Askham Hall

The feel

Askham Hall and Bank Barn, an exciting new style of country house hotel and wedding venue for Cumbria and the Lake District.

20 bedrooms, a Michelin starred restaurant, private gardens, outdoor heated pool, wedding barn, medieval hall and outdoor pavilion. It’s style? Luxurious, intimate, unpretentious, up-to-date and full of charm.

Recognised with Visit England’s ’Taste of England’ Gold award 2024, Cumbria Tourism’s Wedding Venue of the Year’ 2022 and Country Brides North West Wedding Awards – best Cumbria venue!

Within the grounds, a beautiful Grade II listed building ‘Bank Barn’ has been sympathetically converted into a sizeable first class wedding and events venue. With capacity for approximately 150 seated guests, the layout also works well for more intimate groups and parties. Original features such as bare stone walls and an open beamed oak ceiling, together with contemporary lighting, stylish decor and large glass doors, make it a truly special and unique setting for your wedding reception, party or event all year round.

A variety of catering options are available from our onsite kitchen, utilising locally sourced produce, much of it grown and reared at Askham Hall itself or the 800 year old family estate, the Lowther Estate. Renowned chefs from our sister establishment the George and Dragon, Clifton, repeated winners of the Cumbria Tourism Taste Awards. A fully stocked bar tailored specifically to your requirements can be set up in the main room. Toilets, along with baby changing facilities, are located on the lower level of the barn, these are easily accessible via steps or around the outside of the barn for disabled access. Tables, chairs, linen, crockery, cutlery and glasses are all provided inclusive of the venue hire fee.

The barn can be decorated to your requirements at an additional cost. Alternatively you may decorate the venue yourself, access on the day before your event can be guaranteed providing your guests use all the rooms in the main hall for a minimum of 2 nights. A variety of florists, hair and make-up stylists, dressmakers, photographers, cake makers, music bands and other services can be recommended.

Wedding ceremony

We are licensed for civil ceremonies.

St. Peters Church, Askham is located a stone’s throw from the venue. A romantic walk takes you from the church through a secret door into the gardens and onto the wedding barn. Thirteenth century St. Michael’s Church with its strong Lowther family connections, overlooking Askham Hall, the River Lowther and with views of Lowther Castle, is also a short distance from the venue. Contact details can be provided for either.

Intimate weddings in the house

We also offer the perfect environment for smaller weddings. Whether it is a cosy winter wedding in the house or a summer wedding in the garden, we have plenty of options to suit your requirements…

We imagine the perfect intimate wedding involving getting married in the old chapel or the garden pavilion followed by a wedding breakfast in one of the private dining rooms, followed by a party in the medieval hall.

Options

The old chapel is licensed for civil ceremonies of up to 30. There are also other rooms licensed for more and fewer numbers and the garden pavilion is licensed too. Your wedding breakfast can be held in one or more of the private dining rooms for as few as 2 people up to about 40.

For later in the evening, you can then move to the medieval hall if you wish for dancing and drinks or just relax in the main house. The medieval hall is a beautiful room dating back to the 1500s with many original features intact, including a large medieval fireplace and traditional low hanging beams.