Sandhole Oak Barn – Angela and Tom

Sandhole Oak Barn Wedding Photography

Angela and Tom were married at Sandhole Oak Barn in October. This was the first time I had been to Sandhole Oak Barn.

It’s a rustic barn venue close to Congleton in Cheshire. The day started with rain and continued with rain! I was wondering if we’d ever see the sun but it did eventually appear right at sunset to give us some amazing views over the lake.

Angela and Tom put on a really lovely wedding, everything from the decorations to the food. Tom is a huge Game of Thrones fan and so the table decorations were themed by the family names in Game of Thrones.

His Best Man and Best Woman both had a Game of Thrones “Hand of the king” pin which was a nice little touch! Angela used to work at Little Moreton Hall near Congleton and so we were able to wander over there after the wedding breakfast and capture some lovley autumn portraits around the grounds.

Anyway, enough yapping from me, here is their story …

Celebrate in the Charming Sandhole Oak Barn 

Sandhole Oak Barn is found in a pastoral scene so lovingly set, it’s hard to imagine a more perfect location for a wedding and for a place for a wedding photographer to work at. Self-described as a “fairytale rural setting,” the Sandhole Oak Barn Wedding Venue complements the surrounding majestic landscape with its natural, rustic design and versatile verandah. Working here as a Sandhole Oak Barn wedding photographer is as good as it gets.

Amenities and Accommodation at Sandhole Oak Barn

Sandhole Oak Barn rests on 400 acres of lush countryside; this Wedding Venue is in fact situated next to a lovely small lake of six acres. The Oak Barn was custom built as a wedding venue and was completed in 2005. Outfitted with simple, modern furniture and amenities, the Oak Barn is licensed for civil ceremonies. Of course, you will have exclusive use of the property on your wedding day. 

The Oak Barn can accommodate 140 seated guests or 180 guests for an indoors reception. Its high ceilings, natural oak beams, French doors, and wrought iron chandeliers and lighting will impress your guests as they celebrate your wedding. Transform the barn into a dance floor for the night, or open its grand doors to the verandah outside. Mingle with your guests on this lovely verandah and encourage them to wander to the gazebo and gardens situated lakeside, right outside of the Oak Barn. 

If you’d prefer an outdoor ceremony, you can select the Clock Tower Gazebo to make your vows by the lake. This outdoors venue may be booked April through October each year. Relax or prepare for the festivities in the quaint Small Barn, a multifunctional space complete with a kitchen and small fenced garden. The Shepherd’s Hut Dressing Room, complete with washroom and shower, is also yours to utilise and is located only steps from the main Oak Barn. Barns are my favourite buildings to work in and it’s the best kind of Sandhole Oak Wedding Photography.

Additionally, keep your wedding party and guests close by recommending the adjacent Sandhole Farm Bed & Breakfast. This charming B&B can accommodate your wedding party on its luxurious property. A converted stables, Sandhole Farm B&B can house up to 37 guests and even boasts a cottage that can be booked as the Honeymoon Suite!

Location of Sandhole Oak Barn

Sandhole Oak Barn is nestled in the Cheshire countryside where one can find a bit of everything, including moorlands, rocky ridges and bluebell meadows. Cheshire sits on the English border with Wales. The venue itself sits on the Congleton Road, just north of the town of Congleton, which was best known in the late 1700s as an important region for textile production, in particular leather gloves and lace. Today, the area remains a manufacturing centre, although it has shifted production towards more modern products such as vehicular airbags and golf balls.

Sandhole Oak Barn is easily accessible from across the United Kingdom as the Wedding Venue is not far from the M6 and is just off the A34 and A54. The nearest train station is located in Congleton. Those flying in for the ceremony will be delighted that Manchester Airport is merely 15 miles and a 25-minute drive away, and the Liverpool Airport is an hour’s drive from the Barn. Guests driving from London can reach the Wedding Venue in approximately three and a half hours. 

History of Sandhole Farm

While the custom Oak Barn was completed relatively recently, in 2005, Sandhole Farm has a longer history. The original stables are believed to date to the early 18^th century.  The current owners, David and Veronica Worth, came to Sandhole Farm in 1970. The property was a fully functional agricultural farm in these days, where the family grew cereals and potatoes and raising sheep. Beginning in 1989, the farm shifted to turf grass, harvested periodically. 1989 was also the year the Worths began to operate a small B&B on the grounds.

Nearby Accommodation

A mere 12-minute drive away from Sandhole Oak Barn, the Alexandra Court Hotel is a boutique Victorian hotel with 13 rooms, near the town of Congleton. For a warm and cosy environment, the Lamb Inn Guesthouse in Congleton offers both comfort and homecooked breakfasts. Another option is the Best Western Manor House Hotel outside of Stoke-on-Trent. This hotel can truly accommodate a crowd with a total of 58 rooms.

Nearby Wilmslow is an 18-minute drive from the Sandhole Oak Barn and offers several quaint options for accommodation. The Wilmslow Lodge adjacent to the Coach & Four pub is a classic hotel in an 18^th century coaching house. Its pub offers traditional English fare along with ales and wines. Spacious rooms with modern amenities and a 24-hour reception mean your guests can rest at ease. Another option is the King William, a quaint pub in Wilmslow, that boasts six guestrooms and a hidden courtyard. For a more rural option, just south of Wilmslow is the Merlin, a bed and breakfast operated by Innkeeper’s Lodge. This beautiful redbrick hotel dates from the 1880s and offers 11 rooms and a pub with seasonal dishes and a cosy atmosphere, along with an outdoor terrace.

Explore Cheshire

There’s plenty to see and do in the county of Cheshire in Northwest England – from the markets and food halls of Manchester, to nearby parks including Tatton Park, Dunham Massey and Lyme Park, to outlet shopping, the Chester Zoo and the Peak District National Park which is close to Sandhole Oak Barn. If your guests wish to explore stately homes in the area, they can visit both Adlington Hall and Tatton Hall. Additionally, the quaint town of Macclesfield is a 20-minute drive away.

The county seat of Cheshire is the walled city of Chester which sits less than two miles from the Welsh border. Chester offers a unique visitor experience – the town was founded over 1,000 years ago and is home to the ruins of a Roman settlement. It is renowned today for preserving such complete city walls as well as its distinctive “black and white” Victorian architecture. Your guests will be thrilled if they have time to visit this hidden gem!