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Gorton · East Manchester
The Monastery Wedding Band
A Grade II*-listed Victorian friary designed by Edward Welby Pugin, with a soaring Great Nave that seats 400 and takes 500 in the evening. Add a 9-piece band with a full horn section and you get a night that matches the setting.
About the venue
A monastery reborn for celebrations
Designed by Edward Welby Pugin for the Franciscan friars of Gorton, The Monastery's church was completed in 1872, and it's one of the most extraordinary buildings in Manchester.
It closed for worship in 1989 and fell into ruin, and in 1997 it was named one of the world's 100 most endangered sites. A £6 million restoration brought it back to life in 2007, and today it's a Grade II*-listed events venue and the home of the Manchester Camerata orchestra.
Weddings take place in the Great Nave, with up to 400 for dinner and 500 in the evening, plus the Cloisters and the Archangel Garden for drinks and photos. Exclusive use is available, and there's free parking on site.
A room this dramatic deserves music on the same scale. Our job is to bring a big, live sound to the nave and a dancefloor that stays full until the last song.
Stained glass, vaulted ceilings and a full horn section. Few rooms anywhere sound quite like it.
Why a live band
Made for live music
A vast nave, room for hundreds and a building that's home to an orchestra. The Monastery was made for live music.
Sound that soars
A horn section under the vaulted roof of the Great Nave sounds spectacular. We set our PA for a big, lively room, so it fills the space without turning to echo.
Room for everyone
With up to 500 guests in the evening, the nave gives a 9-piece band a proper stage and a dancefloor big enough for the whole party.
A setting to match
Stained glass, Pugin's Gothic arches and candlelight deserve more than a playlist. A live band turns the evening into a real event.
One team, all day
Acoustic ceremony music, roaming brass in the Cloisters, the full band and our DJ booth: one booking for your whole Monastery wedding.
Your day, your soundtrack
Your day at The Monastery
Mix and match to build the day you want. Here's how a Monastery wedding could look.
Acoustic Singer and Guitarist
Live music for your walk down the aisle, signing and exit, with the nave as your backdrop.
More infoRoaming Brass
Horns on the move around the Cloisters and the Archangel Garden while the drinks flow.
More infoBackground Music
Relaxed acoustic sets or a curated playlist beneath the stained glass.
See packagesThe 9-Piece Band
Soul, funk, R&B, Motown and pop with a full brass section, made for a nave this size.
Hear the bandManned DJ Booth
Packaged with the band for one seamless night of music.
See packagesMeet the band
Nine musicians. One party.
Vocals, guitar, bass, keys and drums, plus sax, trumpet and trombone. Nine musicians playing the songs your guests actually want to dance to, with the power to fill the Great Nave.
Questions
The Monastery wedding band FAQs
Can Brass Monkees play at The Monastery?
Yes. The Monastery is in Gorton, about three miles from Manchester city centre, and right in the heart of the area we cover (see our Manchester wedding band page). We’ll speak to the venue’s events team before the day about load-in, set-up and timings, so you don’t need to chase any of it.
Will a big room like the Great Nave be too echoey for a band?
Large stone spaces can be lively, which is why we bring our own PA and set it up for the room rather than just turning it up. The result is a big, clear sound that suits the nave, and plenty of live music has been played in it, including by the Manchester Camerata.
Is the band’s PA and lighting included?
Yes. A full PA and stage lighting come with the band at no extra cost. We’re fully insured too, with paperwork ready to send to the venue if they ask for it.
Can you play the ceremony and drinks reception too?
Yes. Our acoustic singer and guitarist can play your ceremony, roaming brass can entertain in the Cloisters during drinks, and the full band takes over in the evening.
Do you offer a DJ as well?
Yes. Our manned DJ booth is packaged with the band for one seamless night of music, so the dancefloor never goes quiet between sets and there’s no separate DJ to book.
How much is a wedding band at The Monastery?
Our wedding packages start from around £2,000, depending on your date, timings and extras. You book directly with the band, so there are no agency fees. Send us your date for an exact quote.
How soon should we book?
The Monastery is a sought-after venue, and Saturdays in peak season can go a year or more ahead. Once your date is confirmed with the venue, check ours as soon as you can.
Venue guides
More Manchester wedding venues
Getting married at The Monastery?
Let's make it unforgettable
Tell us your date and we'll check if we're free for your Monastery wedding straight away. No agency fees, no hard sell, just a great band for your big day.
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