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Licensed wedding venues in County Durham

17 venues in County Durham hold an in-date approval for civil marriages and civil partnerships on the GOV.UK approved premises list (file dated 17 Oct 2025; expiry dates checked 25 Oct 2026). Durham County Council is a unitary council. Darlington, Stockton-on-Tees, Hartlepool, Sunderland and Gateshead are separate councils with their own registration services.

Map loads when you scroll here (17 venues with coordinates).

Venue styles

Our classification from venue names. Check with each venue.

Country house & manor7
Other venue6
Register office1
Hotel1
Barn1
Castle1

Registrar fees at approved venues

Durham County Council’s fee for a ceremony at a licensed venue, 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027: £600 Monday to Thursday, £655 Friday to Sunday, £695 on a bank holiday weekend (including the Saturday and Sunday). A £50 booking fee is also payable; it is non-refundable, non-transferable and not taken off the ceremony fee. (source: Durham County Council: ceremony fees, read 28 Oct 2026)

On top of that you each pay the national notice fee. National statutory fees from 6 April 2026: notice £46.50 per person (£63 if a Home Office referral applies), register office statutory ceremony £62, certificate £12.50 (Registration Fees (Amendment) Regulations 2026 (legislation.gov.uk)). Venue hire is always separate.

Register offices and ceremony rooms on the list

Capacity, as stated by venues

We have not yet found capacity figures published by venues here. Ask each venue for seated ceremony capacity in its approved room.

Prices, as published by venues

Quoted word for word with the date we read them; not ranked, because packages differ.

No venue here publishes prices we could verify yet.

Licences expiring by Oct 2027 (7)

If your date is after the expiry, ask the venue whether it has applied to renew.

FAQ

How many licensed wedding venues are there in County Durham?

17 venues hold an in-date approval on the GOV.UK approved premises list (file dated 17 Oct 2025). The council’s own list may include newer approvals.

How much does a registrar cost at a venue in County Durham?

Durham County Council’s fee for a ceremony at a licensed venue, 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027: £600 Monday to Thursday, £655 Friday to Sunday, £695 on a bank holiday weekend (including the Saturday and Sunday). A £50 booking fee is also payable; it is non-refundable, non-transferable and not taken off the ceremony fee. Source: Durham County Council: ceremony fees.

Can we marry outdoors?

Only in an outdoor area the council has approved at that venue. Ask the venue and check the council register.

How far ahead do we give notice?

At least 28 full days before the ceremony, at your local register office (GOV.UK).

Is the register office cheaper?

Yes. The statutory register office ceremony is £62 plus £46.50 notice each and £12.50 per certificate under the national fees.

All 17 venues

Browse County Durham venue cards Comparison table

See also: register office wedding cost · how to check a venue is licensed · register office finder

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