.
Each room is ready before you walk into it, so you are not waiting at one end of a room while the other is being changed around.
Can You Get Married Outside?
Yes, between May and September.
We supply, set up and take away the white folded resin chairs, provide an outdoor PA system, and put out the registrars’ table and chairs. Register your interest when you come for your private viewing so we can talk through where in the grounds you want it.
Ceremonies are conducted by East Sussex Registration, based at Eastbourne Town Hall, and you book them yourself on 0345 60 80 198.
The Food
Catering is handled in-house by Circa, our exclusive catering and event management team, who started in Lewes in 2000. Menus are put together with you around your tastes, budget and plans for the day, with ingredients sourced locally wherever possible. There is more on our catering page.
Staying The Night
There is accommodation on the estate, including a farmhouse and cottages set among the meadows and lakes, as well as a bridal suite with a makeup room for the morning. Eight pitches are also available for caravans, motorhomes and campervans, with fresh water, electric hook-up and a chemical waste point. These are available to wedding guests only.
Discounted rates for wedding couples are arranged through our wedding co-ordinator, so ask what is available for your date when you enquire.
What Does It Cost?
A full day is quoted individually, as the cost depends on your date, guest numbers and what you would like included.
Our twilight weddings give you a fixed price to work from. They start at £5,450 for 2026, £5,950 for 2027 and £6,450 for 2028, based on 50 guests Monday to Thursday. That includes use of the Tudor Barn and grounds, a ceremony from 4pm, the makeup room from 11am, one glass of prosecco or a bottled beer per person, three canapés each and a choice from the evening buffet menu.
Friday to Sunday carries a supplement, additional guests are charged per head, and the booking is held with a £1,500 deposit.
If you are flexible on the day of the week, Monday to Thursday dates do not carry the weekend supplement and you still have exclusive use of the estate for your wedding.
Come And Walk Round The Barns
Come out and stand in both barns.
Bring the awkward questions about numbers, timings and what happens if it rains. We are at Grove Hill, Hellingly, East Sussex BN27 4HF, and the office is open every day from 9am to 5.30pm apart from bank holidays.
Call 01323 848006, email us, or book your private viewing online. You can also download the venue brochure to take away with you.
If you are still comparing places across the area, we have separate pages on our wedding venue near Brighton, our wedding venue with accommodation near Brighton, and our barns as a barn wedding venue in East Sussex.
