01Orchards in
Orchards in
every direction
The venue sits in 150 acres of apple and pear orchards outside Upchurch. Every window, every photograph and every quiet five minutes you steal together looks out on countryside.
A Wedding Venue Near Sittingbourne
On Sittingbourne's doorstepTwelve minutes from town,
Twelve minutes from town,
a world away from it
If you live in Sittingbourne, you have probably driven within a mile of us without knowing we were here. The BarnYard sits in the orchards at Upchurch, about 12 minutes from the town centre. Our postal address is Sittingbourne, our postcode is ME9, and yet the moment you turn onto Oak Lane the town disappears behind you. We are family-run and have been since 1984, with a glass pavilion, a rustic barn and 150 acres of Kent countryside to get married in. Close enough for your guests, your suppliers and your morning-of nerves. Far enough that the whole day feels like an escape.
The honest comparisonThe countryside,
The countryside,
not the carpark
Most couples searching for a wedding venue in Sittingbourne end up looking at the same thing: a hotel function room somewhere off the A2. A perfectly pleasant carpeted space that hosts a conference on Thursday and a wedding on Saturday, with a carpark where your photographs happen and a corridor between you and someone else's Sunday lunch.
Twelve minutes up the road there is a different option. Here your ceremony happens under a gazebo in the orchards or beneath chandeliers in a glass pavilion. Your drinks are poured in a festoon-lit Courtyard. Your photographs have apple trees behind them rather than parked cars, and the evening ends under thousands of fairy lights in a proper Kentish barn.
None of that costs you convenience. Guests park free on site, the drive from town is short enough for a taxi, and there are recommended places to stay minutes away, including hotels in Sittingbourne itself.
Worth the twelve minutesWhat you get
What you get
out here
An easy journey for everyone
About 12 minutes from Sittingbourne town centre, and about 5 from Rainham. Close enough that nobody grumbles about the drive.
Licensed for civil ceremonies
Marry legally here in front of up to 200 guests, with the ceremony conducted by the Kent Registrars.
Food cooked on site
Locally sourced Kentish menus, cooked in our own kitchen rather than trucked in from a depot.
Two dressing suites
The Blossom and The Hyde Out, private spaces for both sides of the wedding party to get ready in.
One venue, five spacesSomewhere for
Somewhere for
every size of day
From 24 of your closest people to 300 at a full evening celebration, there is a space here to match. Every one is a short stroll from the next, so the whole day happens in one place.
01The Arboretum
Legally married, minutes from homeCeremonies with the
Ceremonies with the
Kent Registrars
You can hold your full legal ceremony here, no register office trip required. The Arboretum is licensed for civil ceremonies of up to 200 guests, and outside you can say your vows at the Lavender Walk Gazebo, in the Orchard Garden Gazebo or beneath the festoon lights in the Courtyard, with the countryside around you.
Ceremonies are conducted by the Kent Registrars. Our team helps you arrange the booking and talks you through the timings, and the registrar fee is paid to the registrars directly, so there is nothing hidden inside your package price.
If the weather has other ideas, the ceremony moves indoors and the day carries on. Nobody has ever minded chandeliers.
Clear pricing, no per-head surprisesFour ways to
Four ways to
marry here
Every package includes the venue, your coordinator and catering cooked on site. Pick the shape of day that suits you, then build an exact price for your date and guest count on our pricing page.
Traditional
The Arboretum · 200 daytime + 100 evening
The full wedding day in our permanent glass Arboretum, all-inclusive. Canapés, a sit-down wedding breakfast, evening food and a serviced bar, with five ceremony settings to choose from.
Signature
The Entire BarnYard · 200 daytime + 100 evening
Exclusive use of the entire venue, with the restaurant closed and every building and outdoor space yours. The only wedding here that day, with menus cooked on site and a luxury dressing suite.
Twilight
Apple Barn, Roost & Courtyard · 85 ceremony + 95 evening
A later ceremony followed by an evening party in the Apple Barn, Roost and Courtyard, under thousands of fairy lights. No formal sit-down meal, our in-house DJ included, bar until 11:30pm.
Intimate
The Apple Barn · Up to 30 guests
A private ceremony and sit-down reception for up to 30 of your closest people, with five hours of exclusive hire in the Apple Barn and Courtyard. All-inclusive, one simple price.
Want a number for your own date and guest list? See full wedding pricing, or make an enquiry and we will talk it through.
What couples say about The BarnYard
With love and excitement, The BarnYard FamilyRated 4.4 from over 970 Google reviewsFell in love with The BarnYard on our first viewing and knew it was 'The One'. We were shown around by the lovely Kirsty and she remained with us every step of the way, a touch that was really very special. Our twilight wedding in the Apple Barn was honestly magical.
What a fantastic wedding venue, so twinkly and beautiful! It was amazing that the catering was included, they were excellent with all our dietary needs, and everything was so delicious. The whole process couldn't have been easier. Choosing them was truly an easy decision!
We had our twilight wedding at the BarnYard and we couldn't have asked for anymore. It was beyond perfect. The staff were all amazing and nothing was too much trouble. Even if we had a million pound to spend we would have still chosen the BarnYard.
01/03
Our estate, hand-painted · Tap for directionsPracticalitiesGetting here,
Getting here,
from Sittingbourne
We are between Rainham and Sittingbourne, about five minutes from the A2 and ten from the M2. Put ME9 7EZ in the satnav and follow Oak Lane into the orchards.
- Address
- The BarnYard, Oak Lane, Upchurch, Sittingbourne, Kent ME9 7EZ
- Drive time
- About 12 minutes from Sittingbourne town centre, about 5 from Rainham
- Parking
- Free on-site parking for you and every guest
- Talk to us
- Call 01634 235059, Wed to Sun, 9am to 4pm
Good to knowQuestions Sittingbourne couples
Questions Sittingbourne couples
ask us
How far is The BarnYard from Sittingbourne?
About 12 minutes by car. We are in Upchurch, between Rainham and Sittingbourne, and our postal address is Sittingbourne ME9 7EZ. Coming from the Medway side, Gillingham is about 15 minutes and Chatham about 20.
Where do out-of-town guests stay?
There are recommended hotels and B&Bs within a short drive, including options in Sittingbourne itself, plus trusted local taxi firms for the journey home. We keep them all on one page: local hotels and taxi companies.
How many guests can you take?
The five spaces run from 24 seated in the Mezzanine up to 300 in the Arboretum for evening events. Civil ceremonies are licensed for up to 200 guests.
Can we come and look around first?
Please do. Book a viewing for one-on-one time with a coordinator, or come along to one of our wedding open days and see the venue dressed for the day.
With love and excitement
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.