The best Staffordshire wedding venues for a live band

Staffordshire has a wedding venue for every style, from stately homes and Georgian manors to stone barns in the Moorlands and country estates near Lichfield and Burton. When a live band is part of the plan, though, some rooms make the party much easier than others.

How big the room is, where the band can set up, whether there is a noise limit and what time the music has to stop all shape your evening. We are a 9-piece wedding band in Staffordshire with a live horn section, playing Soul, Funk, R&B, Motown and Pop. These are six Staffordshire venues we rate for a wedding with live music, and what makes each one work.

1

Sandon Hall

Near Stafford · 400-acre estate

A Grade II listed stately home designed by William Burn, still looked after by the family of the Earls of Harrowby. It sits in a 400-acre park laid out by William Emes, with around 50 acres of formal gardens. Ceremonies can be held in the Temple Garden for up to 250 or indoors in the Drawing Room or Library, the Saloon seats up to 120 for dinner, and a marquee on the South lawn takes up to 600 between April and October. Every wedding is exclusive use.

Why it works for a band

Grand rooms and a big lawn give you options. A smaller wedding can party in the house itself, while a marquee on the lawn turns it into a full-scale night with room for the whole band and a big dancefloor.

Our Sandon Hall guide

2

Alrewas Hayes

Near Burton upon Trent · Country estate

A Grade II listed Queen Anne house on a 100-acre estate between Lichfield and Burton. It is available for exclusive hire all week, all year, with four ceremony areas, outdoor ceremonies in the warmer months and room for up to 650 guests at the reception. Eleven bedrooms across the Main House, the Lodge and the Coach House sleep up to 22.

Why it works for a band

This is one of the few Staffordshire venues built for really big weddings. Live music, discos and fireworks are all allowed, and for 200 guests or more we bring our larger PA, so the sound reaches every corner of the room.

Our Alrewas Hayes guide

3

Swinfen Hall

Near Lichfield · Deer park

A Grade II listed Georgian manor in about 100 acres, with its own deer park, a walled Victorian kitchen garden and a rose arbour. Three rooms are licensed for ceremonies, the Edwardian Ballroom seats up to 110 for dinner and holds up to 180 for the evening, and a marquee takes up to 500. There are around 18 bedrooms and suites, including a honeymoon suite.

Why it works for a band

An Edwardian ballroom with ornate ceilings is a beautiful room for a horn section. With guests staying in the hall, the party can run right to the last song without anyone rushing for a taxi.

Our Swinfen Hall guide

4

The Ashes Barns and Country House

Endon · Staffordshire Moorlands

Stone barns on Leek Road in Endon, between Stoke-on-Trent and Leek, booked for one wedding at a time. The West Barn is used for ceremonies and the East Barn for the wedding breakfast, for up to 150 guests. The country house, coach house and shepherd hut sleep up to 22, and the Old Dairy wedding night suite is included in the hire.

Why it works for a band

We have played here, and the stone barns are made for a party band. Live music and a dancefloor are part of the plan, and with two separate barns, the ceremony and the party each get their own space.

Our The Ashes Barns guide

5

Moddershall Oaks

Near Stone · Lakeside retreat

A country spa retreat in 72 acres of woodland and grounds near Stone, with its own private lake. Ceremonies can be held at the oak gazebo by the lake, with an indoor ceremony room if the weather turns, and the main room seats 130 for dinner and holds 175 in the evening. Woodland pods on the estate sleep up to 60 guests.

Why it works for a band

Vows by the lake suit our acoustic singer and guitarist, and the reception room is licensed for live music, with its own bar and dancefloor. With guests staying in the woodland pods, nobody has to leave early.

Our Moddershall Oaks guide

6

Coton House Farm

Whittington · Near Lichfield

An exclusive-use wedding barn at Whittington, near Lichfield, hosting weddings for over 20 years. Ceremonies take place in the 18th-century Old Dairy Barn or at the outdoor pergola, then dinner and dancing move to the Oak Barn, with its oak beams and floors. It seats 120 for the meal and holds 220 in the evening, with a licensed bar in The Sty.

Why it works for a band

The Oak Barn has room for the full band and a proper dancefloor, and live music is welcome. The night finishes at midnight, so we plan the sets to build to a big finish before last orders.

Our Coton House Farm guide

More Staffordshire wedding venues

Those six are a great place to start, but Staffordshire has plenty more venues that suit a live band, including:

…and many more across Stoke-on-Trent, Stafford, Lichfield, Burton upon Trent, Tamworth, Leek and Newcastle-under-Lyme.

What to ask your venue before booking a band

Before you sign with a Staffordshire venue, ask your coordinator a few questions about live music:

1. Is there a sound limiter or a curfew?Some rooms, especially in listed buildings, have a limiter that cuts the power if the volume goes too high, and many have a set finish time. Our guide to sound limiters at Staffordshire wedding venues explains what to look out for.
2. Where will the band set up?The ideal is a flat, covered area of about 6m x 3m with two 13 amp sockets on separate circuits. We can work with less, so tell us if space is tight.
3. Is the party in the same room as the meal?If it is, we set up once the speeches are over. That takes about an hour, plus a few minutes for the band to change.
4. Is it a marquee wedding?For a marquee, check the power supply early, especially if it comes from a generator. For 200 guests or more, our larger PA is available at extra cost.
5. How far is the stage from the car park?Big estates and barns can mean a long carry, so ask about access and parking for the band.