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About

On Hitched.co.uk since 2022

Last update: February 2024

Channels is a picturesque Little Waltham, Essex-situated wedding venue. This beautifully-restored 17th-century thatched barn provides an idyllic setting for a special occasion. Set in tranquil surroundings, you will enjoy its large outside areas, babbling fountains, and an avenue of mature trees. The property can comfortably accommodate events with up to 120 standing or 90 seated guests. Whether you want an intimate occasion or an extravagant celebration, the staff here aims to help you bring your vision to life.

Facilities and Capacity

Channels have a spectacular outdoor event space known as The Church Without A Roof. It’s a spacious garden-style area featuring antique wooden pews on either side of a paved aisle leading toward a charming pavilion — ideal for your ceremony. There’s also the Wedding Garden, a slightly smaller space that’s perfect for a cocktail hour where guests can socialize and nibble on some finger foods. If you prefer the cosiness of the indoors, The Essex Barn is ideal for ceremonies and receptions. Though it’s decked out with modern fittings, it exudes a sense of vintage charm and character. Warm wooden furnishings, fairy lights, and endless possibilities await you inside this inviting locale.

Services Offered

If you’re looking for personalized service and assistance with your wedding planning, Channels’ staff will take care of you from start to finish. An in-house team of event coordinators is here to guide you through every step. You and your guests can look forward to a satisfying selection of food courtesy of the venue’s on-site catering services. Moreover, the bar and beverage offerings are just as impressive, and you can tailor your menus to accommodate your preferences.

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Frequently asked questions

Venue type:

In the country
Barn
Outdoor license

Ceremony options:

Civil ceremony licence

Dining options:

Seated meal facilities
Corkage option
Alcohol licence
Buffet meal facilities
In-house catering

Evening entertainment:

Dance floor
Entertainment licence
Live band facilities
Evening reception facilities
DJ facilities

Overnight accommodation:

Overnight accommodation for wedding couple
Overnight accommodation for guests

Venue staff assistance:

Master of ceremonies/toastmaster
Wedding coordinator

Venue leisure facilities:

Hairdresser
Beautician

Other features:

Exclusive use
Accessible facilities
Car parking
Helipad
Confetti permitted
Changing room for wedding guests
Pet-friendly
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Do you have any questions?

Request pricing
5.0 out of 5 rating
35 reviews
  • Quality of the service
    5 out of 5 rating
  • Response time
    5 out of 5 rating
  • Professionalism
    5 out of 5 rating
  • Value for money
    5 out of 5 rating
  • Flexibility
    5 out of 5 rating
100% Recommended by couples
Beth
Beth G. Sent on 15/04/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Perfect wedding venue

Wedding Day - 9th April 2023
Couldn't be happier with the venue and how our wedding day went, Karen and the rest of the staff were brilliant and took care of everything for us and always made sure we were alright and that it all went perfectly. They were lots of fun and we couldn't recommend them highly enough. Thanks!
Diane
Diane Sent on 20/02/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Best day ever

The venue is stunning, food is beautiful. And the staff are welcoming happy and seriously can not do enough for you.
Nothing is too much.
Can not rate this place enough.
Jasmine
Jasmine Sent on 05/08/2022
5 out of 5 rating

Wedding Day - 28th July 2022

What a perfect day we had, marrying at The Channels Estate. A couple of months before our wedding day, our wedding co-ordinator needed to be changed. We were handed over from Molly to Katie, and the handover couldn't be smoother. Both Molly before, and Katie once handed over couldn't have been more helpful. A couple of weeks before our day I began to have bride jitters about the planning and organisation of decoration etc. Katie replied to my email very quickly, putting my mind at ease.
On our big day, Hayley and Karen couldn't have been nicer and more helpful. Hayley single handedly tidied the outside area before our ceremony as it had been left quite a mess from the previous wedding the day before, and Karen was on hand following the ceremony with the electric swatter to deter any wasps after the Pimms! Every member of staff we spoke with was lovely and did all they could to ensure we had the most wonderful and calm wedding day. Channels is a beautiful venue, I just wish we could do it all again! Thank you all :)
Jasmine and Dave x
Sandra
Sandra Sent on 14/09/2021
5 out of 5 rating

Best day ever

The venue was stunning and the staff were amazing . We had the best day ever and it was worth every penny
T
Tammy Sent on 25/04/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Our wedding at channels was an amazing!

We got married 31st March 2023 at channels, from the moment we booked channels Karen and her team were incredible, communication was great all the way through. Our actual day was fantastic from morning till night Karen and all the staff were helpful, friendly and just couldn't do enough for us and our guests! Would highly recommend channels
L
Caroline L. Sent on 25/10/2021
5 out of 5 rating

Simply Wonderful!!

Wow! What can I say?! There are quite literally no words to explain how wonderful channels is. From start to finish, Paul, Eleanor and the whole team could not have been more friendly and accommodating. They took our vision and made it reality without breaking the bank too much. Every single element was perfect from food to decor to operation. It was faultless. Everyone adored the food and said just how beautiful it looked. Thank you to the most wonderful team! We appreciate you so much!

If you’re considering channels…….just do it!
E
Christopher J. Sent on 09/08/2021
5 out of 5 rating

Brilliant venue, brilliant people

We had a longer than expected dealing with Channels being that our wedding being the first that couldn't go ahead due to the pandemic. They kept in contact with us throughout, they helped with all of our queries and managed to help us reschedule during two lockdowns. On the run up to our wedding day they kept us up to date with the arrangements under the current guidelines. When we finally got to the day they provided the best service we have ever experienced and took care of us and our guests. Everybody we spoke to couldn't have praised the venue and its staff more. Fantastic day and Channels really made it for us.
C
Claire K. Sent on 20/01/2022
4.6 out of 5 rating

September wedding

I am a little late in writing this review as we got married in September 2021. It truly was the best day ever and we are so glad that we chose Channels for our wedding day. We knew it was the venue for us, from our first visit where we met with Paul and he showed us around. The venue had everything we wanted, a beautiful barn, great grounds and lots of gorgeous accommodation, which was a must for us. We stayed the night before in The Retreat, which was amazing, with lots of room for us to get ready and although the weather was not on our side, and we could not get married in the ceremony garden, in the end it didn't really matter. Molly was our coordinator and she was incredible. It was like she could read my mind, and everything was exactly as we wanted, without us even having to think about it. The day went by in a flash and the venue looked amazing. We didn't have to think or worry, it all just happened seamlessly. The staff worked so hard and the food was amazing. All our guests had the best time and were so complementary about the venue and they loved the accommodation. It really was perfect the day. The best part is that, as it's not just a wedding venue we can visit again if we want to and book to stay in the hotel for our anniversary. Also must not forget to mention James who works at the hotel. He must have rearranged our accommodation booking so many times and was so kind and helpful. We had to postpone by 6 weeks due to a member of our immediate family becoming temporarily ill. James, Paul and Molly were very understanding while we tried to rearrange our wedding day to work with all our guests and suppliers. 10/10
S
Sue P. Sent on 16/09/2021
5 out of 5 rating

Brilliant experience and wedding day

Channels staff were fantastic both in the planning of the day and organisation on the actual wedding day, we couldn’t fault them. Staff were friendly, helpful and proactive. The wedding day was amazing and so many people commented that it was the best wedding they’d been too.

We planned our wedding for what turned out to be during the pandemic. Channels were so proactive, responsive and helpful with rearranging our day, and even helpful with our wedding insurance claim for the rearrangement.

It’s a stunning venue with plenty of outside space. We’d thoroughly recommend it :)
R
Ray Sent on 10/02/2020
5 out of 5 rating

My Daughter's Wedding 8th February 2020

Channels was the venue for my Daughter's Wedding on Saturday 8th Feb. what a stunning day it was. Held in the Barn, Big Channels, the surroundings are simply beautiful. The reception was magnificent, great organisation and professionalism from all the staff, especially Molly, who co-ordinated everything to the smallest detail. wonderful food, thank you Chef, served by a brigade of very friendly and efficient servers. Great Bar Staff, who worked tirelessly, and always had a smile. The accommodation in the Lodge was also top class.
All on all, a truly wonderful occasion, a venue that I cannot rate or recommend highly enough. Thank you again Molly and Chloè, the Event's Organisers.
S
Sally Sent on 25/10/2019
5 out of 5 rating

Thank you! You guys are great! x

We fell in love with this venue the day we first visited 18 months ago. We were shown around very professionally and at no point felt any pressure to book a date. However within a week of visiting other venues we knew Channels & the Essex Barn was our dream venue.

The day its self was truly wonderful from the start to the finish. The wedding team could not do enough and the food, well simply the best! My only regret is I'll never be able to do it all again, so in a way I'm chuffed I choose Channels for my wedding day.
M
Mrs Sent on 31/10/2019
5 out of 5 rating

Amazing Day

Thank you for laying on a wonderful wedding day for my daughter and son in law, Gemma & Gary. Everything looked beautiful, the weather was in our favour, so Gemma was very pleased to get married in your stunning garden. The hotel rooms were ideal and breakfast the following morning was delicious and very much needed. Once again thank you all for such a day to remember! Mr & Mrs Porter.
K
Kelly Sent on 29/10/2019
5 out of 5 rating

Perfect Day

We had the most amazing wedding, thank you to David & Molly who treated us like King & Queen for the day. The Barn, Gardens, and hotel looked incredible and the food and service was the best. Lovely to have breakfast with all our guests the next morning that extended our wedding experience into the following day.
A
Amy Sent on 31/10/2019
5 out of 5 rating

Beautiful Venue

Wonderful day, wonderful venue, wonderful staff. The setting was magical, the food was scrumptious and all very well organised. Its was exactly what we wanted, no regrets whatsoever. Anyone looking for a venue that ticks all the boxes must view the Essex Barn at the Channels Estate!
S
Samantha Sent on 29/10/2019
5 out of 5 rating
After viewing over 10 local venues, we would most definitely recommend this venue The Barn at the Channels Estate. Ticked all the boxes!. Great location for us, the food service was immaculate and the price seemed very reasonable. Anyone looking for a great venue would be silly not to check this one.
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Badges

Hitched Wedding Awards 2022 Winner

Channels Real Weddings

Emily & Jamie
14 photos · 31/12/2023
Jane & Adam
42 photos · 12/04/2023
Steph & Max
40 photos · 25/03/2023
Tommi & Mabbs
58 photos · 25/10/2022
Rosie & Loz
33 photos · 07/07/2022
Alex & Martin
10 photos · 02/04/2022

Preferred suppliers

Exquisite Wedding and Event Services
5.0 out of 5 rating , 7 reviews
· Decor Hire and Styling
Bespoke Celebrant Ceremonies
5.0 out of 5 rating , 129 reviews
· Celebrants
Fairytale Finishes
5.0 out of 5 rating , 4 reviews
· Decor Hire and Styling
DJ Mitch Fisk - Dream Machine Discos
5.0 out of 5 rating , 5 reviews
· Music and DJs

Map

Pratts Farm Lane East CM3 3PT Little Waltham (Essex)
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