Weddings
Downham Hall is an Exclusive Country House Wedding Venue in Essex
Hello & Welcome
Downham Hall
Downham Hall is a beautiful family-run Georgian manor house set in the heart of stunning Essex countryside between Billericay and Wickford. Winner of Manor House and Boutique Wedding Venue of the Year at the 2026 Essex Wedding Awards, we pride ourselves on crafting weddings that are uniquely yours.
Whether you’re planning an intimate celebration with your closest family and friends or a grand traditional affair, your wedding day will be tailored to your vision. As an exclusive-use venue, we dedicate ourselves entirely to your celebration, with a personal wedding coordinator by your side to ensure everything flows seamlessly while you simply enjoy every moment.
Wedding Open Day
Our next Wedding Open Day is on Sunday 10th May from 11am – 3pm. However, if you would like to view the venue before then we are open all year round for private tours. Send us an email or fill in the contact form below and we’ll find a time that best suits you.
Come and visit our award-winning family-run Georgian manor house and explore our three beautiful ceremony spaces: the light-filled Orangery with countryside backdrop, the elegant DeBeauvoir Suite with tall bay windows framing your vows, or outside overlooking our moat and panoramic rolling hills.
As an exclusive-use venue with on-site luxury accommodation, Downham Hall becomes entirely yours for your celebration.
Meet our team and trusted suppliers, as well as our dedicated Wedding Coordinator, who will be with you every step of the way. We’ll show you around, answer your questions, and help bring your vision to life. You’ll also have access to exclusive event discounts.
Complete the contact form below to register for your free private venue tour, or email info@downhamhall.com
We will only use these details to send you information on your tour time and a reminder for the wedding open day
Ceremonies
We are licensed to hold civil ceremonies in a number of beautiful locations, both indoor and out. Choose where to exchange your vows: in our intimate, light-filled Orangery, the elegant De Beauvoir Suite with tall bay windows framing your vows, or outdoors beside our historic moat. If you are considering a church wedding, St Margaret’s church is located just a stone’s throw from the venue and can comfortably seat up to 100 guests.
Ceremony Suites

The Orangery -
Our light and airy Orangery situated at the rear of the hall, overlooks the most beautiful views of teh North Wing Gardens and rolling landscappes. It is the perfect setting for an elegnat, intimate wedding, with natural decor to simply complement the beautiful outdoor space.
Capacity 40

The De Beauvoir Suite
The De Beauvoir Suite, named after the most significant family to have owned teh house in the past, carefully decoraed in tasteful colours, this is the perfect room to hold your ceremony, with panoramic views of the hills and a perfectly positioned bay window which outlines our wedding couples perfectly, whilst they sign the register.
Capacity 87

Outside Ceremony
If you would like to make the most of our stunning grounds, our lawns overlooking the moat are perfect backdrop to say "I Do'. Our wedding couples walk along the front of the hall to the rear of the grounds and enjoy country views all around surrounded by wildlife. secluded. quiet and teh perfect private area for our couples and their guests, this is a fantastic setting for our couples to enjoy and make the best memories.
Capacity 110
Our light and airy Orangery situated at the rear of the hall, overlooks the most beautiful views of the North Wing gardens and rolling landscapes. It is the perfect setting for an elegant, intimate wedding, with natural décor to simply complement the beautiful outdoor space
If you would like to make the most of our stunning grounds, our lawns overlooking the moat are the perfect backdrop to say "I Do". Our wedding couples walk along the front of the Hall to the rear of the grounds and enjoy country views all around surrounded by wildlife. Secluded, quiet and the perfect private area for our couples and their guests, this is a fantastic setting for our couples to enjoy and make the best memories.
Wedding Receptions
Following your ceremony, you have the opportunity to design your dream wedding reception. Downham Hall offers three beautifully versatile spaces for your first meal as a married couple: an intimate wedding breakfast in our light and airy Orangery overlooking panoramic countryside views, sophisticated gatherings in our elegant De Beauvoir Suite, or larger celebrations in our luxury heated marquee. Each space has been thoughtfully designed to create the perfect atmosphere for your day.
As an exclusive-use venue, you’ll have complete freedom to move between our historic rooms and landscaped grounds, ensuring your celebration feels personal and seamless. Whether you envision an informal BBQ and garden party or a traditional seated wedding breakfast, our elegant spaces and picturesque grounds are entirely yours.
Dining Capacity 50-100
Evening Reception/party capacity 180
Dining Capacity 20
Dining Capacity 25-36
Food & Drink
At Downham Hall, every wedding menu is created by the same talented in-house team behind our 2 AA Rosette North Wing Restaurant, recently honoured with Tripadvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Award 2025.
From the moment your guests arrive for elegant canapés during your drinks reception, through to a beautifully presented three-course wedding breakfast and evening reception food, every dish is crafted with care, creativity, and an unwavering commitment to quality using fresh, locally sourced ingredients.
We offer carefully curated seasonal wedding menus, which can be tailored to accommodate your personal preferences or dietary requirements. If you’re looking for international flavours to reflect your heritage, our chefs will work with you to create a menu that feels authentically you.
For your evening reception, our beautifully presented evening buffet is a firm favourite, or for something more relaxed, choose from our succulent barbecue options, playful fish and chip cones, or our much-loved stone-baked pizzas from our outdoor pizza oven. Whatever you choose, the same commitment to quality ingredients and skilful preparation runs through every dish.
Our Exclusive Supplier Partners
Bridal Dressing Room
Our charming dressing room, with views overlooking the gardens to the rear of Downham Hall, is the ideal spot to sip a glass of bubbles
and enjoy a delicious brunch platter…..the perfect start to your big day ahead.
Light and airy, this stunning room is every photographers dream for capturing those very special moments with your bridesmaids, before you say ‘I do’
This beautiful room has been specially designed and laid out with meticulous attention to detail and every need considered to ensure that the morning on your wedding is absolutely flawless.
Wedding Reviews from Tripadvisors
Posted on v-essexVerified Birthday Brunch Excellent family Sunday breakfast. Service always very friendly and food very good quality as usual. Lovely relaxed place here. Would definitely recommend either for breakfast lunch or dinner. Plenty of parking here as well. See you again soon.Posted on steveallen78Verified Just one night break Downham hall is a superb place lovely surroundings. fantastic service. And excellent food would definitely returnPosted on Jeffrey WVerified A wonderful stay Beautiful views of lush green countryside from every window. Bedroom was fantastic and bed very comfortable. Powerful shower with loads of hot water Food was of very high quality and wonderfully presented. The staff were very efficient and attentive. Could not fault anything.Posted on paulinerylandsVerified Wonderful Place This hotel is like home from home and because I travel a lot and stay in corporate hotels, which can be very sterile, Downham was a great find and I would recommend it to anyone who wants peace and quiet. A great location for the surrounding areas too.Posted on Kevin BlakeVerified Outstanding Venue We held an event for 86 people in November in their Marquee which was a resounding success so we decided to go back there for another event for 34 people in their newly refurbished North Wing Restaurant. Absolutely perfection. Room layout first class. Staff, they couldn’t do enough for us. Not just on the day but on the build up. So accommodating. Thank you to Christina, Debra, Ben and Andy in particular however the rest of the staff were first class. As for the chef, wow everyone said how good the food was. Highly recommend going there. Can also say others who attended and never been there before said they will definitely return with their family and friends.Posted on andy_jones595Verified Special place that we were fortunate to find. Needed to visit the area from Nottingham to attend a family funeral. Search on the internet helped us spot this Hotel and BOOKING DIRECT for a two night stay with breakfast secured the best price. Lovely setting, peaceful, very comfortable spacious bedrooms and welcoming attentive staff. The Hotel and rooms are decorated to a high standard. Breakfast is individually prepared and served in a lovely conservatory. Thoroughly enjoyed our stay and would return again at the drop of a hat if we are back in the locality.Posted on nhu50Verified Cupid’s arrow! Arrived just before lunchtime on Valentine’s Day. The food was divine and the service first class. Our room was really comfy and spacious. Pity it didn’t have a bath, but it provided the perfect sanctuary for a peaceful and relaxing retreat. The evening meal was equally tasty and the heart shaped spectacles provided, were a fun addition along with the helium balloons floating up to the ceiling, were a tasteful touch, informally creating a sense of occasion. Breakfast was great and the checking out process easy and straightforward. We only live down the A127, but Downham Hall is the perfect overnight stay, when you need a classy change of scenery.Posted on Marion0910Verified One of our most delicious afternoon teas We have just had a most delicious afternoon tea at Downham Hall. We would go as far to say it is one of the best we have had and we have eaten a fair few. From the lovely sandwiches to the freshly baked scones and to the little cakes which had been made so exquisitely it was all lovely. We were offered endless pots of tea and we accompanied it all with a glass of Prosecco. Considering the beautiful surroundings and the quality of the food it was all very reasonably priced. We would certainly recommend Downham hall and will return very soon to try a lunch.Posted on Jen MVerified The best location for my Yoga Retreat I held my Yoga Retreat Day at Downham Hall in February and it was the perfect day! From the setting, to the co-ordinating, the support and the gorgeous food - I could t fault it! Everyone who attended commented on what a gorgeous place it was. It’s so accessible yet it feels like you’ve escaped the busy life and found the most peaceful setting. Debra was so supportive and helpful from start to finish and I cannot wait to return soon for another retreat day. Thank you so much!! Jen - Mums’ Yoga Club
FaQ’s/Guest Information
Downham Hall, Castledon Road, Billericay, CM11 1LG
Telephone: 01268 422464
Your invitation will specify your arrival time, typically 30 minutes before the ceremony.
The bar will be open before and after the ceremony.
Last orders at the bar are at 11:45 PM, and we kindly ask that all guests depart by midnight.
Check-in is from 3:00 PM. We’ll do our best to have your room ready earlier—please contact us in advance to check.
Check-out is at 10:00 AM.
The Bridal Changing Room is available from 8:00 AM for bridal party members.
Yes, you are welcome to leave your car overnight at your own risk.
Only naturally dried flower petals are permitted to protect the local wildlife.
We accept both cash and card payments (excluding American Express).
Dogs are allowed, but please confirm with the bridal couple in advance.
The bridal couple will inform us of any dietary needs ahead of time.
We are unable to accommodate last-minute changes on the day of the wedding.
Yes, baby changing facilities are available in the house.
High chairs are available upon request—please ensure the bridal couple has informed us in advance.
Please supervise children at all times, especially near the roped-off moat area.
Yes, our venue is wheelchair accessible.
Disabled toilets are located in the main Hall.
Please let us know in advance if you or a guest will be using a wheelchair.





