A Wedding Venue near Rainham & Gillingham
Kent countryside,
on your doorstep
If home is Rainham, Gillingham or anywhere across Medway, The BarnYard is closer than you might think. We sit in 150 acres of apple and pear orchards at Upchurch, about 5 minutes' drive from Rainham and about 15 from Gillingham, and we have been family-run since 1984. Couples travel to us from every corner of Kent, but for Medway couples there is a particular pleasure in marrying somewhere that looks a world away and is barely past the edge of town.
Marrying close to home,
and why it works so well
Most Medway guest lists are full of people from the same few postcodes. When the venue is about 5 minutes from Rainham, nobody has to book a hotel months in advance or slip away early for a long drive back. Grandparents can come for the ceremony and go home for a rest before the evening. Friends finishing a shift can still make the first dance.
It makes the planning easier on you too. Between booking and the big day you will visit us more times than you expect, for open days, planning meetings and the final walk-through. When each visit is a short hop rather than a day trip, all of it stays enjoyable.
And none of that closeness shows on the day itself. Once you turn into Oak Lane it is orchards on every side, and town feels much further away than it is. Your photographs will say Kent countryside. Your taxi meter will say otherwise.
There is one more advantage: you can get to know us long before you book. The Rooster, our restaurant, is open Wednesday to Sunday, 9am to 4pm, and plenty of local couples first saw the orchards over breakfast or a Sunday roast. Come for lunch, bring the dog, the Courtyard is dog friendly, and have a wander while you are here. No venue tour required to get a feel for the place.
“The most magical day, the perfect venue and setting for what we were after.” Kate Spice, married here in September 2024.
Five spaces
to make your own
From a glass pavilion for 300 to a private room for 24, every space sits within the same 150 acres. The festoon-lit Courtyard and our Lavender Walk and Orchard ceremony gazebos weave between them for vows, drinks and photographs.
Ceremonies for
up to 200 guests
The BarnYard is licensed for civil ceremonies, indoors and out, and full-day couples choose from five ceremony settings. Say your vows in the Arboretum beneath the chandeliers, outside under the Lavender Walk or Orchard Garden gazebos, in the festoon-lit Courtyard, or in the fairy-lit Apple Barn for an additional charge from £750. Then move straight into your reception without anyone getting back in a car. The Blossom and The Hyde Out, our two dressing suites, give both sides of the wedding party somewhere private to get ready.
One thing worth knowing if you live in Medway: ceremonies here are conducted by the Kent Registrars. Our team helps you arrange it, and the registrar fee is paid to the Registrars directly, separate from your package. It is a small piece of admin and we will walk you through it.
What couples say about marrying here
With love and excitement, The BarnYard FamilyRated 4.4 from over 970 Google reviewsWe had our wedding at the BarnYard in September and it was the most magical day, the perfect venue and setting for what we were after. We had so many compliments from guests on the venue being stunning, beautiful Kent countryside, gorgeous outside ceremony area and idyllic orchards.
A huge thank you to Kirstie and T for making our wedding day so special. Having viewed many venues, we chose The BarnYard for its wonderful atmosphere and charm, and knew we had found the perfect place. My makeup artist said the lighting in the Blossom dressing room was the best she has ever worked with, and it was reassuring that the Apple Barn could be used if the weather turned. Truly a hidden gem we cannot recommend highly enough.
We had a Twilight wedding at the Apple Barn in June. The barn itself is so beautiful with fairy lights throughout, and the courtyard is great for photos and for guests to mingle. Tscharna was our coordinator and could not have done more for us, calming any nerves and keeping everything running smoothly. We went for the evening BBQ and had lots of guests praising their meal. Would definitely recommend The BarnYard.
We had our wedding on the hottest day ever recorded for a May bank holiday. From our first visit, to booking, to the big day and afterwards, I have not got a single complaint. They were always on hand and no question was ever too much. All our guests commented on the staff, the beautiful setting and the food especially. We had literally the perfect day.
Wedding packages
from £3,450
Every package includes the spaces, the team and food cooked on site, with clear pricing and payment plans to spread the cost. Pick the shape of day that suits you.
Traditional
The Arboretum
The full day in the Arboretum. Five ceremony settings to choose from, a sit-down wedding breakfast and dancing into the evening, with carriages by midnight.
Twilight
The Apple Barn
A later ceremony in the fairy-lit Apple Barn or out in the Courtyard, then straight into the party. No formal sit-down meal or speeches, just the bits you actually want.
Intimate
Apple Barn & Courtyard
A private ceremony and sit-down meal in the Apple Barn and Courtyard for up to 30 of your closest people.
Signature
The entire BarnYard
The whole estate for the day. Every building and outdoor space, with the restaurant closed for lunch service.
Our estate, hand-painted · Tap for directionsFinding us from
the Medway towns
We are at Upchurch, between Rainham and Sittingbourne, about ten minutes from the M2, with free on-site parking for every guest.
- Address
- The BarnYard, Oak Lane, Upchurch, Sittingbourne, Kent ME9 7EZ
- Phone
- 01634 235059, Wed to Sun, 9am to 4pm
- Parking
- Free on-site parking, no permits and no time limits
- Drive times
- Rainham about 5 minutes, Sittingbourne about 12, Gillingham about 15, Chatham about 20, and Maidstone about 25 via the A249 and M2. Rochester and Strood follow the same M2 corridor.
- Taxis & stays
- At the end of the night, local firms such as Rainham Cabs and Grab-A-Cab know the venue well. Staying over? Green Farmhouse is a 2-minute drive away and the Premier Inn at Rainham is close by, with more on our hotels and taxis page.
Questions Medway
couples ask us
We live in Chatham. Is The BarnYard realistic for our guests?
Very. Chatham is about 20 minutes away along the M2, and Rochester and Strood sit on the same road. With free on-site parking and short taxi runs home, guests from any of the Medway towns can stay to the very end without worrying about the journey back.
Can we hold the ceremony and reception in one place?
Yes. We are licensed for civil ceremonies of up to 200 guests, and full-day couples choose from five ceremony settings, from the Arboretum and the Apple Barn indoors to the Lavender Walk and Orchard Garden gazebos and the festoon-lit Courtyard outside. Ceremonies are conducted by the Kent Registrars, our team helps you arrange it, and the whole day then unfolds on one estate.
What does a wedding here cost?
Twilight weddings start from £3,450 venue hire, the Intimate package from £5,000 all-inclusive for up to 30 guests, and the full-day Traditional package from £6,750 all-inclusive. The Signature package, full private hire of the whole estate, is priced on request. Every figure is set out on our pricing page, with payment plans to spread the cost.
Can we come and look around before deciding?
Please do, it is the best way to choose. Our free wedding open days let you see the venue dressed for a real wedding, or you can book a private tour on a quieter day. Being local, you can even scout it over breakfast at our restaurant first.
Is the ceremony here legally binding, or do we need the register office first?
The BarnYard is a licensed wedding venue, so your legal civil ceremony happens here, conducted by a registrar from the Kent Registrars, with no separate trip on the day. Our civil ceremonies page covers how the arranging works and what is paid to the Registrars directly.
Where do out-of-town guests stay?
Green Farmhouse is a 2-minute drive from the venue and the Premier Inn at Rainham is around 2 miles away, with more stays listed on our hotels and taxis page. Most Medway guests simply head home.
Come and see The BarnYard for yourself
The BarnYard truly has to be seen to be believed, especially once the sun sets and thousands of fairy lights bring the venue to life. Book a viewing with our wedding team.