Wedding Venues in Lincoln: Should You Look South to Spalding?

1 day ago

5 min read

If you are searching for wedding venues in Lincoln, a venue in the city itself makes sense when you want guests to walk between hotels, restaurants and the reception. If you would rather have a whole historic building to yourselves, it is worth looking south to The Sessions House in Spalding, Lincolnshire.

The Sessions House is a Grade II listed former Victorian courthouse, built in 1843 in the neo-Gothic style, and every wedding hires the whole building. The Courtroom seats up to 100 guests for a ceremony or wedding breakfast, and up to 180 guests can join you for the evening.

This guide is for Lincoln couples weighing up the two: what a city venue does well, what an exclusive-use courthouse offers instead, and how to make the trip easy for your guests.

When is a venue in Lincoln itself the right choice?

A city venue is a good fit when most of your guests are local to Lincoln, when you want everyone to stroll between the ceremony, the hotel and the bars afterwards, or when keeping travel to a minimum matters more than anything else.

There is no reason to travel for the sake of it. The right venue is the one that suits your guest list, your plans for the day and the atmosphere you want. The question is whether you want the convenience of the city or a building that becomes part of the story.

What makes The Sessions House different from a city venue?

The Sessions House is an exclusive-use venue, so you never share the building with another wedding or event. Guests arrive at a castle-like neo-Gothic facade with big green front doors and walk up the Justice Steps from the Courtyard.

Inside, the preserved Victorian Courtroom has vaulted wooden ceilings 9 to 12 metres high, wood panelling, tiered pews and the original raised judge's bench, which becomes your top table. The same room turns from ceremony room to dining room to party room, with a lighting rig and a choice of dance floor.

Around it are rooms with very different moods: the deep red and gold Magistrates' Room with its grand piano and marble fireplace, the green Emerald Room with its own staffed bar, and the pink and black Chinoiserie Library, which is included in every wedding package. You can see them all on our spaces page.

Floral wedding decor at The Sessions House, Spalding — Photo: GRG Photos

How many guests can The Sessions House hold?

Here is how the main spaces work for a wedding:

Courtroom: ceremonies from 20 guests and up to 100 for a ceremony or seated dining, and up to 180 for an evening reception.
Courtyard: a private, walled courtyard licensed for outdoor ceremonies, with up to 150 standing and an outdoor bar if you want one. There is always an indoor wet-weather plan.
Emerald Room: intimate ceremonies of up to 20, or a drinks bar for the reception.
Magistrates' Room: intimate ceremonies and private dining for 15 to 30.

Because the venue is indoor-first, the weather never decides your day. Evening guests are free to invite, up to 180 in total; you only pay for their food.

How easy is it for Lincoln guests to get to Spalding?

Guests coming from Lincoln will be travelling to Spalding rather than across town. Share the route and timings with your invitations and let guests know their options for getting home.

By train: the venue is under 250 metres' walk from Spalding station.
By car: there are 15 spaces on site, and we suggest guests use the public car parks on Victoria Street or Sheep Market, which keeps the front of the building clear for photos.
Taxis: Spalding Taxis (01775 722115), A1 Taxis (01775 714545) and Smart Cabs (01775 767676) are worth booking ahead for the end of the night.
Staying over: there is no accommodation on site, but Cley Hall Hotel is a 10-minute walk (with discounts for our couples) and the Red Lion Hotel is a 2-minute walk.

Please be aware that the indoor rooms are on the first floor, up 14 steps, with no lift and no wheelchair-accessible toilet. The Courtyard is step-free (gravel) and licensed for ceremonies. If any of your guests have access needs, talk to the wedding team early.

Vintage wedding cars outside The Sessions House, Spalding — Photo: Paul Aston Photography

Which wedding packages suit couples coming from Lincoln?

There is a package for most kinds of wedding, and the same prices apply all year, with no seasonal pricing:

Venue hire: Classic, Signature and Luxury, if you want to choose your own caterer and suppliers. External caterers are welcome with no fee.
All-Inclusive: venue hire and catering together, for couples who want fewer decisions.
Twilight Wedding Package: starts at 4pm and leaves out the sit-down meal, which makes a later start easy for guests travelling from Lincoln.
Intimate Wedding Package: for small weddings of up to 30 guests.

For what each package includes, download the wedding brochure or ask the wedding team.

How do you choose between a Lincoln venue and The Sessions House?

Ask yourselves a few honest questions:

Do most of our guests live in or near Lincoln, or are they coming from further afield?
Do we want guests walking between venues, or everything in one private building?
How important is a dramatic historic setting compared with a short journey?
Will most guests stay overnight, and is a hotel within walking distance enough?

If you are still comparing venue styles across the county, our guide to choosing wedding venues in Lincolnshire walks through the questions worth asking. The simplest way to decide is to see the building for yourselves: book a viewing for a private 60-minute tour with the wedding team, or come to one of our free open days.

Frequently asked questions

Is The Sessions House in Lincoln?

No. The Sessions House is on Sheep Market in the centre of Spalding, Lincolnshire (PE11 1BB). It is a Grade II listed Victorian courthouse built in 1843, hired exclusively for every wedding.

How many guests can The Sessions House hold for a wedding?

The Courtroom at The Sessions House, Spalding, seats up to 100 guests for a ceremony or wedding breakfast and holds up to 180 for an evening reception. Smaller ceremonies can use the Emerald Room (up to 20) or the Magistrates' Room (15 to 30).

Can we get married and hold the reception in the same building?

Yes. The Sessions House has four licensed ceremony spaces (the Courtroom, the Courtyard, the Emerald Room and the Magistrates' Room), so the ceremony, wedding breakfast and evening party can all happen in one exclusive-use building.

Is there accommodation at The Sessions House?

There is no accommodation on site. Cley Hall Hotel is a 10-minute walk away and offers discounts for Sessions House couples, and the Red Lion Hotel is a 2-minute walk away.