Sopley Mill

(136)
£2,495 - £7,495 for Venue Hire
Up to 100
Bedrooms
Exclusive Use
Wedding Licence
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Description

Sopley Mill still has the stunning original features of the watermill with its oak beams, incredible views over the Avon water meadows and flanked on both sides by the river Avon. The wild location is stunning and completely private without a house in view – and just minutes from Bournemouth and Christchurch! There are 3 main floors to the building linked by a lift. The top floor (3rd floor) has seating space for 100 and a kitchen. The 2nd floor has a dance floor and ceremony room on it and the ground floor is a chill out/drinks area. We have two rooms which are licensed for weddings. There is also a bridal suite for your use on the day. In the summer months, the huge terrace is the ideal reception spot but in case it rains there is plenty of room on the ground floor for 100 people to have drinks inside. And in the winter months two log fires, plenty of candles and twinkly lights make the Mill warm, cosy and very romantic. Although the Mill fits 100 for a sit-down wedding breakfast it can fit 140 for a more informal style wedding or if you want more evening guests. Whether your wedding is small and intimate or a larger affair, the Mill is the perfect venue. We offer two different options for couples wanting to use this incredible building for their wedding. Option 1 is just hiring the building and creating your own fantastic day. This is for couples who want to design their own wedding and make sure it is completely unique. Option 2 is for those who want a bit more help and guidance and would like the Sopley Mill team to organise your day with you. For anyone wanting to organise their own day we have a list of well-known local suppliers who can make planning your big day a breeze. But that is up to you, you may prefer to do it yourself.

Personal Message from the Manager

Name of Wedding Contact: David & Lucy
Sopley Mill has been part of our family since 1870. We look forward to sharing it with you and your love story becoming part of The Mill's history.

Experience

Year Business Was Established
2013
No. of Weddings Hosted
More than 50
Public Liability Insurance
Yes
No. of People In Team
5

Overview of Sopley Mill

Wedding Venue Type
Barn
Wedding Venue Capacity
Dining Capacity
100
Reception Capacity
140

Wedding Ceremony & Reception

Church Within Walking Distance
Sound System Available
Dancefloor Available
Outdoor Ceremony Available
Wedding Licence
We are licensed for civil marriages and you can also make use of the village church St Michael & All Angels, or wed with a celebrant if you have done the legal part already.

Wedding Venue Details

Exclusive Use
Water View
Marquee Permitted
Bridal Changing Facilities
Pet Friendly
Disabled Access
Grade I/II Listed Building
On-Site Parking
Outdoor Reception Space
In-House Wedding Coordinator
Riverside setting

Wedding Catering

External Catering Permitted
No Corkage Charge for Own Alcohol
Alcohol Licence
Choose from 9 varied caterers to create your perfect day!

Pricing for Sopley Mill

Wedding Venue Hire Only
£2,495 - £7,495
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In-house Catering (price per head)
£23 - £160
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Packages (total price)
£4,790 - £7,790
Number of guests included: 40
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Reviews for Sopley Mill
(136)

Cocoa & Whey Cakes
Wedding: November
December 2024
A magical and idyllic venue!
Sopley Mill is a truly delightful venue, so full of character and in an amazingly beautiful and private setting. I'm always struck by it's singular charm whenever visiting. The team are super friendly and helpful and the atmosphere is relaxed, and magical. I'm always struck by how different the Mill looks for every wedding and how much it lets couples show off their unique style and character and really make the Mill their very own. A gem of a find!
Maria and Jem
Wedding: December
December 2024
Flawless in every way!
If you are looking for a picturesque and functional setting for your event then you won't need to look any further as this venue ticks all of the boxes .......historical provenance..... ....unique architectural features.... ......heaps of character....... ....set in natural unspoilt river meadow with perfect 360degree views... .....Functional layout with multiple areas..... There are too many superlatives to mention here so go and have a look!!
Romeo and Juliet
Happy couple married in August
November 2024
The best day ever
Wow! words can't explain what a wonderful venue Sopley Mill is. From our initial booking to our big day nothing was to much trouble and the whole experience was so easy and seamless. Tom's bar and our caterer on the day The Perfect Pig were awesome and our guests are still talking about the canapes and BBQ we had served to table not to mention the cocktails from the outside bar next to the beautiful river. If you're looking for the perfect venue you have found it.
Sam
Happy couple married in October
November 2024
Couldn’t recommend more!
Where do I start? We had the most amazing day and Sopley was just so beautiful. Communication was great. Kelly was amazing in helping us, even right up till I walked down the aisle. Everyone was so impressed by the building and surroundings. The venue was just perfect for a wedding, the Avon suite was fabulous to get ready in and having Tom’s Bar site was just so great too. We had 75 guests and I’d say that was the max number to be comfortable in the dining room with round tables, but with long tables I’m sure more could fit well.
Becki and Ben
Happy couple married in September
November 2024
Best day of our lives
Thank you Sopley for the best day of our lives. Your venue is just stunning and Kelly was amazing from start to finish helping it all run smoothly including holding scarves up to windows to help block the view of the bride from the people outside! Thank you so much for everything you did for us. The venue is just stunning and they have thought of everything but also kept it empty enough for you to fill with your own dreams. Amazing.
Kathleen and Bobby
Happy couple married in July
October 2024
What a wonderful day!
Absolutely stunning venue. Private and exclusive with beautiful views. The team are on hand to help with all the finer details and the day can truly be enjoyed by all. We had such a wonderful day/evening and couldn’t have wished for a better venue.
Response from the venue
Dear Kathleen & Bobby, we were so pleased that you chose Sopley Mill to host your wedding and delighted that on a very short time frame, you were able to put together your dream day easily with our recommended suppliers. Congratulations to you both and every happiness for the future to you and your family.
Venue responded
D & R Wedding
Happy couple married in October
October 2024
The most lovely venue!
We had Sopley Mill as our wedding venue and it was truly lovely. Both the inside and outside of the venue have fantastic views and is just beautiful to look around. Plenty of guests commented on how amazing the mill is and I am so glad we had our wedding here. The staff at Sopley Mill are incredibly supportive and helped ensure everything that was organised for the day went smoothly, I cannot say thanks enough to them. They have done an outstanding job for us, I could not be happier!
Katy and Gareth
Happy couple married in August
September 2024
The most perfect day at the most perfect venue
If you are looking for an intimate and rustic venue ,then look no further than Sopley Mill. It was exactly what we had pictured . A beautiful building set on the River . It is simply stunning . The low beams , exposed brickwork and beautiful natural lighting. It really is a dream. So much space yet not too spaced out that you lose everyone . You pretty much have a blank canvas you can do exactly what you want with . Kelly the venue manager is simply amazing. From start to finish she walked us through the process. Going above and beyond when linen hadn't been laid. She is a perfectionist and wants nothing but the best. She is calm , pro active and knows exactly what is going on ! Please do go and have a look !
Response from the venue
Thank you Katy & Gareth for choosing The Mill for your wedding! We have kept The Mill a blank canvas to blend in seamlessly with your choice of decor, your plans for your guests and the layout as you kindly explained works so well, as each level has its specific purpose for your activities during your day. Thank you for explaining how the information we provided prepares you, I am very pleased that our calmness with the registrars process ensured you had your perfect day!
Venue responded
Jo & Ryan
Happy couple married in August
August 2024
Such an amazing day and so many compliments!
Everything ran so smoothly, Jo and I had such an amazing day and we've received so many compliments from guests about the venue. We can't really think of any aspects of the venue that we'd change. As was always said by you, it's a blank canvas for us to make our own and I think that worked perfectly for us to put our own (very colourful and floral) stamp on it! Thanks again to everyone at Sopley Mill! It will always hold a special place in our hearts.
Sophie & Liam
Happy couple married in July
August 2024
Our dream outdoor wedding in the sunshine.
We loved Sopley Mill from our first visit and it got better every time we went (even in the cold and rain!). The venue is so beautiful that it hardly needs decoration and the flexibility of the venue meant we were able to make our wedding our own. The outdoor space makes for a perfect summer wedding with games and cocktails and our ceremony on the river was perfect. The staff always responded promptly to any questions and were very helpful on the day.
Response from the venue
Dear Sophie & Liam, thank you so much for your kind words and for using the Mill for your wedding. We agree with you and also love the fact that the Mill looks stunning even without any decorations. It is great to hear the British summer weather held up enough for you to use our beautiful riverside ceremony area - you were lucky this year! Wishing you both the best for the future.
Venue responded

Location & Contact Details for Sopley Mill

Wedding Venue Address

Mill Lane, Nr Christchurch, Dorset, BH23 7AU, England, United Kingdom

Nearest Town

Christchurch

Nearest Motorway & Junction

M27

Nearest Train Station

Christchurch

Nearest Airport

Bournemouth
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Sopley Mill Wedding Open Day

8th February 2025
This is a great chance for you to explore Sopley Mill and meet the team and a few of our suppliers including Toms Bars, We Perform DJ and an amazing selection of caterers. Book Tickets via Eventbrite.
Gallery
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FAQs
Find out a bit more from our FAQs

Describe the best wedding that happened at Sopley Mill?

There are so many wonderful weddings to choose from, we just couldn't choose one! I am sure our team can fill you in during your private viewing of The Mill.

What is your No. 1 wedding planning tip for couples?

Make the planning fun!

What’s your favourite personal touch you’ve seen at a wedding?

We have a very unique venue being a blank canvas we see so many different ways our couples add their own personal touch. It is really special.

Describe Sopley Mill in 5 adjectives

Exclusive, Unique, Magical, Romantic, Picturesque.

Where’s the best photo spot at Sopley Mill?

This beautiful building still has the stunning original features of the watermill with oak beams, exposed brick work and incredible views over the Avon water meadows. So everywhere is a great photo opportunity! The gardens and lawn are flanked on both sides by the Avon Millstream. The wild location is picturesque and completely private without another house in view – you would never know we are just 8 minutes from the centre of Bournemouth. We have a very popular photo spot at The Mill where the couple can get a photo before the ceremony without seeing each other which is extremely special and not something you can do in many places! Send us a message if you would like to see the photo.

Have you had any celebrity guest or wedding at Sopley Mill?

We once had Fleur East sing the first dance for a couple. She was their friend & bridesmaid!

What’s your favourite canapé?

Oh, this is a tricky one. Give us them all!

What’s your favourite midnight treat?

Pizza!!

What is Sopley Mill most unique feature?

The downstairs holt bar still features all the original mill workings. We also have a wonderful viewing window to watch the river run by whilst feeling cosy inside.

What part of your business are you most proud of?

Our fantastic team
Press & Awards
All our awards & press mentions