Sopley Mill

(111)
£1,495 - £6,975 for Venue Hire
Up to 100
Bedrooms
Exclusive Use
Wedding Licence
Instant Brochure!
Receive it immediately
Late Availability
Last Minute Dates Available
Spring & Summer Weddings 2024
A stunning, renovated watermill. Exclusively yours, the Mill provides privacy and flexibility for you to create your own unique wedding or event.
Sopley Mill Pricing & Costs

Venue Hire Only

Prices Start At
£1,495
Maximum Price
£6,975
What’s included... ▪ Exclusive use of Sopley Mill and it’s garden until 12 pm (Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays) & 11 pm (Weekdays) ▪ Choice of 2 rooms locations licensed for Registrar weddings (Registrar’s fee not included) ▪ Round tables to seat up to 100 people, 5 long trestle tables ▪ 100 chairs for the Granary & 100 chairs for the River View dining room
What is included in this pricing:
Furniture included
Exclusive use
Choice of preferred caterers

In-house catering
(price per head)

Prices Start At
£23
Maximum Price
£7,495
To safe guard and protect the Mill from damage all events at Sopley Mill need to select a caterer from our extensive list of suppliers. These are caterers who have worked at the Mill successfully in the past. They all know the building, how it works, and what equipment we have and therefore what they need to bring with them. Most importantly they have the answers to your questions. There are plenty of options to choose from including a number of local award winning wedding caterers to mid-range but passionately run smaller caterers and quirky options such as hog roasts, paella and even a jalopy with a wood burning pizza oven in it! Please send us a message for more details on these.
What is included in this pricing:
No corkage fee
Bespoke menu available
Multiple course wedding breakfast

Packages
(total price)

Prices Start At
£4,790
Maximum Price
£7,790
Number of Guests Included
40
We are now offering off peak package weddings. This option is for those who want a bit more help and guidance and would like the Sopley Mill team to organise your day with you. This option runs only Sunday-Wednesdays, our off-peak days. This includes your venue, food, drink, DJ and wedding coordinator. Our minimum guest number for this is 40 adults. Whats Included? ▪Exclusive Hire of Sopley Mill & its beautiful lit grounds until (11pm weekdays, 12am weekends) ▪Choice of two rooms for registrar wedding (registrar's fee not included) ▪10 Round tables, 5 long trestle tables ▪Chairs for the wedding breakfast and ceremony ▪Free parking for you and your guests (up to 80 car spaces) ▪Easels available for your table plan and order of the day ▪An on the day wedding coordinator - with two meetings prior to your wedding day ▪A brilliant drinks package provided by Tom's Bars. This includes a glass of Prosecco for the drinks reception, half a bottle of premium chilean sauvignon blanc or merlot for the wedding breakfast and a Prosecco for the toast per guest ▪Childrens squash included ▪Full service of drinks and food ▪Glassware, linen, crockery Included ▪We Perform DJ service from 7:30pm - close ▪Full clearance package (Toms Bars will clear and carefully package away any decorations ready for collection the following morning)
What is included in this pricing:
Exclusive use
Canapés included
Furniture included
Wedding coordinator available on the day
Multiple course wedding breakfast
Non consumables (e.g. linen, lights etc.)
Wine / soft drinks allowance per guest
Latest from Instagram
Sopley Mill Features & Capacity

Overview

Venue Type
Barn
Dining Capacity
100
Reception Capacity
140
Usual Access Time
09:00 AM
Usual Finish Time
12:00 AM

Ceremony & Reception

Church Within Walking Distance
Sound System Available
Dancefloor Available
Outdoor Ceremony Available
Wedding Licence

Venue

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

Food and Drink

External Catering Permitted
No Corkage Charge for Own Alcohol
Alcohol Licence
Choose from 9 varied caterers to create your perfect day!
Sopley Mill Full 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
Sopley Mill has been part of my family since 1870. We look forward to sharing it with you.

Experience

Year Business Was Established
2013
No. of Weddings Hosted
More than 50
Public Liability Insurance
Yes
No. of People In Team
5
Reviews
(111)
Rebecca Exworth
Happy couple married in December
January 2024
Exworth Wedding
We just wanted to write and say how amazing Sopley Mill was for our wedding. The venue is truly magical and beautiful. The staff worked with us from day one to help create the day we really wanted with lots of little touches along the way. They even help us surprise our guests with a Gary Barlow tribute act. Thank you Sopley
Ian & Emily
Happy couple married in December
December 2023
The most incredible wedding venue!
Well I don't really know where to start or how to put into words how utterly incredible Sopley Mill is. I knew it was our venue from driving into the car park way back in December 2021... After losing our initial wedding during covid and having to postpone our wedding 5 times due to the pandemic.... They say everything happens for a reason and I truly believe this venue was always meant to be the one for our wedding day. Emma, Kelly and Kellie have been simple outstanding from start to finish and that's all I really have to say, I can't praise them enough for everything they have done. If it wasn't for the amazing powerhouse behind Sopley Mill out wedding wouldn't of been what it was. If anyone needs a picturesque mill in the heart of Dorset.. Sopley is the one. Thank you from the bottom of our heart. Mr & Mrs Orlik 17.12.23
Charlotte & Ben
Wedding: October
January 2024
It was a perfect day
Our daughter has just had her wedding reception at Sopley Mill. It was a perfect day and we are so grateful to everyone at the Mill for their excellent work. It is a great venue, with everything from a disco room to a snug and a lovely garden. Everyone had a good time. The photos are absolutely stunning.
Latham and Abbie
Happy couple married in September
December 2023
Best wedding
From start to finish and the planning of our wedding day was lovely and effortless, any questions answered quickly, always friendly and helpful and the day was everything and more we could have wished for. All our guests said how lovely the day was too having the inside and outside space. Thank you Sopley Mill
Chloe & Dan
Happy couple married in September
November 2023
The perfect wedding venue for us!
Thank you so much for allowing us to use your beautiful mill for our wedding day. It really did make the perfect wedding venue for us both. Everyone had a great time and a big thank you to all your staff who helped make our day run so smoothly. We are so grateful for your professionalism and we look forward to visiting Sopley soon. All our love Chloe & Dan ( Mr & Mrs Chambers) xx
Tim and Georgette
Happy couple married in June
August 2023
Quiet, secluded, beautiful and well run, a perfect venue
In June this year my Husband and I tied the knot at the picturesque Sopley Mill. With my love of historic buildings and my Husbands love of water, and our joint love of quiet and secluded locations, Sopley Mill was simply perfect. You turn off a fairly busy one way system, and 30 seconds later you're in this out of the way, calm, quiet area of beauty! The building itself is simply stunning but to be surrounded by such lush, green beauty is something else. It feels like you're the only ones there and the world has stopped just for your big day! The team were fantastic, but we wish we'd known more about the restrictions on such a historic and listed building. We chose to book the venue on it's own and arrange the caterers etc ourselves, rather than booking one of the venues packages. We believe this may have been different if we'd been more aware of how Sopley has specific contracts with only certain suppliers, for example with regards to playing music. The day was fantastic and we cannot fault the venue on aesthetics or atmosphere, but if they could explain the options around the venue with more clarity, we believe it would help newly engaged couples to make a more informed decision. A special thank you to Emma for helping us have a truly beautiful day, your calm and confident nature helped us to handle the stress and anxiety ahead of the 'I Do's', and thank you to everyone at Sopley for giving us memories we will treasure forever xxx
Sopley Mill Location & Contact Details

Address

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

Nearest Town

Christchurch

Nearest Train Station

Christchurch

Nearest Airport

Bournemouth

Follow This Supplier On

Sopley Mill Press & Awards
(10)

Press & Awards (1)

Industry Awards (5)

Bridebook Cerficate of Excellence Silver 2019
TMP Business Awards Best Wedding Venue 2018
TheWeddingAwards.org National Winner 2018
Best of BrideBook County Champion 2022

Bridebook Awards (4)

Bridebook recommended photographer
Looking to find a great photographer?
Millard Photography has previously worked at Sopley Mill. Check out their work!
Millard Photography
(53)
Frequently Asked Questions
(10)

Describe the best wedding that happened at Sopley Mill?

There are too many 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