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Price: £4,298 – £9,750
Guests: 105
Description
Description
Mark the start of your married life together in our breath-taking 800 year old medieval Palace, which never fails to wow as guests arrive over the drawbridge and into the grounds. Entertain inside the impressive Palace building and enjoy 14 acres of RHS partner gardens. Part of the fun of your wedding day is the planning and we want to make this as enjoyable for you as the actual day itself. Our dedicated wedding planner will take care of all the details for you, advising about timings, décor and supplier recommendations.
Drinks and canapés are served in the original medieval Entrance Hall and on the garden terrace whilst you spend time with your photographer and guests. There are 14 acres of gardens to explore and plenty of space for families to run around or play games in. And don’t worry if the weather lets you down, the Entrance Hall is the perfect place to enjoy drinks and if it’s really cold we’ll light the impressive medieval log fire.
Once it’s time to eat you will be called into the medieval Undercroft for the feasting to begin. Seating up to 105 guests, the Undercroft is a stunning environment in which to enjoy your wedding breakfast. The room will be beautifully dressed and you have the opportunity to make it your own by choosing flowers and decorations to match your colours and themes. The Undercroft is the location for your evening reception, we’ll move some of the furniture to create space for a DJ or band and dancing which means that your first dance will be set to a breathtaking backdrop.
One of the big attractions of the Palace is the 14 acres of gardens that surround it. A mixture of formal Dutch style flower beds, a picturesque style South Lawn, the wild freedom of the aboretum and of course the well pools that give the city of Wells its name, offer a wonderful space for guests to explore and enjoy and an amazing backdrop to your wedding photographs, why not take a look using the following link; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-_hydiJ7Lc
Message from the team
Name of Wedding Contact: Weddings team
Welcome to The Bishop's Palace! We're delighted that you're considering The Bishop's Palace as your wedding venue. Do drop us a line and we can discuss your wedding vision in more detail.
The Bishop's Palace is the most amazing venue - it is an absolute must-see!
Experience
Year Business Was Established
1206
No. of Weddings Hosted
More than 50
Public Liability Insurance
Yes
No. of People In Team
5
Overview of The Bishop's Palace
Wedding Venue Type
Bishop's Palace
Wedding Venue Capacity
Dining Capacity
105
Reception Capacity
200
Pricing for The Bishop's Palace
Pricing for The Bishop's Palace
What's Included?
Exclusive use
External caterers not permitted
Day before set up available
Non consumables (e.g. linen, lights etc.)
Private room(s) included (non-exclusive use)
Furniture included
Wedding coordinator available on the day
Multiple course wedding breakfast
Here at The Bishop’s Palace we have the option of hire of the Palace buildings, or an exclusive hire of the Palace buildings and 14 acres of Gardens.
Hire of the Palace building includes use of the rooms inside the Palace, including the medieval Entrance Hall, stunning vaulted Undercroft and elegant Long Gallery.
‘Exclusive’ hire of the Palace and Gardens means that our beautiful heritage building and all 14 acres of stunning gardens would be yours exclusively and that no members of the visiting public would be allowed past the entry gate.
‘Building’ Hire is the hire of The Palace building only with the gardens remaining open to the public.
Hide detailsReviews (10)
- CClare Milner04/10/2025Wedding Venue Review – Bishop's Palace (Wedding Date: 08/08/2025)Wedding Venue Review – Bishop's Palace (Wedding Date: 08/08/2025)Wedding Venue Review – Bishop's Palace (Wedding Date: 08/08/2025) We got married at the beautiful Bishop's Palace in August 2025 and overall, we had a truly memorable day that we’ll cherish forever. The venue itself is absolutely stunning, full of historic charm, with castle walls, towers, and a moat that created an incredible backdrop for our photos. The extensive gardens surrounding the Palace added a magical, romantic feel that our guests couldn’t stop talking about. One of the things we really appreciated was that the Palace only hosts a couple of weddings per month. It never felt like a “wedding factory,” and we felt like our day was treated as a special day. We were also able to set up the afternoon before and clean up the morning after, which took a huge amount of pressure off and allowed us to really enjoy the experience. That said, our planning journey wasn’t without its challenges. Over the two years from booking to the big day, we had four different wedding coordinators. Unfortunately, communication around these changes was very poor, in two instances we only found out a coordinator had left or been changed when we tried to get in touch and received no reply. There was no centralised point of contact or clear escalation process when coordinators were unavailable, which made us feel quite isolated during what should be an exciting and supported time. Each time the coordinator changed, we had to go over all of our wedding plans again from scratch, which was frustrating and time-consuming. Some of the new coordinators also seemed very reluctant to honour previously agreed-upon details, which made things unnecessarily stressful. Additionally, as the Palace has the Bishop in residence, this adds another layer of restrictions, anything out of the ordinary requires special permission, which isn’t always easy to obtain. In conclusion, we’re very happy with how our wedding day turned out, it was everything we had envisioned, and thanks to our own careful planning and perseverance, everything came together beautifully. We just hope that Bishop’s Palace can improve their coordination and communication processes for future couples. A consistent point of contact, better handover procedures, and more proactive updates would go a long way in making the planning experience as special as the venue itself. Wedding Venue Review – Bishop's Palace (Wedding Date: 08/08/2025) We got married at the beautiful Bishop's Palace in August 2025 and overall, we had a truly memorable day that we’ll cherish forever. The venue itself is absolutely stunning, full of historic charm, with castle walls, towers, and a moat that created an incredible backdrop for our photos. The extensive gardens surrounding the Palace added a magical, romantic feel that our guests couldn’t stop talking about. One of the things we really appreciated was that the Palace only hosts a couple of weddings per month. It never felt like a “wedding factory,” and we felt like our day was treated as a special day. We were also able to set up the afternoon before and clean up the morning after, which took a huge amount of pressure off and allowed us to really enjoy the experience. That said, our planning journey wasn’t without its challenges. Over the two years from booking to the big day, we had four different wedding coordinators. Unfortunately, communication around these changes was very poor, in two instances we only found out a coordinator had left or been changed when we tried to get in touch and received no reply. There was no centralised point of contact or clear escalation process when coordinators were unavailable, which made us feel quite isolated during what should be an exciting and supported time. Each time the coordinator changed, we had to go over all of our wedding plans again from scratch, which was frustrating and time-consuming. Some of the new coordinators also seemed very reluctant to honour previously agreed-upon details, which made things unnecessarily stressful. Additionally, as the Palace has the Bishop in residence, this adds another layer of restrictions, anything out of the ordinary requires special permission, which isn’t always easy to obtain. In conclusion, we’re very happy with how our wedding day turned out, it was everything we had envisioned, and thanks to our own careful planning and perseverance, everything came together beautifully. We just hope that Bishop’s Palace can improve their coordination and communication processes for future couples. A consistent point of contact, better handover procedures, and more proactive updates would go a long way in making the planning experience as special as the venue itself.
- MMr and Mrs M11/02/2020Winter Wedding at The Bishop's PalaceWinter Wedding at The Bishop's PalaceWe had our wedding reception at the Bishop’s Palace in Wells in March 2018. This was after being failed by another wedding venue in Taunton. Changing our venue to the Bishop’s Palace was the best decision we made for our wedding. Organising the reception was a smooth and relaxed process from start to finish. Initially we had a guided tour around the palace and gardens whilst chatting about the different options available to us. Once we decided to book the venue we were put in contact with our wedding coordinator, Kelly. We had several meetings with Kelly to discuss how we wanted our day to run, nothing was too much for Kelly, she was always offering her assistance, not just with plans at the Bishop’s Palace but with other aspects of the wedding like the flowers and disco. We had a food tasting at the palace cafe to help us decide on the food for the day, this was a great experience and we were able to discuss the options available to vegetarians and those with food intolerances. The wedding day itself was amazing, it ran without any issues, despite the fact it snowed!! The food was brilliant, all of our guests were complimentary. We certainly didn’t go hungry! Everyone said how beautiful the venue was. We spent most of the day inside of the palace due to how cold it was outside, but this was lovely as the fires were lit in the beautiful fire places. It was an idyllic winter wedding! The cost of the whole reception was far less than I ever would have imagined. We opted for a winter package, which was great value for money. Overall it was definitely a 10/10 and we would highly recommend the Bishop’s Palace to anyone else getting married in Wells! We had our wedding reception at the Bishop’s Palace in Wells in March 2018. This was after being failed by another wedding venue in Taunton. Changing our venue to the Bishop’s Palace was the best decision we made for our wedding. Organising the reception was a smooth and relaxed process from start to finish. Initially we had a guided tour around the palace and gardens whilst chatting about the different options available to us. Once we decided to book the venue we were put in contact with our wedding coordinator, Kelly. We had several meetings with Kelly to discuss how we wanted our day to run, nothing was too much for Kelly, she was always offering her assistance, not just with plans at the Bishop’s Palace but with other aspects of the wedding like the flowers and disco. We had a food tasting at the palace cafe to help us decide on the food for the day, this was a great experience and we were able to discuss the options available to vegetarians and those with food intolerances. The wedding day itself was amazing, it ran without any issues, despite the fact it snowed!! The food was brilliant, all of our guests were complimentary. We certainly didn’t go hungry! Everyone said how beautiful the venue was. We spent most of the day inside of the palace due to how cold it was outside, but this was lovely as the fires were lit in the beautiful fire places. It was an idyllic winter wedding! The cost of the whole reception was far less than I ever would have imagined. We opted for a winter package, which was great value for money. Overall it was definitely a 10/10 and we would highly recommend the Bishop’s Palace to anyone else getting married in Wells!
- MMr and Mrs Lewis11/02/2020Best weddingBest weddingWe had an amazing day and we had such fun so very many thanks to everyone at the Bishops Palace for such a memorable day. Everyone is telling us it is the best wedding they have ever experienced!! and we agree!! Thank you so much!We had an amazing day and we had such fun so very many thanks to everyone at the Bishops Palace for such a memorable day. Everyone is telling us it is the best wedding they have ever experienced!! and we agree!! Thank you so much!
- MMr and Mrs Molesworth11/02/2020THANK YOUTHANK YOUOur daughter, Helen, had the most truly memorable wedding at the Bishop's Palace on Saturday 23rd July. I can't begin to thank you all enough. The organisation and pre -wedding communications were conducted with a permanent atmosphere of willing to please and efficiency! The food was wonderful, from the tasting, to the breakfast and finally the buffet. This was the biggest party that we will ever throw, and thanks to you all it was the most WONDERFUL day from start to finish. It was the most memorable day.Our daughter, Helen, had the most truly memorable wedding at the Bishop's Palace on Saturday 23rd July. I can't begin to thank you all enough. The organisation and pre -wedding communications were conducted with a permanent atmosphere of willing to please and efficiency! The food was wonderful, from the tasting, to the breakfast and finally the buffet. This was the biggest party that we will ever throw, and thanks to you all it was the most WONDERFUL day from start to finish. It was the most memorable day.
- MMr and Mrs Bradshaw11/02/2020Marvellous EfficiencyMarvellous EfficiencyI just wanted to express our huge gratitude to the Bishop’s Palace a brilliantly executed wedding for my wife and I last weekend. In particular, we can not praise high enough the hard work and pure professionalism shown by Kelly Emery. At every point she was accommodating, responsive and helpful. On the day she and her team made everything run with marvellous efficiency and so very smoothly. We also thought all the staff were very friendly and that the chef did a first class job – as so many guests commented on the excellent food. We could not have been happier.I just wanted to express our huge gratitude to the Bishop’s Palace a brilliantly executed wedding for my wife and I last weekend. In particular, we can not praise high enough the hard work and pure professionalism shown by Kelly Emery. At every point she was accommodating, responsive and helpful. On the day she and her team made everything run with marvellous efficiency and so very smoothly. We also thought all the staff were very friendly and that the chef did a first class job – as so many guests commented on the excellent food. We could not have been happier.
- MMr and Mrs Davis11/02/2020We couldn't have wished for a better dayWe couldn't have wished for a better dayWe just wanted to say thank you so much for everything you did for us. The wedding ran so smoothly even with the cake issue! You were literally amazing and we never had to worry about anything with you. We couldn't have wished for a better day. Everybody loved the food and the venue and said how great it was. So can't thank you enough really!We just wanted to say thank you so much for everything you did for us. The wedding ran so smoothly even with the cake issue! You were literally amazing and we never had to worry about anything with you. We couldn't have wished for a better day. Everybody loved the food and the venue and said how great it was. So can't thank you enough really!
- AAlice McGee05/11/2018Stunning, beautiful and personal venueStunning, beautiful and personal venueWe would definitely recommend the Bishop's Palace as a wedding venue. We were looking for somewhere beautiful that would allow us to have a more personal day than a standard hotel package and that is absolutely what we got. The Palace and gardens are really stunning and Kelly and her team were flexible, understanding and really accommodating, helping us make the day just as we wanted it. Kelly was really helpful right from the start and really went out of her way for us, from sourcing shot glasses for the soup canapés, to taking care of dietary requirements and frequent changes to the plans at the last minute. We went for an afternoon tea and then hog roast which went down really well with all our guests (and Bishop's Palace makes some of the best home-made scones we've tasted). Even though we managed to hit the one rainy day in about 2 months of sunshine, our photos are gorgeous and we had a wonderful day. The only challenge was not having on-site accommodation/ late licence but with hotels within a short walk this wasn't a big problem. We would definitely recommend the Bishop's Palace as a wedding venue. We were looking for somewhere beautiful that would allow us to have a more personal day than a standard hotel package and that is absolutely what we got. The Palace and gardens are really stunning and Kelly and her team were flexible, understanding and really accommodating, helping us make the day just as we wanted it. Kelly was really helpful right from the start and really went out of her way for us, from sourcing shot glasses for the soup canapés, to taking care of dietary requirements and frequent changes to the plans at the last minute. We went for an afternoon tea and then hog roast which went down really well with all our guests (and Bishop's Palace makes some of the best home-made scones we've tasted). Even though we managed to hit the one rainy day in about 2 months of sunshine, our photos are gorgeous and we had a wonderful day. The only challenge was not having on-site accommodation/ late licence but with hotels within a short walk this wasn't a big problem.
- GGemma and Will Brockbank13/10/2018Our wedding 22nd September 2018Our wedding 22nd September 2018We held our wedding reception at The Bishops Palace on Saturday 22nd September 2018 and I it was amazing!! From the initial show around of the Place to the actual wedding, I can not fault a single thing!! Kelly the events organiser is the most wonderful lady, who has a keen eye for attention to detail, treats her clients with the upmost respect and makes sure everything is done exactly how they want it as well as keeping everything in order and running the day with with Milatry precision!! We choose the prince and princess package for our day which was perfect for us. To start Kelly allowed us to voice all of our ideas and helped us make them reality, we where invited to a meal taster where we had the run of the cafe and was served the most amazing food to choose from, the food was the talking point of our wedding with every single guest eating everything that we had chosen and commenting of how generous the portion sizes where and how fantastic the food tasted!! I can highly recommend the beef carpaccio for starter!! They have an amazing chef!! On the run up to the wedding Kelly made sure she kept in touch via email and as a bride planning one of the biggest days of my life I was having questions pop into my head left right and centre, every single question was answer on the day that I sent the email and explained the answer I needed clearly. On the day of the wedding Kelly organised all of her staff amazing and they all did a brill job. Unfortunately we wasn’t blessed with weather and it decided to rain all day but they where prepared for that and had the fire lit for our wet guests and opened up an extra room for guests to mingle, the itinerary ran to time due to the staff being so swift and knew exactly what to do when. Now I can start on the beautiful grounds and building! Well the building speaks for itself, as we lived close by it was a place we had visited before and each and every time we went it took my breath away at how beautiful it is, but to have my wedding set up in it just made it even more special. Every single guest was gob smacked by how amazing the building is and although they did not get to enjoy the gardens due to weather the all where more than happy to enjoy the building itself. We did get out to have photos done in the gardens and I’m so glad we chanced it because there is no way you can not have a wedding at the palace and not take advantage of the most spectacular gardens! Me and my new husband had the best day and we are so glad we chose The Bishops Palce to celebrate our fantastic day!! Thank you so much Bishops Palace you have helped us make memories that will last a life time!! We held our wedding reception at The Bishops Palace on Saturday 22nd September 2018 and I it was amazing!! From the initial show around of the Place to the actual wedding, I can not fault a single thing!! Kelly the events organiser is the most wonderful lady, who has a keen eye for attention to detail, treats her clients with the upmost respect and makes sure everything is done exactly how they want it as well as keeping everything in order and running the day with with Milatry precision!! We choose the prince and princess package for our day which was perfect for us. To start Kelly allowed us to voice all of our ideas and helped us make them reality, we where invited to a meal taster where we had the run of the cafe and was served the most amazing food to choose from, the food was the talking point of our wedding with every single guest eating everything that we had chosen and commenting of how generous the portion sizes where and how fantastic the food tasted!! I can highly recommend the beef carpaccio for starter!! They have an amazing chef!! On the run up to the wedding Kelly made sure she kept in touch via email and as a bride planning one of the biggest days of my life I was having questions pop into my head left right and centre, every single question was answer on the day that I sent the email and explained the answer I needed clearly. On the day of the wedding Kelly organised all of her staff amazing and they all did a brill job. Unfortunately we wasn’t blessed with weather and it decided to rain all day but they where prepared for that and had the fire lit for our wet guests and opened up an extra room for guests to mingle, the itinerary ran to time due to the staff being so swift and knew exactly what to do when. Now I can start on the beautiful grounds and building! Well the building speaks for itself, as we lived close by it was a place we had visited before and each and every time we went it took my breath away at how beautiful it is, but to have my wedding set up in it just made it even more special. Every single guest was gob smacked by how amazing the building is and although they did not get to enjoy the gardens due to weather the all where more than happy to enjoy the building itself. We did get out to have photos done in the gardens and I’m so glad we chanced it because there is no way you can not have a wedding at the palace and not take advantage of the most spectacular gardens! Me and my new husband had the best day and we are so glad we chose The Bishops Palce to celebrate our fantastic day!! Thank you so much Bishops Palace you have helped us make memories that will last a life time!!
- SSarah Bollard07/09/2018What a wonderful venue!What a wonderful venue!We had an incredible wedding reception at The Bishop's Palace in August. It's a very unique setting and guests were particularly impressed by the Palace itself and the gardens. The catering was also really good - delicious canapes, mains and evening food with good sized portions and lovely fresh/local ingredients. Most of all, we can't thank the fantastic team enough. Kelly was incredibly dedicated, patient and supportive throughout the process. She was very responsive to emails and calls and great at giving us the space we needed whilst also checking in regularly to see if she could help. Every request we had (and some were rather bizarre/tricky!) was no problem at all and the answer was always 'yes'. The other staff were also wonderful, from the waiters/waitresses to bar staff to welcomers on the door. I can't recommend this venue highly enough!We had an incredible wedding reception at The Bishop's Palace in August. It's a very unique setting and guests were particularly impressed by the Palace itself and the gardens. The catering was also really good - delicious canapes, mains and evening food with good sized portions and lovely fresh/local ingredients. Most of all, we can't thank the fantastic team enough. Kelly was incredibly dedicated, patient and supportive throughout the process. She was very responsive to emails and calls and great at giving us the space we needed whilst also checking in regularly to see if she could help. Every request we had (and some were rather bizarre/tricky!) was no problem at all and the answer was always 'yes'. The other staff were also wonderful, from the waiters/waitresses to bar staff to welcomers on the door. I can't recommend this venue highly enough!
- KKate and Ravi02/08/2018The Perfect Day!The Perfect Day!We had our wedding reception at the Bishop's Palace on the 21st of April. We had the most perfect day, the Palace and the grounds were absolutely stunning. Kelly and her team kept everything running perfectly throughout the day and were extremely professional. The guests loved the venue and the food was delicious! Kelly was also extremely accommodating, organized and helpful during the run up to the big day. Thank you to everyone at the Bishop's palace for an amazing experience!We had our wedding reception at the Bishop's Palace on the 21st of April. We had the most perfect day, the Palace and the grounds were absolutely stunning. Kelly and her team kept everything running perfectly throughout the day and were extremely professional. The guests loved the venue and the food was delicious! Kelly was also extremely accommodating, organized and helpful during the run up to the big day. Thank you to everyone at the Bishop's palace for an amazing experience!
Location & Contact Details for The Bishop's Palace
Location & Contact Details for The Bishop's Palace
FAQs
Find out a bit more from our FAQs
What is the historical significance of The Bishop's Palace as a wedding venue?
The Bishop's Palace is an 800-year-old medieval palace offering a unique historic setting for your wedding. Its rich history and stunning architecture provide a breathtaking backdrop that never fails to impress guests as they arrive over the drawbridge and into the magnificent grounds.
Where is The Bishop's Palace located?
The Bishop's Palace is located in Wells, Somerset, England, with the postal code BA5 2PD. It is situated within beautiful surroundings offering 14 acres of partner RHS gardens to explore.
What outdoor spaces are available at The Bishop's Palace for wedding events?
The venue offers extensive outdoor spaces including:
- 14 acres of RHS partner gardens
- A mixture of formal Dutch style flower beds
- Picturesque South Lawn
- Wild arboretum area
- The iconic well pools that inspired the name of Wells city
These gardens provide stunning backdrops for photographs and space for guests to enjoy during your celebration.
How does The Bishop's Palace accommodate wedding ceremonies and receptions indoors?
Indoor celebrations include:
- The original medieval Entrance Hall for drinks and canapés, equipped with a medieval log fire for colder days
- The medieval Undercroft for the wedding breakfast and evening reception, seating up to 105 guests with flexible furniture arrangements for dining and dancing
This setting combines historic ambiance with comfortable facilities to make your day perfect regardless of weather.
Is there a dedicated wedding planner to assist with the event?
Yes, The Bishop's Palace offers the support of a dedicated wedding planner who helps with:
- Coordinating timings
- Advising on décor options
- Recommending trusted suppliers
This ensures your wedding planning is enjoyable and stress-free.
Can we customize the decoration for our wedding at The Bishop's Palace?
Absolutely. Couples can personalize the Undercroft by selecting flowers and decorations that complement their wedding colors and themes, making the space uniquely theirs for both the wedding breakfast and the evening reception.
What facilities are available for photography and guest entertainment?
The extensive gardens offer breathtaking natural settings ideal for wedding photography. Guests can also enjoy exploring the 14-acre grounds, which provide plenty of space for family activities and games during the celebrations.
How does The Bishop's Palace manage adverse weather conditions on the wedding day?
If weather is unfavorable, the venue provides:
- The medieval Entrance Hall for comfortable drinks and canapés, complete with a cozy medieval log fire
- Indoor spaces that seamlessly accommodate your guests for dining and dancing
This ensures your wedding celebration goes smoothly no matter the weather.
What is the guest capacity for weddings at The Bishop's Palace?
The medieval Undercroft comfortably seats up to 105 guests for the wedding breakfast and evening reception, providing an intimate yet spacious environment for your special day.
Is there a video or virtual tour available to view the gardens and venue?
Yes, you can explore the beautiful gardens through a video tour available at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-_hydiJ7Lc. This helps you get a feel for the stunning surroundings and plan your wedding day accordingly.
Press & Awards
All our awards & press mentions
Bridebook Benefits
Bridebook GiftFree welcome glass of prosecco when viewing venue
Bridebook Special OfferExclusive supplier list for couples who book
