Help with finding budget wedding (ideally NW/N) London reception venue

[ninjayin]

Hi Mumsnetters :-) Would really appreciate any tips/help on finding a wedding reception venue after church wedding, in NW/North/Central London. We are planning a church wedding in Hampstead (our local parish church) for June next year. (I know it's ages away but both fiance and I are not from UK and in fact are from different continents, will have people flying in from all over the world so need to get organized!)

Ideally we are looking for country house type setting with own grounds, that allows outside catering/no or reasonable corkage. Fiance doesn't like pubs, and hog roasts not suitable for guests. Guest list max 60-70 including 10 children, and budget for venue hire+ food+ drinks+decorations is £5-6k max. Is this realistic?

I would love to have it at Pembroke Lodge in Richmond, but it's miles away, min 50mins drive - would that be too far for guests to get to?! If that's totally unrealistic, any other suggestions? I've looked at Avenue House in Finchley and Lauderdale House in Highgate. I love the surrounding grounds, however drawbacks are that the former has no space for dancing (and is apparently haunted) and the latter were not very friendly on the phone :( I also looked at London Canal Museum but seems to have mixed reviews. Can't seem to find any decent school/community halls near Hampstead. Please help - would be very grateful for ANY suggestions! Thank you very much!

PS: saw the thread on south London wedding reception venues below but wasn't sure if I should hijack it.

[Zipitydooda]

Hendon Hall hotel? No idea what it costs though

Or try some golf clubs in the area, some might have appropriate space to hire in countryside sort of setting.

[ninjayin]

Thank you Zipity! I looked into Hendon Hall but it's pretty expensive. Will look into golf clubs. Anyone else out there? There must be more ladies here that got married in London! Has anyone been married / been to a wedding at Old Finsbury Town Hall, BMA House or Home House? What is the minimum cost of self-catering at dry hire venues? I am getting quotes of minimum £85+VAT per person from external caterers...(i.e. £7K for 70 guests - so that's at least £10k for venue+food/booze, and that's before 'extras' like DJ, dress, flowers etc!) There doesnt seem to be an equivalent of Pembroke Lodge (£1.5k venue hire) a bit closer to NW/Central London. Please help - getting desperate!

[Crawling]

www.countryhouseweddings.co.uk/gosfield-hall/special-offers/ these do great deals if you get married short notice at the moment is June or July everything included exclusive use drinks 3 course sit down meal evening buffet. All for 60 guests and 12 rooms ( option to pay extra for more)included in the price for 5000. But if you charge 100 a room that cuts the cost to 3800. I went to a wedding in one of thier other venues and it was the best ive ever seen.

[forevergreek]

London zoo. They do a package for about 5k I think

[raisah]

This might be a bit pricey but check, the London museums like V&A, Natural history and transport museum in covent garden do receptions.
Or hire a restaurant because you will get exclusive use with the number of guests that you have. This will work out cheaper.

[raisah]

Or Kenwood house in Hampstead?

[Jellyhandsandfingers]

Have you tried Freud's house? I was going to hire this for an event a few years ago for work and it was surprisingly cheap. I think it's Belsize Park way.

Alternatively (and a totally different type of venue) there re a couple of really nice pubs on Hampstead Heath that were reasonably priced for London.

[Jewels234]

Hey, I can't confirm it, but I've got on good authority that Kenwood House on Hampstead Heath has no corkage for BYOB...saving you loads. Also you can hire a room there for only £1,000, and guests could have a lovely walk over the Heath to the house, saving you transport costs :) I'm guilty of not actually being engaged (yet!) myself, but am in love with the Orangery there for my eventual reception!