Kimbridge Barn
Food-focused reception venue in the Test Valley
Kimbridge Barn is a charming little cafe in the Test Valley to the east if Hampshire, positioned between the market towns of Romsey and Stockbridge. Extremely popular amongst those in the know and renowned for its food offerings by day in cafe mode, it also doubles as a fabulous reception venue which takes advantage of the comfortably sized and well maintained function space and outside courtyard. This coupled with a couple of other smaller adjoining reception rooms makes for a very flexible and versatile space. And as day moves into evening and the cafe closes you have the added advantage of having the whole site to yourselves for the rest of the day.
OVERVIEW:
Wedding guests will typically make their entrance to the right hand side of the building on arrival, directly into the private courtyard which serves as a the perfect space for our drinks and canapes before moving through into the main barn for a sit down meal and, later, the party. A large portion of the courtyard is covered with a stretch tent - handy in the sun as it's a real sun-trap there. To the side a couple smaller furnished reception spaces make for a comfortable additional space for your guests, and guarantee a covered area should the weather not be playing ball.
The food at Kimbridge Barn is a big deal. Main wedding meals definitely impress, but the same attention to detail is also extended to the canapes and other offerings, as well as drinks and cocktails. This is a reception option which brings a strong hospitality game.
PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES:
The barn and courtyard lend themselves very well to candid and documentary photos of you and your guests in celebration mode. More formal photo locations are a little more limited on site but are there if you know where to look (a couple of nice patio areas at the front and greenery surrounding the car park) - these are best taken advantage of later in the day when the cafe is closed and you have a freer reign over the rest of the site. Look just a little further however - a couple of minutes walk either way down the approaching road - and you'll quickly find yourself in open countryside with fields and tree lined paths on the one side, and views down the river Test on the other. This is on a little country back road so it's very quiet there, particularly later in the day.
PRACTICALITIES:
Loads of parking available, which is handy as you're definitely going to be arriving by car. Located in the heart of the Test Valley, Kimbridge Barn serves well as a reception venue after a wedding ceremony in Romsey, Stockbridge, Winchester or Salisbury in particular, and as a popular area for visitors you've got lots of accommodation options, tending towards the smaller hotels, guest houses and airbnb's.
