10 Quirky Wedding Venues in the North East UK!
“Have you ever thought of getting married in a museum?”
It’s certainly an out-of-the-ordinary option, but it can make you wonder — where else can you get married? According to Confetti only 27% of couples are choosing a religious building for their ceremony, which opens the market for more weird and wonderful venues vying for attention! Everybody is unique, and we love that more people are coming out with more personalised weddings tailored to their passions. From the same survey, Confetti found that 14% of couples say they had unusual wedding themes, such as gothic, nerdy, or themed after a TV show, compared to 13% who chose a traditional theme. Since there’s a rise in unorthodox wedding venues, we thought we’d do a little research and find out more about the great places available in the North East that can host either your wedding ceremony or even the full day!
Hancock Museum
Have you ever wanted to get married by a T-Rex? Maybe you have a great passion for history, or you just really love dinosaurs?
The Great North Museum: Hancock offers just that! This great natural history museum offers its stunning galleries to couples for their wedding day. Situated in a prime city-centre location, it has great links to transport and accommodation for your loved ones, and can host 443 people! This venue can be a wonderful choice for those passionate about history, and a great way to integrate your enthusiasm with your special day.
Alnwick Castle
This great location offers a grand historic feel to your wedding day. Located in the lush Northumberland countryside, its picturesque views and backdrops make for perfect photo opportunities and amazingly romantic moments. Pricing can be tailored to individual needs, and if you plan on staying for dinner, Alnwick Castle’s head chef is on hand to create a bespoke menu to suit yours and your guests’ requirements. As part of the wedding package, Alnwick also offers Broomstick Training for the Harry Potter enthusiast, available to both the wedding party or the guests depending on your choices. If you’re looking for a wedding venue with grandeur and luxury, Alnwick castle may be the choice for you!
Beamish Museum
The open-air living museum offers its different sections to couples wanting to get married in this stunning location! A wedding at Beamish Museum can be held at a number of locations within the grounds; Old Pockerley Hall, with grand views of the Georgian landscape, the Great Shed at the Waggonway down the valley from the Hall, the Masonic Hall situated in the Edwardian town, the Bank Board Room overlooking stunning views of the main street, the Hetton Silver Band Hall located in the Pit Village (moved brick by brick from Hetton-le-Hole!), the old Victorian School Classroom, and more! All events are scheduled after the museum’s closing hours (between 3 pm and 6 pm) so there’s no chance of visitors interrupting your special day!
Tyneside Cinema
If you have a great passion for movies, this fantastic venue is the perfect place to host your wedding ceremony! Located in the centre of Newcastle, this venue offers its three cinemas for your civil ceremony; the classic cinema, offering all the style and glamour of 1930s Hollywood, the contemporary Electra cinema, with movie magic on its enormous screen, or the Roxy cinema, a smaller more intimate cinema for all your cosy wedding needs. This great heritage building is the last newsreel theatre operating as a cinema, with beautiful art deco styling across the venue, making it a perfect choice for film buffs. They’ll even provide the popcorn for your big day — perfection!!
Bamburgh Castle
Overlooking the grand Northumberland coast lies Bamburgh Castle, one of the best-loved fortresses in the British Isles. With five options for your ceremony and four for your reception, the possibilities are endless! Prepare for your ceremony in the magical Phillipa Tower, named after the Queen of England who stayed in the Castle in 1330, and take your vows across stone-flagged floors, surrounded by exquisite architecture and history. You can even have your ceremony and reception in a wedding marquee on the Village Green, allowing for beautiful views of the illuminated castle at night. You can discuss this and more with your designated wedding coordinator, who will make all the finishing touches to make your dream come true!
National Glass Centre
Just off the banks of the River Wear in Sunderland lies the National Glass Centre, a marvellous venue offering its unique rooms and style to make your wedding day perfect. They offer bright and airy spaces for your ceremony and reception, with floor-to-ceiling windows that provide incredible views of the river, making it a spectacular sight for you and your guests to enjoy. Their brilliant glass backdrops and contemporary art galleries present stunning photo opportunities to remember your special day by, as well as the nearby River!
Whether you have a large event in The Riverside Room or a more intimate affair in The Pod, a dedicated team of organisers will be waiting on hand to help you, not to mention a bespoke menu of delicious food arranged to celebrate your union.
Centre for Life
Another location in the heart of Newcastle, (and near Central Station for ease of access!) this venue offers a delightful take on the traditional wedding ceremony. The Centre for Life offers a dedicated events team to handle your wedding day needs, and the Centre only hosts one wedding per day so you know that your event is a top priority. They offer gorgeous traditional suites for ceremonies, but if that isn’t up to your tastes, you can always be married in the spectacular planetarium — a 360-degree dome overhead screen for live-sky shows, or whatever you desire to be your background for your ceremony. On top of that, you can organise with the events team to have a completely personalised menu for your reception from an skilled team of chefs, to really round off your perfect day.
Lindisfarne Castle
Located on the rocky cliffs of Holy Island lies the historic Lindisfarne Castle, a beautiful romantic Northumberland venue run by the National Trust. While bookings can only be for an hour and dependant on the tide, this enchanting venue is definitely worth it. Choose between the two terraces; The Upper Battery with its gorgeous views of Holy Island and the Cheviot hills, or The Lower Battery on the opposite side with its far-reaching views off to sea. Either provide unbelievable backdrops for an unforgettable ceremony and wonderful opportunities for photographs that will last a lifetime.
St James’ Park
This grand venue is not just for football fanatics — it’s for everyone! St James’ Park is an fabuous landmark in Newcastle just a short walk from the nearby metro station, with spectacular views of the city and the famous football pitch. It holds remarkable conferencing and banqueting facilities, from the intimate Joe Harvey suite to the impressively large Bamburgh suite, or even the great Barracks which can seat up to 1000 people! Football fans will absolutely adore the Gallowgate club with its superb views of the pitch, and all couples receive a special commemorative gift as part of their wedding package. Your dinner menu is tailored to your choices by their award-winning chefs, including a buffet service should you desire. St James’ Park is a wonderful choice, with incredible staff on hand to really make your day feel special.
High House Farm Brewery
A 200-acre working farm near the brilliant and historic Hadrian’s Wall, this could be the perfect rural venue for your wedding! With a variety of settings to host your ceremony or reception (or both!), everything is tailored to how you want to celebrate. Want an outdoor wedding in the sun? You got it! Prefer an indoor cosier setting? Yes indeed! There’s no hire charge for the venue either, and menus are priced individually in order to fit with your requirements, so budgeting is a breeze! There’s no set wedding package to choose from, since in their own words “it is your day, not ours, we are just here to help make it happen.” With flexible planning and beautiful scenery, this may be the perfect venue for your special day.
It’s so great to see such wonderful places in the North East open themselves up for couples on their wedding day — even if it’s only for a few hours! Having an alternative to the traditional venue gives couples a great opportunity to really surround themselves with the people they love while also being in the place they love. A place that they can share their passions with, that lets them truly be themselves. These kinds of venues open up all kinds of doors as well — varied entertainment, stunning backdrops, unique settings and more! What’s your favourite quirky venue in the North East? Let us know in the comments or via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!
See you next week.
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