weddings - the friends of abingdon · wedding hire at the abbey buildings we are delighted that you...

Abingdon Abbey Buildings

Weddingsat

THE FRIENDSOF ABINGDONCIVIC SOCIETY

[email protected] | www.friendsofabingdon.org.uk

Wedding Hire at the Abbey Buildings

We are delighted that you are thinking about hiring the Abbey Buildings for your wedding. Here is some information to help you decide whether this venue is right for you both, but we recommend that you also come to visit us to experience our wonderful buildings first hand and to find out more.

What is the venue like?

The beautiful medieval buildings are more than 600 years old, set in their own private walled gardens and with a mill stream running alongside.

They are a scheduled ancient monument, once part of Abingdon’s famous Abbey, and are full of history and unique in character. They are rustic in style and partially open to the elements (the north side of the Long Gallery is not glazed), but they offer an ideal location for a wedding between the months of May and September.


A bespoke wedding opportunity

We have a licence to host civil ceremonies, so you can choose to use our venue for your ceremony, reception, or both.

As well as providing a private and unique backcloth for your special day, the Abbey Buildings offer you scope to put your own stamp on your wedding experience. You will be able to dress the venue using your own style and creativity, with bunting, fairy lights, flowers and other light-weight decorations, which can be hung or tied to the fabric of this beautiful ancient monument.

Wedding banquets are set up in the magnificent Long Gallery, with its impressive vaulted ceiling, beams, posts and stone fireplaces. We provide wooden chairs and rectangular tables which can be arranged in various banqueting formats, or if you prefer, you can hire in round tables. There is space in the Long Gallery to accommodate up to 100 guests for dining.

Where are the Abbey Buildings?

They are Abingdon’s best kept secret, located in a private cul-de-sac but very close to the Market Place. There are churches, hotels and guest houses within easy walking distance, together with plenty of public car parks nearby and an excellent bus service from Oxford.

We are five minutes’ easy walk from the disembarkation point for Salter’s Steamers boat trips from Oxford’s Folly Bridge, so perfect for a wedding ceremony taking place in Oxford, followed by a relaxed trip down the river with your family and friends prior to your reception.


What are the hire rates?

The hire rate for a wedding reception taking place in 2017 is £2,300. This gives you exclusive use of the Long Gallery, Lower Hall and the two Checker Rooms, plus the north and south gardens. The hire period includes the day before your wedding from 9.00 am for setting up, the wedding day, up until 12.00 midnight and the following morning until 1.00 pm for clearing up. The Unicorn Theatre, is not included within the hire for receptions, but it is available for ceremonies.


Can we have our civil ceremony here and what will it cost?

Yes, we have a licence to host civil ceremonies and you can choose between a number of locations within our buildings, including the Unicorn Theatre.

Between May and September, a weekend civil ceremony can be booked as a package with a reception for a total fee of £2,500. In our off peak season, which runs from October to April, or mid-week in summer, we offer a civil ceremony without an accompanying reception, for £450. Although we do not normally offer “civil ceremony only” bookings at the weekend during our wedding season, last minute bookings will always be considered, subject to availability.

Our civil ceremony hire charges do not include the cost of the Registrar. It is your responsibility to book and pay for the Registrar.


Menu options for the wedding breakfast

Unlike other venues, we do not offer catering ourselves, so you are completely free to choose your own menu according to your preferred taste and budget. You will need to hire a caterer to provide the food, preparation equipment, cutlery, crockery and glassware. Your chosen caterers should come and look at the buildings well in advance, so they are aware of the layout and understand where cooking can take place. Alternatively, we can give you the names of caterers who are familiar with the buildings. We have a sink area at the end of the Long Gallery and a large fridge.

Is the Abbey Buildings a licensed venue?

Yes, we are licensed for serving alcohol up to 11pm but we do not have a bar. You may bring in your own drink and we do not apply a corkage charge.

Entertainment

The Lower Hall with its tiled floor is available for entertainment. Bands, discos and ceilidhs work well in here.


What are the timings?

Entertainment and music may continue until 11.30pm, although we ask you to show consideration towards our neighbours during the later part of the evening. The building must be vacated by 12.00 midnight.

Fire Safety and venue capacity

The local Fire Service has deemed we are licenced for a maximum of 100 people across the Long Gallery, Checkers and Lower Hall at any one time, so whilst individual rooms are licenced for specified numbers as set out in our Terms and Conditions, there must be no more than this number across the whole of these areas at any one time.


Safety for guests

We need to point out that the gardens include an open river bank so vigilance is needed vis-à-vis the supervision of children. The buildings are very old and floors and staircases are in places uneven, so your guests need to take extra care.

Is the venue accessible?

Unfortunately, due to their medieval origins, the Abbey Buildings are not fully accessible. We have a removable ramp which allows level access into the Lower Hall, but the Long Gallery, usually used for the wedding banquet, is on the first floor accessed by a straight external staircase. The newly refurbished WCs are located on the ground floor in the Lower Hall, but both the Ladies and Gents are up a few steps and we do not have a wheelchair accessible WC.


Is parking available?

Parking at the venue is very limited, but there are plenty of public car parks nearby.

Clearing and cleaning up

You will need to make arrangements to clear and clean up by 13.00 on the day after your wedding. We can provide you with contact details for a cleaner to help with this if you are interested.


Further Queries

If you have any further questions about your wedding preparations and plans, or would like to arrange a visit, please contact us, preferably by email to the address below, otherwise by telephone on 07389 063158 (please leave a message if no reply). We will be happy to discuss with you any requests or requirements for your special day.


THE FRIENDSOF ABINGDONCIVIC SOCIETY

weddings - the friends of abingdon · wedding hire at the abbey buildings we are delighted that you...

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