Getting married should be about the two of you and your guests, nothing else. So if you are looking for an LGBTQ friendly wedding venue in East Sussex, then Blackstock Country Estate is definitely worth a visit. We love to welcome same-sex couples to come and visit, with two restored barns and 70 acres of East Sussex countryside to yourselves.
We are a barn wedding venue in Hellingly, set in 70 acres of South Downs countryside, and we host weddings and civil partnerships for couples of every kind. The estate is licensed for both civil partnership and wedding ceremonies, so whoever you are marrying, the whole celebration can happen in one place.
We host one wedding at a time, so the estate is reserved for you and your guests. As a country wedding venue in East Sussex, there is room to plan the day around your relationship rather than fitting into someone else’s idea of how a wedding should look.
Image above by Matt Ebbage
Blackstock Estate holds a licence for civil partnerships and wedding ceremonies for up to 120 guests. Your ceremony takes place in the Tudor Barn, a 16th-century building with ancient oak beams, a minstrel’s gallery above the bar, and an air-conditioned ceremony wing for warmer days. You arrange your own registrar or celebrant to conduct the ceremony, and the team helps with timings so everything runs smoothly on the day.
For many couples, choosing an LGBTQ friendly wedding venue in East Sussex comes down to feeling comfortable and looked after by the people running it. At Blackstock Estate, you work with a dedicated wedding coordinator who gets to know your plans and stays with you on the day itself.
At the heart of the estate are two barns, each with its own character. The Tudor Barn dates back over 500 years and hosts both the ceremony and the evening reception, with oak beams overhead and chandeliers made from antique cartwheels. The Granary is where your wedding breakfast is served. It has a sandstone floor, an exposed vaulted ceiling, floor-to-ceiling glazed windows, and a mezzanine that works well for photographs or relaxed seating.
Both barns are decorated to suit your theme, so you can style them around your colours and ideas. One thing couples notice about this LGBTQ friendly wedding venue in East Sussex is how easily the barns adapt, with no set look you are expected to follow.
Image above by Natalie Holt
Between May and September, couples can hold the ceremony outdoors, with the South Downs and open meadows behind them. The estate supplies white folding chairs, an outdoor PA system, and the registrars’ table and chairs. Your wedding breakfast still takes place in the Granary, and the evening celebration moves to the Tudor Barn. It suits couples who want their photographs set against open countryside, and you can read more about outdoor weddings at Blackstock Estate.
Blackstock Estate runs as an exclusive use venue, with only one wedding taking place at a time, and the barns, the courtyards, and the grounds are reserved for your party alone. You can find out what Blackstock venue hire includes before you book. For couples choosing an LGBTQ friendly wedding venue in East Sussex, that privacy can matter. No other events are running alongside yours, no strangers in the background of your photographs, and no rush to clear the barns for the next booking.
Image above by Jeff Sham
The estate has its own in-house catering team, so there is no need to source an outside caterer, and the food comes as part of one all-inclusive booking. They work with you to build a menu around your taste and budget, and they cater for dietary requirements. Drinks and canapés are served on the Tudor courtyard after the ceremony, looking out across the Cuckmere valley, before everyone moves through to the Granary to eat.
From your first enquiry, a wedding coordinator works with you through the planning and stays on hand on the day itself. They coordinate with your florist, photographer, and any other suppliers, so everyone knows where to be and when. If you would like help finding trusted local suppliers who already know the barns and grounds, the team keeps a recommended list and can introduce you.
Image above by Teri Vincent
The estate sits in Hellingly, centrally placed between Brighton, Eastbourne, and Tunbridge Wells, and around 90 minutes from London. Location is a common question when couples compare an LGBTQ friendly wedding venue in East Sussex, and Blackstock Estate is straightforward to reach. Couples come from all over Sussex, and the wider South East, and many also travel down from London for the day without a long or complicated journey. Anyone who wants to make a weekend of it can stay in the on-site accommodation.
As an LGBTQ friendly wedding venue in East Sussex, Blackstock Country Estate offers a welcoming and private setting for your celebration, with two restored barns, in-house catering, on-site accommodation, and 70 acres of countryside around you. To see the barns and talk through your plans, read more about weddings at Blackstock Estate, book a private viewing, or call the team on 01323 848006.
Image above by Natalie Holt