If you are looking for an alternate Hastings wedding venue with country views, then have you looked at Blackstock Country Estate? Based in Hellingly, East Sussex, we are an exclusive-use, all-inclusive wedding venue surrounded by 70 acres of meadows, woodland and lakes. The venue includes two distinctive barns, allowing each part of your wedding to take place in a different setting. Your day can move from the ceremony in the Tudor Barn, to drinks and photographs outside, then into the Granary for the wedding breakfast before returning to the Tudor Barn for the evening. Guests are not left waiting while the same room is cleared and reset, and there is time to enjoy the grounds and views in between.
Blackstock looks out across the Sussex countryside towards the Weald and the South Downs. The estate covers 70 acres of meadows, woodland and lakes, giving you plenty of different views as you move around the grounds. You may spot wild deer and other wildlife while you are here.
Hastings is known for its coastline, but you may prefer countryside views rather than a seaside setting for your wedding. Blackstock offers a different backdrop within easy reach of Hastings, with open meadows, woodland, lakes and views across the Cuckmere valley.
Choosing a venue outside the town can also make the day feel like more of an occasion for your guests. It gives them somewhere new to discover while keeping the journey from Hastings straightforward.
Image above by Sussex Media Design
The Cuckmere River runs through the valley below the estate, and guests can walk through the grounds, around the lakes and down towards the river. Rainbow and brown trout can be found in the river too.
There is also bluebell woodland and open meadowland around the estate. If you would like to head down to the lakes for photographs, a golf buggy is available, weather permitting.
Image above by Natalie Holt
Both barns sit within the grounds, with outdoor areas close by throughout the day. The Tudor Barn is a restored 500-year-old Sussex barn with ancient oak beams and a minstrel’s gallery above the bar. Welcome drinks and canapés can be served in its courtyard or on the terrace, with views across the Cuckmere valley.
Inside the Granary, a sandstone floor sits beneath the vaulted ceiling and exposed beams. Floor-to-ceiling glazed barn windows open onto the landscaped courtyard, so guests can head straight outside and enjoy the surrounding countryside. There is also a mezzanine overlooking the main barn, with its own relaxed seating area.
Image above by Sussex Media Design
You can hold your civil ceremony in the Tudor Barn for up to 120 guests, or marry outside between May and September when the weather allows. The outdoor ceremony area looks across the surrounding countryside, with seating and an outdoor PA system set up for you.
If you would prefer a church ceremony, St Peter and St Paul in Hellingly is nearby, as well as other churches of your choice and you can return to Blackstock afterwards for your reception.
You do not need to leave the estate to find different settings for your wedding photographs. The Tudor courtyard works well for photographs after the ceremony, while the wider grounds give you meadows, woodland, lakes and longer views across the countryside.
We have covered more of these in our guide to the best photo opportunities at Blackstock Estate.
Image above by Sussex Media Design
Blackstock is around 18 miles from Hastings, with the drive usually taking approximately 35 to 40 minutes. The route heads west through Ninfield and Herstmonceux before continuing towards Hellingly. Our guide to finding a wedding venue near Hastings includes more information about Blackstock and its location.
For guests coming from further afield, Brighton is around 40 minutes away by car and London around 90 minutes.
Blackstock hosts one wedding at a time. For a full wedding day, the Tudor Barn, Granary, courtyards and grounds are reserved for your wedding party, so there is not another wedding taking place elsewhere on the estate.
That makes a difference when everyone heads outside after the ceremony. Guests can enjoy the courtyard, terrace and grounds without another wedding party arriving, and your photographer can use different parts of the estate without having to work around somebody else’s photographs.
It also means there is no need to wait while one room is changed for each part of the day. After the ceremony in the Tudor Barn, guests can head outside for drinks and photographs before moving into the Granary for the wedding breakfast. Later, everyone returns to the Tudor Barn for the evening reception.
Image above by Sussex Media Design
Photographs can show you the views, but visiting Blackstock gives you a much better idea of how the barns, courtyards and grounds work together. You can walk through the Tudor Barn and Granary, step outside into the grounds and see how each part of the day could work for you.
If you are looking for an alternate Hastings wedding venue with country views and would like to see Blackstock in person, you can book a private viewing, call 01323 848006 or email events@blackstockestate.co.uk.