Venue Review: Crockwell Farm

Why book?

For couples who want authentic country polish – avoiding any whiff of cliché – 18th-century Crockwell Farm delivers without compromise. In the surround of as-far-as-the-eye-can-see acres of private Northamptonshire countryside, this family-run estate (and working farm) offers exclusive use for three days (read: all the space, none of the rush), allowing for an unhurried, without-a-hitch wedding weekend that breezes from ceremony to canapes, drinks to dinner to dancing, at your chosen pace. And with a winning blend of design-forward interiors, warm hospitality from a seasoned (and environmentally-conscious) team with you from the ground-up, this is the choice for an intimate rural wedding, full of heart.

Venue style:

You won’t find contrived notions of ‘rustic’ at Crockwell; instead the kind of grounded elegance, elevated Provençal design, and deep comfort – heavenly beds and sumptuous linens – only possible with the thoughtful consideration of dedicated owners. Over the last two decades, the Harper family has quietly grown Crockwell into the in-the-know word-of-mouth wedding destination, and a 2020 and 2025 refurbishment has expanded the offering further, with both the Farmhouse – notable for gorgeous, playful English interiors – now available for wedding party takeover as well as the addition of a handsome new bar space.

Set the scene:

Down a long, tree-fringed drive, Crockwell reveals itself slowly: a reimagined Northamptonshire farmstead sitting quietly at the heart of 400 expansive acres. It’s all big skies, sheep-strewn horizon-wide fields, and meadows that shift mood with the seasons. Think unsanitised English countryside, carefully edited: bursts of peonies and foxgloves in summer, crisp outlines and smoked skies in winter.

Event spaces:

The Vaulted Barn has long been central to Crockwell’s 18th-century farm. First an agricultural building, it has since been thoughtfully reimagined by owners Hermione and Bay as a deeply atmospheric ceremony space. The restoration retains honest charm – soaring oak beams and mellow honey stone walls – with space for up to 90 guests. Elsewhere, for al fresco ceremonies – particularly lovely in the bloom of spring – exchange vows at a handcrafted oak arbour in the Orchard, in the company of damson, lime and cherry trees.

Afterwards, guests spill through to the Gardens for drinks and games under the shade of the walnut tree — a centrepiece of summer receptions. That said, seasonal planting ensures beauty year-round (thanks to careful planning from Hermione), and the neighbouring pastoral fields offer privacy and bucolicism in every direction.

As the day progresses, the celebration moves to the Marquee, with seating for up to 200. Inside, expansive windows frame the surrounding Northamptonshire countryside, underfloor heating adds year-round comfort, and an interior dressed with hanging foliage and an integrated fairy light canopy. Couples have access from the day before, allowing plenty of time to make the space their own.

Food and drink:

Food is a cornerstone of the Crockwell offering. An exclusive partnership with award-winning Chipping Norton caterer Ross & Ross Events delivers highly eatable, fine-dining flair without being bogged down by fussy finishes. Working with the couple, who are invited to a menu tasting at their Cotswold kitchen HQ, Head Chef and Director Ross Whitmill creates ingredient-forward, seasonal menus. Think locally reared, salt-aged beef, with truffle mash and bone marrow jus; or sharing boards of line caught sea bream, pickled fennel and salsa verde for a summer feast. And then there are the bespoke elements, from theatrical snack stations – boasting oysters, a yakitori grill or a ceremonial Iberico ham – to the tactical employment of late-night snacks like crispy chicken wings and assorted mac n cheese.

Accommodation:

Set across the original 18th-century farmhouse and converted outbuildings, Crockwell offers eleven bedrooms, exclusively at your disposal for two nights. Many rooms are generously family-sized (including one that’s fully accessible), sleeping up to 32 guests in total. Of particular note is the thoroughly charming two-storey bolthole, Dryden Cottage, fully kitted out with self-catering options and, naturally, a lovely pitched ceiling, clawed tub, and idyllic paddock views.

From this year, couples can take over the entire farmhouse – complete with kitchen, snooker room and cosy sitting areas – an ideal set up for welcome suppers, lazy breakfast debriefs and cups of tea by the Aga. Morning spreads are served both days in the light-filled Breakfast Room, with the relaxed rhythm of a home-from-home.

The story:

The main farmhouse dates back to 1720 and, together with the surrounding fields, has been farmed for centuries. The Harper family has long stewarded the land; Bay and Hermione – who held their own wedding reception in the garden – lived and farmed at Crockwell for twenty years. First hosting a public wedding in 2002 in the old grain barn, the Harpers retain deep respect for the estate’s beauty and history, transforming a humble lambing shed into The Vaulted Barn ceremony space and a stable into Dryden Cottage. Crockwell has been shaped by continuity and care, shepherded by the Harpers tight-knit on-site team.

Eco-friendly

Crockwell is a sustainability trailblazer; shortlisted at this year’s Sustainable Wedding Awards and an accredited member of the rigorously-tested Sustainable Wedding Alliance. As a carbon-negative estate stewarding over 400 acres of rewilded countryside, the farm offsets more than it emits, thanks to flourishing wildflower meadows, low-impact energy systems and a no-landfill policy. Solar panels power much of the venue, with an on-site battery system and EV chargers en route. Strong ties with local growers are retained, from ethical florists assembling seasonally-minded florals to caterers who create locally-sourced menus.