Newton Hall Venue Guide & Review
[Updated January 2024]
Newton Hall is one of the most stunning wedding venues in Northumberland (and this county has some really incredible venues!) It’s one of my absolute favourite wedding venues to shoot at and I couldn’t recommend it enough to couples considering it for the day.
On the stunning Northumberland coast at High Newton, Newton Hall is an hour’s drive from Newcastle Upon Tyne and around 15 minutes from Alnwick. It’s off the beaten track for public transport though, so guests will need to drive unless you choose to provide a coach (I’ve seen this done at a few weddings and it’s always appreciated by guests.)
If guests do choose to drive up, the site has a number of accommodation options in the main Hall itself, cottages around it or in the relatively new Garden Rooms which are super quirky and some even have hot tubs, so it doesn’t necessarily mean they can't enjoy a tipple to celebrate your day.
Newton Hall offers wedding packages and while prices for prime summer dates start at £18,995, you can choose a mid-week date or go outside the traditional ‘wedding season’ to bring the cost down a lot. They require a £1000 non-refundable deposit to save your date.
As part of the Apartment Group, with sister venues like Le Petit Château, Lartington Hall and Runa Farm, you know these guys know how to put on a wedding. One of my favourite things about these venues is the Master of Ceremonies, who are the public face of the venue and play a pivotal role in the running of the day in addition to the Wedding Managers, who tend to be a little more behind the scenes. Together they will make sure your day runs smoothly for you.
Quick Round-up
Dedicated Master of Ceremonies, as well as a Wedding Manager
30-150 daytime guests
Huge choice of ceremony spaces including outdoor options
Dog friendly
Incredible for photographs - the building, decor and setting on the Northumberland coast are all stunning.
Food is done in-house and is absolutely top-tier!
Range of on-site accommodation plus Alnwick just a short taxi ride away with other, more budget-friendly options
Newton Hall Wedding Cost
Prices for a wedding at Newton Hall are based on a ‘minimum spend’, with peak summer Saturdays currently having a minimum spend of £18,995. At the other end of the scale, a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday during November-March has a minimum spend of just £3,995.
The minimum spend is made up of:
Venue Hire
Complimentary honeymoon suite (night of)
Complimentary bottle of bubbly
Dedicated wedding co-ordinator
Master of ceremonies
Menu showcase evening
Cake stand & knife
Table linen
Cutlery, china & glassware
Royal Mail Post Box
Lawn Games
Ceremony Hire
£350 for outside ceremony areas or the Enchanted Chapel
From £550 for a beach ceremony
Food & Drinks Packages
Newton Hall has a huge menu for a range of budgets, with a cost per guest so it’s easy to calculate.
Drinks packages are available
Additional Extras
Things like as a vintage Royal Mail post box, popcorn cart or lawn games
Things to note
You will also be contracted to a minimum number of bedroom accommodation. This is not included in your minimum spend and you’ll need to ‘sell them on’ to your guests to recoup the cost. In practice that just means your guests will book with the hotel, but if fewer rooms are booked than you are contracted for, you’ll need to cover the cost of those rooms.
View Newton Hall’s Pricing Guide here.
With an incredible 6 possible options for where to hold your ceremony at Newton Hall, you’re really spoilt for choice. It’s worth noting that the earliest possible ceremony time the venue can accommodate in any of these areas is 1.30pm. Prior to the ceremony, the bar and lounges in the main hall will be open to welcome your guests as they arrive. From there, your Master of Ceremonies will make sure your guests get to your ceremony in plenty of time.
Enchanted Chapel - The “usual” ceremony space, indoor with seating for up to 150.
Terrace/Glasshouse - A good option if you want the feel of an outdoor ceremony without the worry of what the weather will do. The contractible glass roof gives you flexibility.
Wedding Circle - You could marry with the stunning pinkish Newton Hall as your backdrop if you choose the wedding circle for your ceremony.
Wedding Hill - If your day is forecast for great weather, there is the option of Wedding Hill. A grassy hill with views of the surrounding countryside.
Main Hall - The lounge areas at the front of the main Hall are ideal for an intimate wedding.
Beach - Planning a smaller guest list? You could enjoy a ceremony on the sand!
Your Ceremony
Can you have confetti at Newton Hall?
Another common question is always about confetti. It can only be thrown in one area, up the aisle in the Enchanted Chapel as you leave your ceremony. This means if confetti is important to you, you’ll need to use the stunning Enchanted Chapel for your ceremony. It also must be biodegradable.
Registrar or Celebrant?
Before you confirm your date with Newton Hall, you’ll need to check there is a registrar available to cover your ceremony. You can contact the Northumberland Registrars directly by calling 01665 602870. For 2023/24 Weddings, there’s a £45 non-refundable booking fee to secure your Registrar. You can then expect to pay Northumberland County Council between £510 and £595 for the service and ceremony fees, depending on the date you chose.
The exception to this would be if you were planning to have a celebrant-led ceremony - you’ll instead need to do the legal formalities at a registry office (in Northumberland this is only available at Alnwick registry office and only on Tuesday or Thursday mornings at a cost of about £57) and a celebrant-led ceremony will be much more personalised and bespoke. Some of my favourite north east wedding celebrants are Sarah Clarke, Lisa Wilson and Love Jo.
Wedding Breakfast
The Apartment Group proudly state that they offer “the largest range of options in Great Britain” for your Canapes, Wedding Breakfast and Evening Food. You can download their most recent Wedding Menu Guide here, and it includes per-guest costs for each option.
In terms of styling the space, you’re welcome to DIY it or hire a venue stylist (I would recommend this option as it takes away the stress of doing it yourself, and they’ll have a huge selection of items to hire, saving you from having to buy things you won’t need again.) Some of my favourite venue stylists in the North East are The Event Dressers, Birdcages & Dragonflies and The Whole Sch-Bang.
Couples often want to know ‘can you have real candles at Newton Hall?’ and unfortunately the answer is no, but electric candles have come a very long way and look so realistic that I don’t think you’ll notice.
As for flowers, I can highly recommend Wild in Tyne as my ultimate fave florist (and all round lovely human!) and I also love Moira J and Jones & Jones.
Party
After your meal, you and your guests will head back into the main hall where the bar and lounges will be open. The Garden Suite will then be readied for your evening reception and any evening entertainment can get set up and sound-check.
Your Master of Ceremonies will tell your guests that they can return to the Garden Suite and you’ll then be announced into the room, usually straight into the cutting of your cake and your first dance.
Whether you choose a live band - I can recommend Red Wings and the Folk Soul Brothers, or a DJ, Newton Hall can accommodate. The Garden Suite bar is open until Midnight.
Again, see the Newton Hall Menu Guide here for evening food options and costs.
Staying at Newton Hall
The Hall itself has 15 boutique bedrooms, each individually designed. There are another 6 bedrooms in the courtyard available the night before and the night of your wedding. Ordinarily prices for these would start at £225 for bed & breakfast, but speak to the venue coordinator about discounted rates for wedding bookings, as well as your contracted room requirements.
The stunning ‘Gianella’ is the room you’ll have seen in wedding photographs, with the white italianate wardrobe just perfect for hanging your wedding dress from, and the large sash windows letting in lots of beautiful light. Gianella is not the honeymoon suite however! On the night of your wedding, and included in the venue hire is the beautiful ‘Beadnell Bay’ Honeymoon Suite, right up at the top of the main hall, with views out to (you guessed it!) Beadnell Bay.
In the last couple of years, Newton Hall has added 27 Garden Rooms (some with private hot tubs) and they’re just a very short walk away from the main hall. Ideal for guests!) These are self contained, with a small kitchenette so rates for these would not include breakfast.
Hotels near Newton Hall
Alnwick is the nearest big town to Newton Hall, and as well as a range of AirBnB types of accommodation, there are also a couple of large hotels - The Hog’s Head and a Premier Inn are the biggest and most budget-friendly.
Photography
As a photographer, I look at venues from a slightly different perspective than you might as a couple. I’m looking for stylish decor, good light in the indoor spaces, areas big enough for your group shots etc. I can honestly say Newton Hall is one of my absolute favourite venues to shoot at because even before couples add their own choice in styling and props, there is already so much to photograph. Some venues feel a little bare, so unless you budget big for dressing them, they can feel a bit bland. Newton Hall has so much character, even if you didn’t add much at all, it couldn’t possibly feel bland!
Is Newton Hall a good venue to get married at?
I couldn’t recommend it more highly. With options for every size, style and budget, Newton Hall is an absolute dream. And when you add in the fact that the staff are so attentive, the food is so good and the setting is so grand, I think it’s worth every penny you’ll pay for it.
Useful Info
Newton Hall’s own FAQs are available to download here.
Newton Hall’s own Pricing Guide is available to download here.
Who am I?
I’m Alex Katherine, a Northumberland wedding photographer (and Newton Hall fan-girl) based just 35 minutes from the venue. My style is candid and natural, with a focus on true colours in your final images (yeah, I’ll say it - I don’t think wedding photos should be super bright with washed out colours 😂).
You can find out more about me here and see what I offer here. I’d love to chat with you about your Newton Hall wedding.