Our 5 Favourite Wedding Venues in the Midlands

For over a decade, we have had the privilege in filming weddings across the UK, mostly in the Midlands. We have experienced venues in different seasons, lighting conditions and weather.
If you're looking for the best wedding venues in the Midlands, choosing somewhere that’s not only looks beautiful but also photographs and films well can make a huge difference to your wedding memories. In no particular order…

1. West Mill - Darley Abbey

West Mill is one of our favourite wedding venues in Derbyshire, and it's easy to see why. This beautifully restored former cotton mill in Darley Abbey is unlike any other venue we've filmed. Set across four exclusive floors, every part of the wedding day unfolds within a single building, allowing celebrations to flow naturally from morning preparations through to the evening reception.

Third Floor: Ceremony and bridal prep
Second Floor: Wedding breakfast
First Floor: Evening reception and bar
Ground Floor: Drinks reception and canapés, with direct access to the courtyard for the confetti moment

West Mill is an excellent choice for intimate celebrations, as well as both summer and winter weddings. The venue can accommodate up to 160 guests and also offers two nearby properties, providing accommodation for an additional 26 guests, making it ideal for couples whose friends and family are travelling from further afield.

From a wedding filmmaker's perspective, West Mill is one of the most rewarding venues to work at. The ceremony space is flooded with natural light, the third floor provides beautiful golden-hour portrait opportunities, and there are several quiet corners throughout the building that are perfect for relaxed couple portraits. Outside, the historic mill, surrounding riverside, and unique industrial architecture create stunning cinematic backdrops, while drone footage showcases the venue's distinctive character from above.

Best for: Couples searching for an exclusive-use wedding venue in Derbyshire with industrial charm, abundant natural light, and space for up to 160 guests.

2. Prestwold Hall - Leicestershire

Located just outside Loughborough, Prestwold Hall is one of the most sought-after luxury wedding venues in Leicestershire. This Grade I listed stately home, set within 2,500 acres of picturesque parkland, offers couples a truly timeless setting for a luxury country house wedding.

We love filming at Prestwold Hall for its grand architecture, carefully preserved antiques, and striking painted portraits, all of which create an elegant yet welcoming atmosphere. The house is filled with beautiful natural light, while the surrounding gardens and parkland provide countless opportunities for romantic couple portraits and cinematic drone footage. One of our favourite times to film at Prestwold Hall is during golden hour, when the evening light sweeps across the front lawn and illuminates the house's historic façade. It's the perfect opportunity to create cinematic portraits before the evening reception begins.

Prestwold Hall can accommodate up to 140 guests for your wedding breakfast, with capacity increasing to 200 guests for the evening reception, making it an excellent choice for both intimate celebrations and larger weddings. Prestwold Hall offers both indoor and outdoor ceremony options, giving couples flexibility whatever the season. Exclusive use of the estate allows couples and their guests to enjoy the entire venue in complete privacy throughout the day.

Best for: Luxury weddings, black-tie celebrations, elegant country house weddings, and couples dreaming of a Bridgerton-inspired venue.

3. Kilworth House - Leicestershire

Kilworth House is one of our favourite wedding venues in Leicestershire, capturing your attention from the moment you arrive. This Grade II listed Victorian Italianate country house, set within 38 acres of beautifully landscaped parkland, offers couples a timeless setting rich in elegance, history, and character. It's an exceptional choice for anyone dreaming of a luxury country house wedding in the heart of the Midlands.

Having filmed weddings at Kilworth House, one of the spaces we always look forward to working in is the stunning orangery. Flooded with natural light, it provides an elegant backdrop for ceremonies, speeches, and evening celebrations, creating beautiful, cinematic imagery throughout the day. Outside, the landscaped gardens and surrounding grounds provide endless opportunities for relaxed couple portraits, breathtaking drone footage, and unforgettable golden-hour moments.

Whether you're planning an intimate celebration or a larger gathering, Kilworth House is a wonderfully versatile Leicestershire wedding venue. Accommodating between 10 and 130 daytime guests, it's ideal for couples looking for a country house venue that feels both grand and personal, with elegant spaces that flow seamlessly from ceremony to evening reception.

Sheridale Tip: If you're getting married at Kilworth House, we'd always recommend setting aside 15–20 minutes before sunset for portraits in the gardens. As the light softens across the parkland, it's one of the most beautiful times of day to capture natural, cinematic photographs and timeless wedding film footage.

Best for: Couples dreaming of a timeless country house wedding with elegant interiors, beautifully landscaped gardens, and a relaxed yet luxurious atmosphere.

4. Hazel Gap Barn - Nottinghamshire

Hazel Gap Barn, located just outside Worksop on the historic Welbeck Estate in Nottinghamshire, is an exclusive rustic red brick barn that has it's own uniqueness. From a filmmaker's perspective, this is one of our favourite venues to capture from above. The symmetrical architecture, surrounding woodland, and long driveway create cinematic establishing shots that instantly set the scene in a wedding film. Thanks to the abundance of natural light, the venue photographs beautifully throughout the year, whether you're planning a cosy winter wedding or a sunny summer celebration.

The main barn comfortably accommodates between 150 and 250 guests for civil ceremonies, and there are plenty of beautiful spots around the venue to whisk couples away for intimate portrait sessions. Guests can move effortlessly between the ceremony, drinks reception, and evening celebrations in the oak room, without ever feeling rushed. Drone footage is especially effective here, thanks to the venue's position within the surrounding landscape. As an added bonus, the in-house chefs produce exceptional food—and yes, don't forget the gravy! It's a venue that strikes the perfect balance between rustic charm and elegant countryside luxury, making it an excellent choice for couples looking for a relaxed celebration without compromising on style. And as an added bonus, the in-house chefs produce exceptional food—yes, don't forget the gravy!

Best for: Couples searching for a luxury barn wedding venue in Nottinghamshire that offers exclusive use, beautiful countryside surroundings, and space for up to 250 guests.

5. The Pumping House - Nottinghamshire

The Pumping House, Ollerton is one of our favourite wedding venues in Nottinghamshire. This beautifully restored former Victorian water pumping house combines historic industrial architecture with modern luxury, creating a wedding venue that's unlike anywhere else in the East Midlands. The Pumping House offers two versatile event spaces to suit weddings of different sizes. The impressive Engine Hall can accommodate up to 200 guests, while the Ollerton Room is ideal for smaller celebrations of up to 100 guests.

From a wedding filmmaker's perspective, The Pumping House is one of the most distinctive venues we've had the pleasure of filming. Its striking Victorian architecture, symmetrical front elevation, and iconic towers create dramatic compositions from every angle, while the surrounding woodland offers a beautiful natural contrast. Inside, the abundance of natural light makes ceremonies, speeches, and portraits a joy to capture, while the variety of locations around the venue provides endless opportunities for cinematic footage.

One of the things we love most about The Pumping House is that it's a genuinely pet-friendly wedding venue. Many of the couples we've filmed here have included their dogs in their celebrations, making for some of the most personal and memorable moments we've captured on film.
Another feature we really appreciate is how seamlessly the day flows. Every stage of the celebration takes place within The Pumping House, bridal and groom prep rooms on site, with the main hall transforming effortlessly from the ceremony space into the wedding breakfast and, later, the evening reception. This not only creates a relaxed experience for couples and guests but also allows us to capture every moment without interruption. 

Best for: Couples looking for a unique industrial wedding venue in Nottinghamshire that's pet friendly, full of character, and offers incredible opportunities for cinematic photography and wedding films.

How to Choose the Best Wedding Venue in the Midlands:

Choosing the perfect wedding venue is about more than finding somewhere beautiful. Think about your guest numbers, the time of year you're getting married, your budget, travel and accommodation for guests, accessibility, and whether you envision an indoor or outdoor ceremony. It's also worth considering how the venue will look in your photographs and wedding film, as the setting you choose will become the backdrop to memories you'll treasure for years to come.

Each of the venues featured in this guide offers something unique, whether that's the industrial character of West Mill, the timeless elegance of Prestwold Hall and Kilworth House, the distinctive Victorian architecture of The Pumping House, or the relaxed countryside luxury of Hazel Gap Barn.

Ultimately, there isn't one "best" wedding venue in the Midlands—only the one that's perfect for you as a couple. We hope this guide has helped you discover a venue that matches your vision for the day.

If you'd like to see what these incredible venues look like through our lens, explore our wedding films to see real celebrations at many of the locations featured above. Seeing a venue in motion is one of the best ways to imagine your own wedding day and find inspiration for what's possible.