Historic & opulent weddings at the Guildhall

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Introducing the Guildhall

Rooms

Planning & catering

Real weddings

Venue history

Virtual tour

Introducing the Guildhall

The Guildhall stands prominently in the heart of the city near the Abbey, Roman Baths and Pump Room.

An impressive setting for a ceremony and reception, the Georgian interiors and grand staircases make a beautiful backdrop for a wedding party. A short stroll away is the beautifully kept Parade Gardens overlooking the River Avon and Pulteney Bridge. These gardens are perfect for drinks receptions and wedding photographs if the weather is fine.

As a gay friendly venue, staff at the Guildhall are always honoured to help everyone organise their perfect wedding.

Please be aware the Bath Register Office is also based in the Guildhall. It is your responsibility to book a registrar for a ceremony in one of our rooms - please visit planning & catering for more information.

PERFECTLY SUITED TO

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Medium to large weddings

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Wedding receptions and evening parties

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Couples wanting to choose their own caterer

WITH CAPACITY FOR

capacity

Ceremonies: 2 – 300 guests

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Seated Dinner: Up 200 guests

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Evening parties: Up to 300 guests

Banqueting Room & Aix en Provence

The Banqueting Room is one of the most impressive Georgian interiors in the region that has hosted notable events for hundreds of years.

It is the largest room in the Guildhall and with its ornate cornicing and spectacular chandeliers, it is a gorgeous setting for a wedding ceremony and/or reception.

The adjoining Aix-en-Provence Room is a smaller space perfect for a drinks reception prior to a seated wedding breakfast in the Banqueting Room or for use as a bar later in the day.

Some couples choose to hold a daytime wedding in the Guildhall before strolling across the Abbey Churchyard to the Roman Baths and Pump Room for their evening reception.

Speeches in the Banqueting Room, Mark Leonard Photography

Banqueting Room, Mark Leonard Photography

Ceremony in the Banqueting Room, The FX Works

Reception in the Banqueting Room, The FX Works

Banqueting Room, Babb Photo

Banqueting Room, Greg James Photography

Reception in the Banqueting Room, Siobhan Amy Photography

Aix en Provence Room, Siobhan Amy Photography

Aix en Provence Room, Andy Fletcher

Photos in Parade Gardens, Siobhan Amy Photography

Capacities & pricing

Banqueting Room & Aix en Provence

From £2,100 Inc. VAT (Ceremony price) £2800 Inc. Vat Off peak (Full day rate)

Ceremony only sessions are up to 4 hours.

capacity

Ceremony: Up to 300 guests

capacity

Seated reception: Up to 200 guests

Council Chamber wedding ceremony, Amy Sanders

Council Chamber, Babb Photo

Council Chamber

Capacities & pricing

Council Chamber

From £500 Inc. VAT (Ceremony)

Ceremony only sessions are up to 4 hours.

capacity

Up to 78 guests for a ceremony

Drinks reception in the Brunswick Room, Mark Leonard Photography

Brunswick Room, Freia Turland Photography

Brunswick Room

Capacities & pricing

Brunswick Room

From £500 Inc. VAT (Ceremony only), £650.00 full day (Full day)

Available all day.

Ceremony only sessions are up to 4 hours.

capacity

Ceremony: up to 120 guests

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Drinks reception: Up to 120 guests

We had a fantastic wedding at the Guildhall, the staff were all perfect and the facilities and catering were over and above our expectations. The staff really went the extra mile to ensure every detail was catered for and to ensure we had nothing to worry about. Thanks to all concerned for contributing to what was a lovely and memorable day, and our perfect wedding.

Ross H.

Planning & catering

Our Guildhall team will be with you every step of the way.

Wedding planning information

When you hold your wedding ceremony or reception at the Guildhall, our helpful and professional team will support you throughout the planning process and right through to the day itself.

As part of the hire fee we include: tables, chairs, staging, and a PA system for speeches. Your caterer can provide all crockery and linens, and should they need more information regarding the kitchen facilities we can speak to them or arrange a site visit. If your caterer doesn’t offer a bar facility, we can also put you in touch with suitable pop-up bar providers.

In the lead up to your wedding we will meet with you to discuss your plans so we can agree on a schedule of timings and produce bespoke table plans and room layouts. We will liaise with your suppliers, and your event manager will oversee their arrival on the day. Our personalised service means you can relax and enjoy yourself, knowing that everything will be just as you imagined.

Booking your registrar or celebrant

Bath & North East Somerset Council Register Office

For legal marriages and partnerships it is your responsibility to give notice of marriage to your local authority and to book your ceremony with Bath & North East Somerset Council's Register Office. Please be aware you must also organise for two witnesses to be present at your ceremony.

Tel: 01225 477234
Email: [email protected]
beta.bathnes.gov.uk/get-married-or-form-civil-partnership

You can also book your registrar online

Wedding Celebrants

For a personal approach you could hold your legal ceremony at the register office and have a separate celebrant led ceremony. Celebrants who regularly work in our venues are listed below:

Josie Lamb, Humanists UK
Maxine Ward Celebrant
Tara the Celebrant

Catering

At the Guildhall we operate a listed caterer scheme, where you may choose from a selection of caterers or choose your own.

All caterers on our list below are familiar with the Guildhall and its kitchen and have been endorsed by previous clients. Alternatively, you are also free to use a caterer of your choice who meets our terms and conditions.

Eat5Star
Luxury catering experiences driven by a dynamic team of chefs, coordinators, and service staff, passionately delivered since 2008.

Tel: 01225 302275
Email: [email protected]

Vaughan’s Kitchen
Nature-inspired, vibrant & sustainable feasts created with you to gather for unforgettable experiences.

Tel: 01380 530203

Demaine Artisan
A real versatile caterer offering everything from canape and sandwich delivery to wedding breakfasts, dinners, and street food.

Tel: 0771333767
Email: [email protected]

Fosters
At Fosters Events, we understand the importance of creating lasting impressions, and we're here to help you do it in the most exceptional way possible.

Tel: 0117 9776611
Email: [email protected]

Wards
Wards Event Catering are a local business, providing bespoke menus for wedding, special occasion and corporate events across Bath and Bristol.

Tel: 0117 4226776
Email: [email protected]

Peppers Catering
An established business offering bespoke menus for canapes, afternoon teas, finger and cold buffets. Staffing, crockery, and equipment hire also available.

Tel: 01749 346640
Email: [email protected]

Strawberry Fields
Highly reputable, high quality cuisine, reliable, very professional, first class service with a smile, onsite refrigeration and free food tastings.

Tel: 01225 339394
Email: [email protected]

Food For Thought
Food For Thought is an exciting food and nutrition group running workshops and providing event catering. Support the charity Bath Mind by choosing Food for Thought for your event, business meeting or away day.

Tel: 07960 621 681
Email: [email protected]

Here Today, Scone Tomorrow
Tel: 07726935132
Email: [email protected]

Baraka Catering
Tel: 07734251075
Email: [email protected]

Tu Mangetout
Tel: 01225 971502
Email: [email protected]

Nibbled
Nibbled is passionate about food and service. They offer freshly made and delicious homemade food using the best seasonal ingredients.

Tel: 07803 616 063
Email: [email protected]

Venue history

Find out more about the history of this beautiful venue.

A short history of the Guildhall

Guilds, the trade associations which controlled and managed trades and crafts in English towns, rose to importance during the 12th and 13th centuries. Their pre-eminence was such that, with time, a guildhall came to symbolise town Government in England. In Bath, the power of the guilds had waned by the 16th century but the Bath Guildhall remains a centre of local government today.

The earliest Guildhall in Bath was situated to the east of the present High Street. By the 1620s it was relocated to the upper storey of the market house in the middle of the High Street. By the mid-18th century, this Guildhall had become inadequate and its island site obstructed the traffic. In 1760, the corporation resolved that ‘the Town Hall be newly built in a more commodious place’. The central block of the present building was built between 1775–1778 by Thomas Baldwin in the Palladian ‘country house style’ prevalent at the time.

The Banqueting Room at the heart of Baldwin’s Guildhall is without doubt the finest Georgian interior in Bath, in the style of Robert Adam and boasting three magnificent four-tier chandeliers by Thomas Lovell of Bristol and a steeply raked musicians’ gallery over the central doorway. It was the Corporation’s response to the privately financed Assembly Rooms recently completed in the upper in 1771. In the Guildhall, the Corporation conducted its business in the adjacent council chamber and could throw open the doors to the Banqueting Room where it would entertain its guests, overlooked by portraits of civic worthies and members of the royal family.

Between 1893 and 1896 the Guildhall was greatly expanded by Scottish architect John McKean Brydon. A dome was added to the existing 18th century building and extensions were added to the north and south, embellished with figured friezes depicting the activities to take place in them. The north wing housed the Bath School of Art and Technical School and its frieze contains figures representing the arts, science and learning, while the south wing, which housed a new council chamber, offices and the courts, sports representations of justice and administration.

Explore Bath's world heritage

Other things to do in Bath

Historic & opulent weddings at the Guildhall

The Guildhall stands prominently in the heart of the city near the Abbey, Roman Baths and Pump Room.

The Banqueting Room is one of the most impressive Georgian interiors in the region that has hosted notable events for hundreds of years.

Banqueting Room & Aix en Provence

Situated on the first floor, the Council Chamber is a striking room with fixed seating and a public gallery.

Council Chamber

Conveniently situated on the ground floor, the Brunswick room is a great space for either a ceremony, or arrival drinks prior to a reception.

Brunswick Room

Take a walk through the spacious Guildhall using the virtual tour below.

Planning & catering

Our Guildhall team will be with you every step of the way.

Looking for inspiration? Check out other recent weddings at the Guildhall for venue and styling ideas.

#GuildhallBathWedding

Venue history

Find out more about the history of this beautiful venue.

Explore Bath's world heritage

Explore Bath's world heritage

Other things to do in Bath

Historic & opulent weddings at the Guildhall

Banqueting Room & Aix en Provence

Council Chamber

Brunswick Room

Planning & catering

Our Guildhall team will be with you every step of the way.

#GuildhallBathWedding

Venue history

Find out more about the history of this beautiful venue.

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