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Original poster

remote field nearish SE London for wedding camping party?

30 replies

ScarletA · 01/07/2008 11:32

We are getting married next summer and would like to have a mini festie weekend for family and friends. We need a field where we can camp for a long weekend and play some music (we are NOT a bunch of ravers, all in our 40s...) where we can party in peace and not disturb anyone. Ideally we would like to have a camp fire and it's essential there is a loo (portaloo that we organise is fine) and access to water.

Does anyone know of such a place?

OP posts:
MrsTiddles · 01/07/2008 17:53

what about the field at the Tulse Hill end of Brockwell Park. I imagine you'd need to get permission from the council though. And there are actual toilet buildings next to the walled rose garden which is that side of the park.

Milliways · 01/07/2008 18:53

Is Farm too far away?

We LOVE it there, camp fires aplenty, fab new portaloos (with sinks, soap & paper) and the farmer is an amazing lady.

Milliways · 01/07/2008 18:53

Try again!

Original poster
ScarletA · 04/07/2008 17:37

MrsTiddles - we live opposite Brockwell Park and are hoping to have our wedding reception/picnic there, weather permitting. However, Lambeth does not allow any private use of the park for functions ie if you have something on, the public have to be allowed to go to it (paid or free). They are even iffy about gazebos. Have already asked...

Milliways - the place looks lovely - would the farmer allow us to rent the field for 'sole use'? Would like it just to be us.

OP posts:
MrsTiddles · 04/07/2008 17:43

Hum. I used to live there too - I would avoid the "open to public" option!

Original poster
ScarletA · 04/07/2008 17:46

Yes, the idea of Joe Bloggs, his wife and Staffie turning up does rather put me off.

OP posts:
TheDevilWearsPrimark · 04/07/2008 17:51

www.cobham-manor.co.uk/facilities.html

I've been to a similar ort of wedding, I think it was here but it was years ago. They do offer a 'field' to hire and suggest wedding Receptions.

Original poster
ScarletA · 04/07/2008 17:58

Thanks DWP - I have emailed them. Love horses, me, so would be in my element...

The wedding reception thing you went to - did they have music ie a generator and (small!) sound system?

OP posts:
TheDevilWearsPrimark · 04/07/2008 18:10

Yes, they had a fire, hogroast, bbqs and a generator with sound system, a few friends dj'd and they invited friends to make compilations to be played too. We went there from the wedding ceremony, on a friday in Canterbury registry office, and it was the best wedding I've been to. Most people stayed (camping) until the sunday.

But as I say I think it's the same place, but not sure it's run by the same people now.

peasoup · 04/07/2008 21:58

We went camping here last month-www.blackberrywood.com and it was fantastic. Not too far from London. You're allowed campfires. We thought at the time it would be great to hire the whole place out for a wedding/huge party. I think it's in the Cool Campsites book.

Original poster
ScarletA · 06/07/2008 13:07

Thanks DWP - they have replied and say they do it, so maybe it is the same people. When was it that you went? They say it's £500 approx which sounds like a lot - though how would I know? Perhaps that's a standard fare...?

Anyway, what was it like - pretty? Far from the road, other people etc? And did they have loos or did you have to hire some? And did they provide the generator do you know?

So many questions! Sorry.

Peasoup - I have always wanted to go to Blackberry wood but since it's been in the Guardian it's almost impossible to get a place, especially in summer holidays as it gets booked up way in advance. Was it lovely? It sounds exactly like the kind of place we'd love but I imagine it would be way out of our budget as we don't have very much loot (hence the non traditional wedding)

OP posts:
Milliways · 06/07/2008 14:06

They have several fields, so I'm sure Brithcombe would let you have one - as long as it's not a B/Hol weekend. She barricaded the field for enopugh hours for our group to stake out as big an area as we wanted as we had asked in advance to all be together.

peasoup · 06/07/2008 15:04

Scarlet a Hi, yes Blackberry Wood was fab. If you're phoning up now to book it for a year from now then surely you should be able to get a place. If all your guests are camping overnight then each guest i imagine would pay their own camping fee so it wouldn't be a huge cost to you. Have you looked at Youth hostel hire? If you hire the whole thing then every guest pays their B&B cost (about £15 a night) you then, in effect, have no hire fee. Lots of them have huge grounds for a big outdoor party. Lots of them have licence to let you get married on the premises. Hartington Hall in Derbyshire has 132 beds, gorgeous grounds and fields to use. Plus a licence to marry you in the gorgeous grounds. God I love weddings!! P.S. I am a wedding obsessive plus a wedding photgrapher Am near Brockwell park too!

Original poster
ScarletA · 08/07/2008 10:36

Thanks you two - more invaluable info. Will check both of them out. We are on a VERY tight budget so the lovely Hartington Hall will probably be too expensive...

Peasoup - I've not done this wedding thing before and it's all a bit freaky. Does this sound OK? We thinking of getting married the weekend before the camping festie - Brixton town hall followed by a picnic in the park, weather permitting. If weather is bad, don't know what we'll do as our flat not big enough. Will have to get a whole load of gazebos and erect them in Brockwell Park and wait until the Park Rangers come and tell us to take them down.

Milliways - this campsite farm place - would the field be far enough away so that people wouldn't be disturbed by the music? Have emailed them anyway.

OP posts:
peasoup · 08/07/2008 11:53

Are your guests going to stay over at your festival thing? i only mentioned youth hostels (Hartington hall is a youth hostel BTW) cos they don't have a hire fee. If you fill all the rooms then that's that. Your guests pay £15 a night B and B and you get a huge country house to yourselves!! Anyway- the field thing...was Blackberry booked up all next summer? You can check what dates are free on their website.
Clapham Common doesn't seem to mind gazebos. i've seen plenty of big family parties there. There is an enclosed area by the bandstand that i see lots of folks have parties in, especially if they've got kids as it's enclosed with low fencing and a gate in and out so the kids can't escape!
Some pubs let you use their upstairs function rooms for no hire charge as your guests will spend lots on booze so that could be back up if it rains. Plenty of churches will let you have a picnic in their grounds and put up gazebos if you pay them a small donation. You can then pop into the church to use their loos.
Battersea Park probably allows parties too.

Original poster
ScarletA · 09/07/2008 10:58

We plan to have the festie thing over a weekend, yes. Someone on UKcampsite suggested we look for small campsites and then ask them if we could exclusively hire their place for the weekend. But it's just knowing whether these places (campsite or youth hostel) would be suitable or not, ie we're not going to disturb people/neighbours etc if we play music till 3 or 4am. The smallest campsite I've been to was right near the owner's house and obviously that wouldn't be good! I am horrendously considerate and could never enjoy myself properly if I was worried that we were making too much noise. It's bad enough if we have a party here at home and it goes on past midnight - I'm forever turning the music down (dp turns it up again) and worrying about the neighbours. If it's my wedding party, I would like to NOT have to do this!

OP posts:
Original poster
ScarletA · 09/07/2008 11:03

Re other parks - we have thought about it, believe me! But Brockwell Park has lots of special memories for me (looking over it right now from our bedroom window) as I have spent literally every day in it (with the dog and then the children) since we moved here in 1999. Ideally, I'd get married in it but it isn't licenced, sadly. There is the Lido, I know - which I would LOVE - but dp not keen (hates swimming) and also we have little non-swimming kids as do most of our friends and it would be a nightmare worrying about them all falling in.

OP posts:
peasoup · 09/07/2008 15:54

Oh yeah I rememeber going to a wedding party at the lido. At one point the bride and groom floated out into the middle of the pool on a little row boat wiht lovely music playing over the speakers and us chucking petals at them or something; it was SO sweet. That couple had small kids but i didn't notice what they did with them as it was before I was a Mum.
Just remembered Blackberry Wood has a quiet policy after 11 pm, no radios,music etc. Though I guess that MIGHT not be a prob if the entire campsite is your guests so noone to bother.
Can you hire out the cafe in Brockwell park for your picnic? It's a good looking building in case it rains.

Original poster
ScarletA · 10/07/2008 12:01

Rupert and Antonia's wedding? Though don't think they had their kids then... They were the first to do it though.

Re cafe - have thought about it and Painted Hall room in Brockwell Hall but I think it'll be too expensive. As it is we are asking friends to bring food and wine to the do in lieu of wedding presents!

Keep emailing these flaming campsites and no one ever replies! Perhaps I should phone...

OP posts:
2fedup · 11/07/2008 08:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

peasoup · 12/07/2008 08:45

No, wasn't Rupert and Antonia!

Original poster
ScarletA · 14/07/2008 17:18

The scout camp thing could be a possibility... there's one up near Dulwich woods I think. Oooh, shall do a little search.

OP posts:
peasoup · 18/08/2008 20:53

Any news on the wedding thing Scarlet? Hope it's all working out for you.

amysol · 10/07/2010 16:02

SacrletA did you find your perfect venue for a camping wedding? I am looking for something similar - outdoor space, freedom to have some music until late, room for people to camp etc. Would love to know if your wedding was everything you'd hoped for.

inveteratenamechanger · 10/07/2010 17:22

amsyol - how about this place
www.thistledown.org.uk/

I camped there a couple of weeks ago - it is magical, and they def. do weddings.