The Great Barn

The Great Barn is an exclusive-use barn wedding venue near Exeter in Devon, combining historic character with a beautiful countryside setting. The impressive medieval barn provides a dramatic space for ceremonies, feasting and dancing, while pretty gardens and surrounding grounds offer plenty of opportunities for outdoor celebrations and photographs.

Available exclusively from Friday morning until Sunday evening, the estate allows couples to settle in, celebrate and spend time with their loved ones across an entire weekend rather than a single day.

The Great Barn at a glance

Location: Higher Ashton, near Exeter, Devon
Setting: Private 120-acre country estate in the Teign Valley
Venue type: Exclusive-use barn and country estate wedding venue
Exclusive use: Yes – from Friday morning until Sunday evening
Wedding capacity: Up to 200 guests for ceremonies, 198 for seated celebrations and 300 for evening receptions
Small and intimate weddings: Yes
Indoor ceremonies: Yes – The Great Barn
Outdoor ceremonies: Yes – licensed garden ceremony space
Licensed for: Civil ceremonies and civil partnerships
Church weddings: Yes – the village church is a short walk from the estate
Accommodation: Three onsite properties sleeping up to 30 guests
Catering: In-house chefs and bespoke wedding menus
Bar: Licensed bar in the Roundhouse
Wedding planning: Full coordination from the venue’s experienced team
Dog-friendly: Yes – dog-friendly accommodation is available
Parking: Ample onsite parking
Additional spaces: The West Barn, Roundhouse, courtyard and gardens
Leisure: Heated outdoor swimming pool from spring to autumn

Why couples choose The Great Barn

Set amid rolling countryside in the Teign Valley, The Great Barn offers the privacy and freedom of a country estate with the atmosphere of one of Devon’s most impressive historic barns.

Known as the “thatched cathedral”, the magnificent 15th-century barn sits at the heart of the estate. Soaring oak beams, ancient stone walls and a dramatic vaulted ceiling create an unforgettable setting for ceremonies, feasting and dancing, while its clean, understated interior provides a versatile canvas for styling.

The entire estate is exclusively yours for the weekend. With no other weddings, shared spaces or visiting guests, couples can shape the celebrations around themselves and enjoy unhurried time with friends and family from their arrival on Friday until the final farewells on Sunday.

Ceremonies, feasting and dancing

The Great Barn is licensed for civil ceremonies and can accommodate up to 200 guests for the vows. Afterwards, it can be styled with round tables for up to 177 guests or trestle tables for up to 198, before welcoming as many as 300 guests for the evening reception.

Its impressive scale makes it well suited to a large celebration, while atmospheric lighting, underfloor heating and the warmth of the historic stone and timber ensure the space retains a sense of intimacy.

Couples dreaming of marrying outside can exchange vows in the gardens, surrounded by views across the estate and the Teign Valley. The village church is also just a short walk away, providing another option for the ceremony before returning to the barn for the reception.

Attached to the barn, the characterful Roundhouse houses the licensed bar and can also be used for evening food or as a dedicated children’s space.

A weekend in the Devon countryside

With the estate exclusively available from Friday morning until Sunday evening, there is time to turn the wedding into a full countryside escape.

The light-filled West Barn hosts relaxed Friday suppers and Sunday brunches, allowing loved ones to gather before the main event and come together again the following morning. During the reception, it can also become a peaceful chill-out room, children’s area or space for tea and coffee away from the dance floor.

Outside, the medieval courtyard has a pizza oven and fire pit, while 120 acres of pasture, woodland and gardens provide countless settings for photographs and quiet moments together. Lawn games bring an easy sense of fun to drinks receptions, and guests staying onsite can enjoy the heated outdoor pool between spring and autumn.

Feast your way

Food is an integral part of weddings at The Great Barn. The venue’s in-house chefs work with each couple to create a menu around their tastes, taking the celebrations from canapés and the wedding breakfast to evening food and relaxed meals across the weekend.

The team can also provide supper on Friday and breakfast or brunch on Sunday, making it possible to gather around the table more than once and enjoy the estate long after the last dance.

Full wedding coordination is included, with the experienced team supporting couples throughout the planning process and ensuring the weekend runs smoothly.

Stay on the estate

Onsite accommodation allows up to 30 of your closest friends and family to stay together across three self-catering properties.

Place, the Grade II* listed main house, sleeps between 12 and 17 guests and includes a separate private apartment. St Nectan sleeps between six and eight, while Figgy Cottage sleeps four or five and has its own walled garden.

The properties surround the courtyard, keeping the wedding party close while providing space and privacy. Dog-friendly stays are also available, while nearby cottages, pubs and accommodation in Exeter offer plenty of options for additional guests.

With time for relaxed preparations, a pre-wedding supper and a leisurely Sunday gathering, the accommodation helps transform the occasion into a true destination wedding weekend.

Combining a spectacular medieval barn, 120 acres of private countryside, exceptional food and onsite accommodation, The Great Barn is a distinctive choice for couples seeking a luxurious yet relaxed barn wedding near Exeter.

Perfect for…

Barn weddings • Exclusive-use weddings • Country estate weddings • Weekend weddings • Large weddings • Outdoor ceremonies • Church weddings • Weddings with onsite accommodation • Foodie weddings • Dog-friendly weddings • Luxury weddings • Weddings near Exeter • Devon countryside weddings.

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