Runa Farm

Runa Farm is a wedding venue in a secluded part of County Durham, near Barnard Castle. It combines a private chapel, an old barn, a meadow and a kitchen garden, with rooms to stay in on the same site.

Why it suits LGBTQ+ couples

Runa Farm is a strong fit for couples who want something that does not look like a standard venue. Ceremonies can happen in an unusual chapel or in the open air, and the farm also runs festival-style weddings with live music and street food. You can start from a clean slate and still have one team looking after the whole site.

Ceremonies

The Runa Farm Chapel has an ornate tented ceiling and polished stone walls, and the entrance to it is down a staircase from a hidden doorway. For an open-air ceremony, a wildflower meadow is the alternative, and a vintage tractor has been used in it.

Receptions and food

The Old Barn is the reception room, with timber and exposed stone and two private terraces. The kitchen team cooks with produce from the garden and local producers. A courtyard kitchen has a rotisserie and grill, and there is a wood-fired pizza oven. The bar serves North East lagers, cask ales, wine and cocktails on tap. Menus are available as a download.

Open days let you walk the site before you decide, and the farm offers set menus as well as a chance to talk through your own ideas.

Staying

The farm has individually designed rooms and suites, some with private gardens, terraces and hot tubs. Dogs are welcome. Guests can also camp at festival-style weddings, and the farm has a boutique pub and hotel next door, The Smithy.

Getting there and the area

The postcode for the area is DL12 8TA.

Runa Farm is in the Teesdale countryside near Barnard Castle, a market town with a castle and the Bowes Museum. The A66 and the A1(M) give road links to Durham, Darlington and Newcastle.

Good to know

• Venue tours and open days can be booked through the website.
• Dogs are welcome.
• Seasonal offers are published by the venue.