Wedding reception
CELEBRATE WITH YOUR NEAREST & DEAREST
With the barns and grounds exclusively yours, the celebrations can unfold at a relaxed, natural pace. After your ceremony, guests move straight into the walled gardens for a drinks reception, with the bar open and flowing seamlessly out into the garden. On warm days, the stretch tent offers shaded, comfortable seating - the perfect place for your guests to gather, chat and enjoy a glass in the afternoon sun while you take photos around the estate.
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As the day continues, everyone comes together in the Barn for your wedding breakfast, before drifting back to the bar and gardens as the evening begins. Later, the space fills with music, dancing and a lively party atmosphere, with cosy seating areas and a warm, welcoming feel that carries through until the end of the night.
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Whether you arrive with a clear vision or are just starting to plan, our experienced wedding team is here to help you shape a day that feels personal, relaxed and beautifully balanced.
Drinks reception
After the confetti has settled and a few photos have been taken, the day softens into a relaxed drinks reception in the brick and flint walled gardens. Tucked away and framed by mature trees, this sheltered, sun-filled space feels private and calm, giving your guests time to gather, talk and enjoy their first drinks together.
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The bar opens directly onto the gardens, with the stretch tent providing shaded seating and a welcoming place to linger, whatever the weather. From garden games and live music to the gentle hum of conversation, it’s a moment designed for unhurried celebration while your caterers circulate with drinks and canapés. On cooler days, patio heaters keep the atmosphere warm and inviting as the afternoon drifts on.
With no corkage for your drinks reception, you’re free to serve the wines, fizz and cocktails you love, making this part of the day feel both personal and relaxed from the very first toast.
Wedding breakfast
As guests are invited into the West Barn for your wedding breakfast, the space reveals itself in a moment that feels quietly special. Beneath a canopy of fairy lights and the glow of crystal or rustic chandeliers, the barn is set and waiting, creating a warm, inviting atmosphere for everyone to come together and enjoy the next part of the day.
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The West Barn offers a beautiful setting for your wedding breakfast, with space for your guests to gather around long tables or in a more traditional arrangement, all styled with lime-wash Chiavari chairs and natural finishes that suit the character of the building.
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Speeches flow easily with wireless microphones and a carefully designed sound and lighting system that supports the mood without ever feeling intrusive. Working alongside our trusted catering partners, you can shape a dining experience that reflects your taste and the style of your wedding, from relaxed feasting to something more formal - always centred around good food, good company and unhurried celebration.
Walled gardens
The brick and flint walled gardens sit at the heart of Cissbury, wrapping the Barns in a series of beautifully enclosed outdoor spaces. Guests arrive either through the secret garden or into the wide courtyard, where the pétanque court and open stonework create a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere from the moment they step through the gates.
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Throughout the day, the ceremonial and patio gardens offer calm, sheltered places to gather, talk and enjoy being together, hidden away within the South Downs. As evening draws in, soft lighting across the brick and flint walls brings a gentle warmth to the gardens, creating a setting that feels intimate and atmospheric long after the sun has set.
At the bar
The Cissbury Bar sits at the centre of the celebration, leading from the main Barn directly onto the paved garden and walled courtyard. With its comfortable sofas, warm lighting and relaxed, characterful feel, it’s a place guests naturally gravitate towards, whether they’re arriving for the ceremony or slipping away from the dance floor for a quiet drink and a chat.
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Open throughout the day and evening, the bar serves a wide selection of drinks at pub prices, alongside fresh coffee from the barista machine. From pre-ceremony coffees and post-ceremony toasts to late-night cocktails and an Espresso Martini or two, it’s a welcoming, lively space that keeps the atmosphere flowing from afternoon into evening and long after the music begins.
Under the stretch tent
Set beside the bar and main Barn, the stretch tent creates a relaxed indoor–outdoor space that becomes a natural gathering point on the patio throughout the day. It offers shelter from the sun or a passing shower while still keeping you connected to the gardens and the gentle rhythm of the celebration.
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Inside, comfortable sofas, chairs and high tables invite guests to settle in, chat and linger, whether it’s over a coffee after your wedding breakfast or a quiet drink between dances. As evening falls, festoon lighting and outdoor heaters bring a warm glow to the space, creating a welcoming atmosphere that feels just as inviting after dark.
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With room for everything from sweet tables and cards to photo booths and late-night lounging, the stretch tent adds another beautiful layer to the flow of your day, giving your guests space to move, relax and enjoy every moment at Cissbury.
The party
As day turns to evening, the Barns begin to change their mood. Lights soften, music drifts through the space and the atmosphere shifts from celebration to something a little more electric. It’s the moment when heels come off, jackets are loosened and the party truly begins.
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While evening guests arrive and gather in the bar and beneath the stretch tent, the main Barn is transformed for dancing. Your band or DJ sets the tone for your first dance, before the night unfolds into music, laughter and a dance floor that stays busy until the very end.
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With the bar opening directly onto the Barn and patio, guests can move easily between dancing, drinks and catching up with friends, creating a relaxed, lively flow that keeps the energy going all night long.
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