Week five of the COVID-19 lockdown and I have another venue to showcase with you all through my 'Venue Directory' series, and this one is a SERIOUS beauty!
If you've followed my work for the past few years you'll know this next venue is one I work at a lot, and one I seriously LOVE.
Welcome to Askham Hall!
Just a 25 minute drive from my front door, Askham Hall is a haven for me whether I'm shooting weddings, nipping out for lunch in the sunshine at their Garden Cafe, or treating myself to a Michelin Star restaurant experience. In the Summer I will honestly make any excuse to grab a wood-fired pizza from their Garden Cafe and chill (usually with a friend and their dog) in the sunshine.
However, when it comes to weddings this venue really does come alive! With two stunning churches within half a mile (one is only a SUPER short walk just down the hill - no transport needed - with a secret passageway through the garden for the bride) as well as being an approved venue for civil ceremonies both indoors and out. Those Summer outdoor ceremonies are a dream come true in the outstanding gardens!
Askham Hall provides the most luxurious and tranquil setting with on site accommodation which includes 19 bedrooms that all include access to their outdoor heated pool and jacuzzi during the summer months as well as a Swedish sauna. Combine this with their beautifully manicured gardens that are filled with colour throughout the year, you might just have your perfect wedding setting!
Whether you have a wedding of 20, or a wedding of 150+, Askham Hall can accommodate anything your heart desires! Their bespoke experience is what everyone is after, from intimate weddings of 2-40 people set in the main house followed by your wedding breakfast in one of the private dining rooms, to their more classic wedding with up to 156 guests able to be seated in their charming Grade II listed Bank Barn followed by up to 200 evening guests. OR, if you're looking for something a little larger between 156-320 they even have complete bespoke options for you to choose between!
But do you want to know what I look forward to most about Askham Hall weddings?! YEP, you guessed it! THE FOOD! By far Askham Hall is up there with my all time favourite wedding food venues. Without fail, the entire meal is to die for! With great sized portions, locally sourced food, and wonderful chef's (Gluten Free isn't a problem in the slightest) every meal I've eaten here has been a dream and is certainly something I look forward to each wedding day. (I'm definitely a foodie... talking about being a foodie, you should definitely check out The George & Dragon too, owned by the same owner as Askham Hall, the quality is just as outstanding!)
I also can't compliment the wedding team more too. Professional, friendly and just generally absolutely lovely people! They know a wedding day inside and out, they stick to timescales wonderfully well and working with them is an absolute pleasure. They honestly make my job so easy and are incredibly thoughtful and considerate to all of my couples who have had their weddings here.
Askham Hall is certainly a must visit wedding venue if you're thinking about coming to Cumbria to get married, they might not have the classic Lake District views, but what they have is much more special!
For me, this venue will always hold a special place in my heart since I shot my very first wedding here back in November 2015, and it was in their grounds that I decided to plunge in the pool of wedding photography!
I couldn't recommend this venue more!
