Venues Houchins
Houchins

Overview

  • All-inclusive Essex country wedding venue
  • Grade II*-listed farmhouse, modern barn
  • Licensed to host civil ceremonies
  • Elegant grounds and gardens for photos
  • Wedding ceremonies with 25-150 guests
  • Evening reception parties for up to 180
  • Tasteful modern and rustic interiors
  • Carefully selected, local caterers to choose from
  • Accommodation in the historic farmhouse
  • Romantic bridal suite for the newlyweds

Houchins

Located in its own pocket of the Essex countryside, just outside Coggeshall, this charming, characterful event venue is centred around a historic 17th-century farmhouse and an outstanding modern barn complex, all of which can be yours for the entire day. Hosting ceremonies and formal receptions for 150 guests and evening parties up to 180, each area within the barn has been tastefully designed and finished to create a rustic-meets-traditional ambience for every aspect of a wedding celebration.

Celebrate your wedding in the simply perfect surroundings, and even get married outdoors in the bijou Loggia, with your guests looking on under the protection of an elegant garden marquee. The experienced Houchins events team have several preferred catering companies who are renowned for providing delicious cuisine for occasions of all shapes and sizes, so you can rest assured you and your guests will be eating well on the day, and the farmhouse can offer accommodation for the wedding party.

History

Houchins is made up of a beautiful 17th-century farmhouse, worthy of its prestigious Grade II* listing, plus the excellent modern barn complex newly converted from utilitarian 1950s farm buildings - erected by the current owner's grandfather!

The farmhouse has records going back at least as far as 1411, but the edifice standing today was created by Flemish clothiers in the 1610s, perhaps accounting for its uniquely-styled façade.

According to accounts, the farmhouse was used as a staging-post for the Roundheads during the second siege of Colchester in the Civil War, and it's suggested that Oliver Cromwell himself stayed here during this period. A second, more recent claim to fame occurred in the 1920s, when the silent movie-star Tallulah Bankhead used Houchins as a refuge from London paparazzi.

Facilities

The Foundry And Chitting Shed

Housed within the barns, the Foundry serves as an open space for civil ceremonies, additionally turning later on into a fantastic nightclub for the following celebration party. At the conclusion of the ceremony, move through for a relaxed drinks and canapés reception in the adjoining Chitting Shed, featuring a large glass double door leading onto the west-facing terrace and gardens.

The Foundry Dance Barn has had a make over with new panelling, a sophisticated paint palette and air conditioning.

Civil Ceremony Capacity - 150 Guests
Evening Reception Capacity - 180 Guests

The Grainstore

Designed as the principal dining facility at Houchins, the former Grainstore with its large fireplace, mezzanine gallery and high-arched ceiling is perfect for a formal banquet or informal buffet.

Wedding Breakfast Capacity - 150 Guests

Ceremony Loggia And Wedding Garden Marquee

The open-sided outdoor Loggia, built for summer weddings, is the perfect setting for an outdoor civil ceremony, followed by a serene, romantic walk around the beautiful landscaped garden.

A marquee is provided for your guests to witness the ceremony from the shade, or to take shelter from any inclement weather.

Civil Ceremony Capacity - 150 Guests

The Drawing Room

This space is a peaceful location for more intimate gatherings and occasions. With its 17th-century oak panelling and ornate fireplace, the room is ideal for ceremonies with up to 25 guests.

Civil Ceremony Capacity - 25 Guests

The new Terrace Bar

Added in 2023 the new Terrace Bar is the perfect space to serve reception drinks from on a sunny day overlooking the wedding garden with some natural shade from the jasmine clad pergola. It also serves as the perfect spot to welcome evening guests with a selection of cocktails to get the party started!

The Dairy Dressing Room

Another new addition to this original venue is the Dairy Dressing room with dressing table, mirrors, sofa, fridge and ample hanging space with an adjacent shower room. This can be used for every wedding and when you take the house you get an additional dressing room so both parties have plenty of space to get ready with their respective wedding parties.

Catering

The cuisine served up at Houchins can be provided by any one of their short list of preferred local caterers, each representing a different style of food. Feel free to ask the Houchins team for their advice on which one would be the best fit for your big day.

Accommodation

Just 50 metres from the barn, the 400-year-old farmhouse can readily sleep up to 14 guests, including four rooms with private en-suites and two bedrooms with a shared bathroom. In addition, there is a beautiful stand-alone honeymoon suite in our custom-built Cart Lodge next to the farmhouse.

Special Offers

Fireside Wedding Offer

Save £3,000 with the special Fireside Winter Wedding Offer!

Couples can enjoy the full Houchins experience in low season when they book a weekend wedding. They offer accommodation in the farmhouse for up to 14 people the night before their wedding day completely free (usual cost £2,500).

This allows couples to take their time and set up the venue the day before (from 12pm – 4pm) and enjoy the full country house experience relaxing by the fire in the oak panelled drawing room before retiring for dinner in the adjacent dining room. And as an extra incentive they throw in £500 of wedding props.

Fireside Weddings available every Friday & Saturday throughout January, February & March 2025 where available. Also available Thursday - Saturday in November 2025. Venue hire only from £4,540.

Terms & conditions: We will give you accommodation in the farmhouse (the day before or after your wedding - subject to availability) for up to 14 people completely free - usual cost £2,500. You must book the house the night of your wedding to qualify for a free night in the farmhouse. The props included in the offer are: 10 x uplighters, fairy wall lights, drapes, LOVE lights, and a fire pit for the terrace. Offer is subject to availability and exclusive of any other offers.

Save £900 Off The Venue - key summer dates in 2025

They have a few prime Fridays and Saturdays left in 2025 and would like to offer you a whopping £900 off the price of the venue!

The offer is only available on Fridays and Saturdays from May –October in 2025. Please see the available dates below:

May 2025: Saturday 3rd, Saturday 10th, Friday 16th, Saturday 17th, Saturday 24th and Friday 30th

June 2025: Friday 13th, Saturday 21st and Friday 27th

July 2025: Friday 11th, Saturday 19th and Friday 25th

August 2025: Saturday 9th

October 2025: Friday 3rd, Saturday 4th, Friday 10th, Saturday 11th, Friday 17th, Saturday 18th, Friday 24th and Saturday 25th

2025 Twilight Weddings

Enjoy The Magic & Romance Of The Twilight Wedding At Houchins. Some couples are opting for a Twilight Wedding which begins later in the day and captures the magic & romance of the end of the day. It is less formal, and more party celebration rather than a formal wedding.

Twilight weddings start a little later – giving you a more relaxed start and more time to get ready with your wedding party and saving you ££. Arrive at Houchins at noon and if you book the house you can both get ready in style in our two dressing rooms discretely separated so there’s no peeking before your arrival down the aisle!

Enjoy your ceremony in our beautiful wedding marquee somewhere between 4-6pm followed by a drinks reception in the glorious wedding garden.

As you’ve started later in the day there’s no need for a formal sit-down meal (although you can of course have one if you would like to) so you can offer simple evening food either from one of our caterers or from food trucks for more of a festival vibe.

Twilight weddings can take place from Monday to Wednesday mid-season (except 20 Dec – 2 Jan) with the venue price starting at £2,730. Meaning that you can have your Houchins Wedding for just over £5,000 (for 80 people). We can host Twilight weddings for any number from 40 – 150 to suit an intimate gathering or a grand celebration.

*Not valid with any other offer. The Twilight Wedding is only available Monday – Wednesday mid-season. There is the option to have one of three Houchins drinks packages or you can have the bar open for your guests. We ask that you supply 1 drink per guest immediately after the ceremony. Available in 2025 only.

Wedding Open Day

Wedding Showcase - Sunday 19 January 11am - 2pm

For more information on this venue and its services, either visit the Houchins website for more information or simply click the enquiry tabs to be found at the top of the page.

Address
Houchins Farm
Coggeshall
Colchester
CO6 1RT

Reviews

  • August 2024

    I simply cannot put into words how amazing this place is, the grounds, the rooms and most importantly the staff. We were married in August. From the very first day we came to the actual day everyone & everything has been seamless & made our special day more perfect. A very special mention to Eloise - we would of forgotten something but her professionalism and attention to detail were invaluable. At Houchins we got the wedding of our dreams & precious memories to treasure. You're all outstanding!


  • June 2024

    Houchins were incredible from start to finish. The venue is stunning, the staff could not do enough for us. Eloise was fantastic. I couldn't recommend Houchins enough. My partner's words: "I don't know why anyone would go anywhere else!"


  • June 2024

    Everything about our wedding was exceptional. Houchins is a beautiful venue, with amazing staff & full of thoughtful touches. Some of our guests said it felt like a fairytale & we couldn't agree more. We wish we could do it all again. x

  • April 2024

    We loved the venue as it gave us a great combination of outside and inside the venue. The gardens and house were beautiful. The planning beforehand and on the day was great and made us feel relaxed. The Houchins team were amazing from start to finish. We loved the venue and getting married outside in the marquee was very special. We would recommend Houchins to anyone!

  • Callum & Grace - April 2024

    All the staff, Jayson & Eloise could not have been better, we can't put into words how great they were. Plus all the other staff throughout the process took all the pressure off us so we could relax and enjoy! We cannot thank you enough for making our wedding absolutely perfect! The venue itself is beautiful, but the staff are just incredible! Our day was so special - it was everything we could have dreamed of - perhaps more! You all made it truly unforgettable. Thank you! Love Callum & Grace

  • Emma & Tom Murray – 6th September 2019

    We're just back from our minimoon and now all the wedding dust has settled, just wanted to drop you all a note to say a huge THANK YOU for everything you did to make our day so fantastic. A lot of people had said to us before 'things will go wrong on the day, but you just won't care' – but nothing did for us! Everything ran so smoothly as we had planned and it was everything we wanted it to be and more.

    Thank you to all of you and your amazing team that make it all happen, I couldn't recommend you highly enough as a venue.

  • Jade & Matthew Rayner – Saturday 24th Augus

    What an amazing day we had, honestly we couldn't have asked for a better venue for our wedding. We had an incredible day and couldn't fault it. Thank you all for your hard work to make sure our day ran smoothly. Everyone was extremely helpful, Taylor was fabulous and nothing was ever too much. We are extremely grateful for all your team's support.

    What a day we will remember!

    Jade & Matthew

  • Laura and Matt Girvan – 8th August 2019

    From the moment we walked into Houchins we knew it was the venue for us. Not only is the setting beautiful, the staff are amazing. They have a knack for making your wedding feel like their only priority which made the lead up and the entire day feel so special.

    We couldn't have dreamed of a more perfect day and are so thankful to Houchins for making it this way.

    We highly recommend using Houchins as we honestly couldn't have wished for a more amazing day!

    Thank you

    Laura and Matt


  • Katie & Terry - Saturday 20th July 2019

    A bit of a delayed message but thank you so much again for making our day so fantastic – we couldn't have wished for more! Everyone at Houchins has been amazing. All of our guests have been extremely complimentary about the beautiful venue and how organised and helpful you all were.

    Thank you for making our wedding day the best day of our lives! We will always have such find memories thanks you all.

  • Amy & Stuart McGill - Friday 19th July 2019

    From the moment my wife and I drove up to Houchins we knew this stunning venue was where we wanted to have our special day. The grounds, barn and farmhouse are beautiful in every way and the team ensure every corner and aspect of the venue is of the highest standard. We can't thank the Houchins team enough for all that they did both leading up to our wedding day and ensuring our magical day ran smoothly. No request was too much, no question too silly and the day was perfect thanks to the amazing team and all their work behind the scenes.

    A special thank you to Taylor who was there the day we walked through the door to view the venue and one of the last to leave in the evening to ensure everything was perfect for me and my bride. Taylor supported us throughout and really did go above and beyond. Thank you.

    You guys really made our day special and your venue is head and shoulders above any of your competition (trust me I was dragged around the whole of the Southeast in search of the perfect venue!)

    Thank you Houchins, not only from my wife and I but from all our guests who had the most amazing day.

    Stu & Amy

  • Laura Jennifer - 10/08/2018

    Houchins is the best wedding venue. The moment we first walked around we knew it was the venue for us and we couldn't have been more right. We were lucky enough to be able to set up the day before and meet Jason who instantly made us feel at ease and reassured us that they would ensure that the day ran perfectly and it did! From Taylor helping us when we were getting ready, Jason during the ceremony/meal and Wayne in the evening they all ensured that the day went perfectly and the way we wanted. The vast majority of our guests have told us that it was one of the best weddings they have been to, that it really flowed well from one thing to the next and nothing felt rushed at all. I know I spent ages planning it but I also know without the Houchins team it wouldn't have been that way at all! We cannot thank them enough for going above and beyond on our special day. We highly recommend this venue because not only does it look amazing but the team which come with it are outstanding themselves.

  • Emma - 18/09/2018

    I cannot thank ALL staff at Houchins enough! Planning a wedding is hard work but these guys took some of the stress away by being with me step by step and always being available. Before the wedding, I went to most of the open events and was made to feel as if I was at home! The day before the wedding everyone was on hand to support with setting up and nothing seemed like too much trouble!
    On the day I could not have asked for more, Taylor was amazing as were the other staff and I felt like they were friends part of the day. The venue and accommodation are amazing and I have had multiple comments from guests stating that it's the best venue they've been to!
    If you wondering whether you should go to view Houchins or not, stop wondering and just do it. You won't regret it!
    This post could never be enough to explain how much we loved Houchins or how amazing our day was! Thank you all so much.

  • Catherine - 12/09/2019

    The most beautiful wedding venue. After our first viewing, we were so excited to be getting married at Houchins. We went to most open events just to have a look again each time getting more excited as the wedding drew closer. The staff are so helpful, kind and professional. They were always available when we had queries throughout the whole process also offering recommendations for suppliers making the planning easier. On the day the staff were amazing making sure we had everything we needed for the day to run perfectly.

  • Rob and Philipa Gould - 06/2016

    Thank you for all your hard work in helping make our wedding day an unforgettable one. All our guests had a great time. Some a bit too good!! And there were many compliments on a beautiful venue. Thank you for simply everything! It was all wonderful!

    Thanks again and best wishes for the future.

  • Katie and Robert Crouchman - 11/2016

    Where do we start? From the minute we saw Houchins we knew we had found our venue! From start to finish, the entire team was so helpful and patient! We are so glad we chose Houchins and received so many compliments from our guests about how beautiful it was. "Thank you" doesn't seem to cover it but we'll say it anyway.

    Thank you for all your hard work and congratulations on winning the award. It couldn't have gone to a nicer bunch!!

  • Rachel and Dan Jarvis - 19/12/2016

    Houchins is the most beautiful venue, we fell in love with it from our first visit. Everything is just done so well from the venue itself, the garden, to the house. There are also the most lovely, helpful & professional people who work there. I know for a fact without Jayson, Wayne & Taylor, we wouldn't have had such an amazing day. They were so flexible, nothing was ever too much trouble & they were invested in making sure we had the most amazing day! It added to the experience as you didn't feel like it was just another wedding for them & made it so stress free. Everyone commented on how beautiful the venue was & how smoothly the day ran, it really did make the perfect setting to our day. Thanks so so much! Can not recommend Houchins highly enough!

Houchins

Request Brochure

Colchester, Essex

Overview

  • All-inclusive Essex country wedding venue
  • Grade II*-listed farmhouse, modern barn
  • Licensed to host civil ceremonies
  • Elegant grounds and gardens for photos
  • Wedding ceremonies with 25-150 guests
  • Evening reception parties for up to 180
  • Tasteful modern and rustic interiors
  • Carefully selected, local caterers to choose from
  • Accommodation in the historic farmhouse
  • Romantic bridal suite for the newlyweds

Houchins

Located in its own pocket of the Essex countryside, just outside Coggeshall, this charming, characterful event venue is centred around a historic 17th-century farmhouse and an outstanding modern barn complex, all of which can be yours for the entire day. Hosting ceremonies and formal receptions for 150 guests and evening parties up to 180, each area within the barn has been tastefully designed and finished to create a rustic-meets-traditional ambience for every aspect of a wedding celebration.

Celebrate your wedding in the simply perfect surroundings, and even get married outdoors in the bijou Loggia, with your guests looking on under the protection of an elegant garden marquee. The experienced Houchins events team have several preferred catering companies who are renowned for providing delicious cuisine for occasions of all shapes and sizes, so you can rest assured you and your guests will be eating well on the day, and the farmhouse can offer accommodation for the wedding party.

History

Houchins is made up of a beautiful 17th-century farmhouse, worthy of its prestigious Grade II* listing, plus the excellent modern barn complex newly converted from utilitarian 1950s farm buildings - erected by the current owner's grandfather!

The farmhouse has records going back at least as far as 1411, but the edifice standing today was created by Flemish clothiers in the 1610s, perhaps accounting for its uniquely-styled façade.

According to accounts, the farmhouse was used as a staging-post for the Roundheads during the second siege of Colchester in the Civil War, and it's suggested that Oliver Cromwell himself stayed here during this period. A second, more recent claim to fame occurred in the 1920s, when the silent movie-star Tallulah Bankhead used Houchins as a refuge from London paparazzi.

Facilities

The Foundry And Chitting Shed

Housed within the barns, the Foundry serves as an open space for civil ceremonies, additionally turning later on into a fantastic nightclub for the following celebration party. At the conclusion of the ceremony, move through for a relaxed drinks and canapés reception in the adjoining Chitting Shed, featuring a large glass double door leading onto the west-facing terrace and gardens.

The Foundry Dance Barn has had a make over with new panelling, a sophisticated paint palette and air conditioning.

Civil Ceremony Capacity - 150 Guests
Evening Reception Capacity - 180 Guests

The Grainstore

Designed as the principal dining facility at Houchins, the former Grainstore with its large fireplace, mezzanine gallery and high-arched ceiling is perfect for a formal banquet or informal buffet.

Wedding Breakfast Capacity - 150 Guests

Ceremony Loggia And Wedding Garden Marquee

The open-sided outdoor Loggia, built for summer weddings, is the perfect setting for an outdoor civil ceremony, followed by a serene, romantic walk around the beautiful landscaped garden.

A marquee is provided for your guests to witness the ceremony from the shade, or to take shelter from any inclement weather.

Civil Ceremony Capacity - 150 Guests

The Drawing Room

This space is a peaceful location for more intimate gatherings and occasions. With its 17th-century oak panelling and ornate fireplace, the room is ideal for ceremonies with up to 25 guests.

Civil Ceremony Capacity - 25 Guests

The new Terrace Bar

Added in 2023 the new Terrace Bar is the perfect space to serve reception drinks from on a sunny day overlooking the wedding garden with some natural shade from the jasmine clad pergola. It also serves as the perfect spot to welcome evening guests with a selection of cocktails to get the party started!

The Dairy Dressing Room

Another new addition to this original venue is the Dairy Dressing room with dressing table, mirrors, sofa, fridge and ample hanging space with an adjacent shower room. This can be used for every wedding and when you take the house you get an additional dressing room so both parties have plenty of space to get ready with their respective wedding parties.

Catering

The cuisine served up at Houchins can be provided by any one of their short list of preferred local caterers, each representing a different style of food. Feel free to ask the Houchins team for their advice on which one would be the best fit for your big day.

Accommodation

Just 50 metres from the barn, the 400-year-old farmhouse can readily sleep up to 14 guests, including four rooms with private en-suites and two bedrooms with a shared bathroom. In addition, there is a beautiful stand-alone honeymoon suite in our custom-built Cart Lodge next to the farmhouse.

Special Offers

Fireside Wedding Offer

Save £3,000 with the special Fireside Winter Wedding Offer!

Couples can enjoy the full Houchins experience in low season when they book a weekend wedding. They offer accommodation in the farmhouse for up to 14 people the night before their wedding day completely free (usual cost £2,500).

This allows couples to take their time and set up the venue the day before (from 12pm – 4pm) and enjoy the full country house experience relaxing by the fire in the oak panelled drawing room before retiring for dinner in the adjacent dining room. And as an extra incentive they throw in £500 of wedding props.

Fireside Weddings available every Friday & Saturday throughout January, February & March 2025 where available. Also available Thursday - Saturday in November 2025. Venue hire only from £4,540.

Terms & conditions: We will give you accommodation in the farmhouse (the day before or after your wedding - subject to availability) for up to 14 people completely free - usual cost £2,500. You must book the house the night of your wedding to qualify for a free night in the farmhouse. The props included in the offer are: 10 x uplighters, fairy wall lights, drapes, LOVE lights, and a fire pit for the terrace. Offer is subject to availability and exclusive of any other offers.

Save £900 Off The Venue - key summer dates in 2025

They have a few prime Fridays and Saturdays left in 2025 and would like to offer you a whopping £900 off the price of the venue!

The offer is only available on Fridays and Saturdays from May –October in 2025. Please see the available dates below:

May 2025: Saturday 3rd, Saturday 10th, Friday 16th, Saturday 17th, Saturday 24th and Friday 30th

June 2025: Friday 13th, Saturday 21st and Friday 27th

July 2025: Friday 11th, Saturday 19th and Friday 25th

August 2025: Saturday 9th

October 2025: Friday 3rd, Saturday 4th, Friday 10th, Saturday 11th, Friday 17th, Saturday 18th, Friday 24th and Saturday 25th

2025 Twilight Weddings

Enjoy The Magic & Romance Of The Twilight Wedding At Houchins. Some couples are opting for a Twilight Wedding which begins later in the day and captures the magic & romance of the end of the day. It is less formal, and more party celebration rather than a formal wedding.

Twilight weddings start a little later – giving you a more relaxed start and more time to get ready with your wedding party and saving you ££. Arrive at Houchins at noon and if you book the house you can both get ready in style in our two dressing rooms discretely separated so there’s no peeking before your arrival down the aisle!

Enjoy your ceremony in our beautiful wedding marquee somewhere between 4-6pm followed by a drinks reception in the glorious wedding garden.

As you’ve started later in the day there’s no need for a formal sit-down meal (although you can of course have one if you would like to) so you can offer simple evening food either from one of our caterers or from food trucks for more of a festival vibe.

Twilight weddings can take place from Monday to Wednesday mid-season (except 20 Dec – 2 Jan) with the venue price starting at £2,730. Meaning that you can have your Houchins Wedding for just over £5,000 (for 80 people). We can host Twilight weddings for any number from 40 – 150 to suit an intimate gathering or a grand celebration.

*Not valid with any other offer. The Twilight Wedding is only available Monday – Wednesday mid-season. There is the option to have one of three Houchins drinks packages or you can have the bar open for your guests. We ask that you supply 1 drink per guest immediately after the ceremony. Available in 2025 only.

Wedding Open Day

Wedding Showcase - Sunday 19 January 11am - 2pm

For more information on this venue and its services, either visit the Houchins website for more information or simply click the enquiry tabs to be found at the top of the page.

Address
Houchins Farm
Coggeshall
Colchester
CO6 1RT

Reviews

Request Brochure