Stories from Your Wedding Friend - The Wedding Planner's Blog
Barn wedding venues are dotted all over Hertfordshire, so when someone asks 'what's your favourite barn venue?' I get stumped. They all have so much going for them. So, what makes The Barns at Redcoats one of my favourites? Read on to find out.
Firstly, let's look at the location of Redcoats Farm. Nestled in the countryside between Hitchin and Stevenage, The Barns at Redcoats is not too far from main roads and all convenient access points as well as other hotels. Yes, this venue also offers hotel accommodation, 28 rooms including the honeymoon suite, offering a Classic, Superior or Luxury stay. Rooms are comfortable, classically stylish and even dog and/or family friendly.
The countryside location and age of the farmhouse and other buildings give you the most magnificently quirky and cool back drop for photographs: rolling fields and sunsets for miles, or wooden beams and brightly coloured bricks, or maybe the beautiful garden is more your thing. The main accommodation has a more modern feel and is secured for residents after hours so that other visitors can't get in.
The quirkiness continues inside The Cowshed with the fun art on the walls, which is the bar and main way into the main barn. The barn is an original part of the farm buildings (as is The Cowshed) though they were refurbished in 2018 and now come with all modern conveniences from fabulous lighting to plenty of power points. The barn can be used for your whole day from ceremony to evening reception, and they have a fab covered patio area, which is perfect for guest mingling while you do your photos and the room is rearranged from one part of the day to the next.
I love that Redcoats has a cart they can wheel out for your drinks reception rather than have your guests queue up at the bar. The cross-back wooden seating is very in-keeping with the oak beams and the funky furniture in the bar is modern but with a nod to tradition, much like the whole hotel. The comfortable and quirky bar is well stocked and a really good variety of drinks available.
Maximum capacity for ceremony and reception is 140 guests. Redcoats is licensed for civil ceremonies in the barn or outside under the grain store, which you can decorate as needed. It doesn't take a lot to make this stunning venue even more beautiful but rustic touches, gorgeous florals and delicate linens take this functional farm venue and transform it into an elegant reception space.
Having eaten here on several occasions now I can confirm that food is as tasty as you'd expect from an award-winning catering team, and menus are proudly seasonal and made with local and regional ingredients. Offering everything from canapes to hog roast, fine dining to bacon butties, the executive chef is sure to create a menu your guests will love.
Now then the elephant in the room: the price. The Barns at Redcoats falls into the upper end of a mid-price venue, it's not cheap but then for the quality of what you're getting here it's well worth every penny. There are ways to make parts slightly more cost friendly such as adapting your choice of menu, but given how little decoration is really needed here, you might be able to make savings elsewhere if necessary. The rustic aesthetic also lends itself to details like DIY table centres.
One of my favourite features of The Barns is that there's a very handy nook built out from one of the walls which is the perfect size for a top table with a backdrop or for your DJ or band a bit later in the day. But you've still got plenty of space for extras like a photobooth or magic mirror, as well as your buffet and cake tables and a candy cart or dessert table if you wish.
The Barns at Redcoats is definitely one of the best barn venues in the area and well worth viewing as part of your shortlist of Hertfordshire wedding venues. You've got all the benefits of the rustic barn styling plus gorgeous spacious hotel rooms all in a fabulous location and yours will be the only wedding happening on that day.