Wedding Venue North Yorkshire
It also gives your guests the chance to arrive properly.
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THE FORGE • BIRDFORTH HALL
A Relaxed Wedding Venue in North Yorkshire
At Birdforth Hall, your wedding begins the moment you arrive. With onsite accommodation, open countryside views and a relaxed North Yorkshire setting, family and friends can gather the night before, settle into the cottages, enjoy food and drinks, and start making memories before the ceremony itself.
The Forge is our exclusive-use barn wedding venue between York and Thirsk. Historic, warm and full of character, it gives you the freedom to plan a day that feels like yours, with indoor and outdoor ceremony spaces, flexible reception areas and personal support from a family-run team.
This is a wedding venue for couples who want time together, not just a timetable. Your closest people can stay onsite, the venue is yours to enjoy before, during and after the day, and the celebration has room to breathe.
Peaceful Parkland
An Exclusive-Use Country Wedding Venue near York and Thirsk
Birdforth Hall sits in peaceful parkland and open farmland close to York, Thirsk and Easingwold. It feels private and tucked away, yet it is only a short journey from the main road and rail network, making it practical for guests travelling from across Yorkshire, the North East, the Midlands and beyond.
The converted barns, lawns, mature trees and countryside views create a naturally relaxed atmosphere. There is no hotel conveyor belt and you will NEVER SHARE the venue with another wedding. Exclusive hire means the spaces are yours, the people around you are your people, and the day can unfold in a way that feels unhurried and personal.
Your wedding, your way.
Your Wedding Starts the Day Before
Access to The Forge from 12.30pm the day before your wedding is included as standard. That gives you time to decorate, meet suppliers, add personal details and settle into the cottages without squeezing everything into the wedding morning.
It also gives your guests the chance to arrive properly. Share an informal meal, open a bottle, make pizzas, enjoy the hot tubs or take a swim in the indoor pool. With laid-back music, good food and familiar faces gathering in one place, families and friendship groups can meet before the big day begins.
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Access from 12.30pm (day before)
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Decorate & meet suppliers
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Make pizzas & share a meal
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Enjoy the hot tubs & indoor pool
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Get to know your guests
By the time the ceremony arrives, everyone already feels at home. For many couples, that easy evening together becomes one of the most valued parts of the whole wedding.
THE FORGE • BIRDFORTH HALL
The Forge: A Barn Wedding Venue with a Story
The Forge was once a working blacksmith's forge and has been carefully restored as a light, welcoming wedding barn. For nearly 200 years, blacksmiths were connected with local wedding traditions: couples were married over the anvil and the hammer strike announced a new marriage to the village.
Today, the building keeps that sense of history while giving couples the comfort and flexibility of a modern venue. Natural textures, warm lighting, fairy lights and lanterns create an inviting atmosphere, while the open views and grounds offer varied backdrops for photographs throughout the day.
The Forge works beautifully for a seated wedding breakfast, speeches and evening celebrations, but it never feels as though you have to follow a fixed formula. It is a characterful starting point for your ideas.
Wedding Ceremonies
Indoor and Outdoor Wedding Ceremonies
You can hold your ceremony inside The Forge or outdoors on the south-facing lawn. Inside, the barn offers warmth, natural light and panoramic countryside views. Outside, the lawns and surrounding fields provide an open-air setting with the relaxed feel of a rural Yorkshire wedding.
There are also picturesque churches nearby for couples planning a religious ceremony, including St Mary's Church in Birdforth. You can then return to Birdforth Hall for drinks, your wedding breakfast and the evening celebration.
Whichever option you choose, the team will help you think through timings, layout and the practical details, including a comfortable alternative if the weather changes.
The venue
The Mediterranean Terrace Room
The Mediterranean Terrace Room adds a light, flexible indoor-outdoor space to the venue.
The Setting
Floor-to-ceiling glass doors look towards the gardens and outdoor ceremony areas, keeping guests connected to the setting even when they are indoors.
The Flow
Use it for welcome drinks, informal food, extra seating or a relaxed reception that can move easily between the terrace, lawn and barn. It is also a valuable weather option, preserving the open feeling of the grounds while keeping everyone comfortable.
The Forge
A Wedding Reception Shaped Around You
The Forge can host up to 70 to 120 guests for a daytime wedding reception, depending on how intimate and spacious you want the day to be. The barn, terrace, lawn and outdoor areas work together so the day can move naturally from drinks to food, speeches, photographs and dancing.
Choose a traditional seated wedding breakfast, a more informal menu or a festival-style celebration across the indoor and outdoor spaces. Birdforth Hall offers in-house catering services with menu options to suit different preferences and dietary requirements, alongside an in-house bar and drinks packages. If cocktails are part of your plans, ask about the venue's recommended cocktail packages.
As evening arrives, guests can gather around the fire pit and outdoor bar before heading into The Forge for music and dancing. Music can continue until midnight. Guests staying onsite can then walk back to their cottages without organising taxis or travelling to a separate hotel.
THE FORGE • BIRDFORTH HALL
A North Yorkshire Wedding Venue with Accommodation
Onsite accommodation is one of the things that makes a Birdforth Hall wedding feel different. Your closest family and friends can stay across four converted cottages, each with a private hot tub and access to the heated indoor swimming pool, Pizza Shack and wider guest facilities.
The cottages suit mixed-age groups, with a single-storey option at The Stables and a ground-floor en-suite bedroom in The Byre. Mill House is a natural choice for the couple, with its galleried landing and large principal bedroom with a super-king bed, walk-in wardrobe and en-suite bathroom.
Having guests onsite makes the whole wedding simpler. People can arrive the day before, wake up close to the venue and enjoy the morning after together, without the usual run of hotels, taxis and separate plans.
What Is Included?
Your exact inclusions will depend on the wedding package you choose, but Birdforth Hall's offering can include:
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Exclusive use of The Forge and the surrounding wedding spaces.
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Access from 12.30pm the day before the wedding.
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Use of the Mediterranean Terrace Room, lawns and grounds.
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A dedicated venue coordinator on the wedding day.
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Tables and chairs where included in your selected package.
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A sound system with PA, lighting, fairy lights and lanterns.
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An in-house bar and catering options.
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Onsite support and trusted supplier recommendations.
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Use of the heated pool, BBQ area and Pizza Shack during your cottage stay.
Ask for the current brochure and package information for confirmed inclusions, prices and accommodation options.
Personal Support
Personal Support from a Family-Run Venue
Birdforth Hall is run by Sue and Paul, and their personal involvement is part of the experience.
This is not a venue where every wedding is made to look the same. Some couples want help with suppliers, timings and the flow of the day; others arrive with a clear plan and need the space and confidence to bring it to life.
The team will be involved as much or as little as you need, while making sure the practical details are looked after. You have guidance when it matters and the freedom to make the celebration your own. Your wedding, Your way
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Birdforth Hall an exclusive-use wedding venue?
Yes. The Forge is offered as an exclusive-hire venue, giving you and your guests privacy before, during and after the wedding day.
Can we get married at Birdforth Hall?
Yes. The Forge is licensed for wedding ceremonies. Couples can choose an indoor ceremony in the barn or an outdoor ceremony on the south-facing lawn, subject to the current licence and arrangements.
How many guests can attend a wedding at The Forge?
The Forge can accommodate between 70- 120 guests for a daytime wedding reception. Confirm evening numbers and the latest capacity details when choosing your package.
Is there accommodation at the wedding venue?
Yes. Four onsite cottages provide accommodation for wedding guests. The current wedding material refers to 39-41 guests, depending on the package and sleeping arrangements.
When can we access the venue?
Access from 12.30pm on the day before the wedding is included as standard, giving you time to decorate and settle in.
Can we choose our own suppliers?
Birdforth Hall can recommend trusted local suppliers who know the venue. Ask the team about current supplier and catering arrangements, including any in-house services or requirements.
What time does the music finish?
Music finishes at midnight. Guests who are not staying onsite are asked to leave shortly afterwards.
Is there parking at Birdforth Hall?
Yes. There is ample free onsite parking for wedding guests.
Can cars be left overnight?
Yes cars can be left at their owners risk, however must be collected by mid day the following day.
Is The Forge Barn heated?
Yes we have underfloor heating throughout, if a marquee is added this will also be heated.
Should we take out wedding insurance?
We would recommend that you take out wedding insurance as soon as you have booked the venue and paid your deposit.
Do you allow dogs?
We take 2 well behaved dogs in each cottage, however we do ask that they are not left unattended, or that they are in a crate. We do have an excellent kennels Abbotsway which is a couple of minutes down the road. Andrea and her team also offer doggy day care. If you would like your beloved pooch included in the celebrations then why not have them as your ring bearer?
Will we be able to meet to discuss the wedding?
Absolutely, we will arrange a meeting to discuss your plans and go through our wine and drinks packages, caterers, timings etc.
Am I able to bring family and suppliers to visit the venue?
Yes just give me a call or drop me an email and we will arrange a mutually convenient time.
Will there be someone available on the day if we have any questions?
Yes, you will have a co-ordinator who will meet you the day before when setting up, run the rehearsal if you are having one. Be on hand for the day of the wedding to ensure timings run to schedule.
Is The Forge suitable for disabled/wheelchair users?
Absolutely, The Forge is level access with disabled toilets. If ramps are required outside or in the cottages this can be arranged.
THE FORGE
Book a Private Wedding Viewing
The best way to understand Birdforth Hall is to see how the spaces connect. During a private viewing, you can explore The Forge, the Mediterranean Terrace Room, the ceremony areas, cottages, gardens and wider grounds. You can also talk through guest numbers, accommodation, packages and the kind of atmosphere you want to create.
If you are looking for a relaxed North Yorkshire wedding venue with exclusive use, onsite accommodation and countryside character, Sue and Paul would be delighted to welcome you.