Are weddings at The Comb good value compared to the competition?
Some venues might offer a more attractive headline price than us, but that’s usually because they don’t mention the hidden extras that aren’t revealed until you’ve already taken the time and effort to visit. Many wedding venues have a minimum spend on catering and drinks which is typically set at around £5,000 or higher.
Can I hire the Comb for just one day for my wedding?
No, our weddings are offered over a weekend or over two days midweek. This ensures that you have the time to fully relax and enjoy yourselves in our beautiful country setting. It also enables us to offer you a more competitive rate.
What are the times of arrival and departure for a Reivers Wedding?
Weekend weddings are from Friday afternoon, 4pm, to Sunday lunchtime.
Midweek weddings are from Tuesday afternoon, 4pm, to Thursday lunchtime.
How many weddings do you host?
The Comb only hosts a limited number of weddings per year, which we believe keeps it special. We guarantee that you will never see another bridal party waiting at the gates!
What does ‘exclusive hire’ mean?
You get exclusive use of the Comb main building, immediate grounds and the dark skies wedding barn.
Do you supply staff?
On the day of the wedding we provide staff to run the bar and help with logistics. We don’t mind serving reception drinks if required.
Your caterer should supply their own waiters as part of the deal you strike with them.
Are you licensed for weddings?
Yes we are fully licensed to stage weddings. When you book The Comb, simply phone the registry office at Northumberland County Council and book a registrar for your date. If you wish to get married in a church and then stage your reception at The Comb, this is not a problem.
Where is the ceremony location?
There are several to choose from. We have an elegant enclosed stone courtyard with lawns and paving, or a special location in the grounds with a stunning backdrop of the Tarset valley. If you’d rather be inside, you can choose from a large reception room in the main building, or the dark skies wedding barn itself. We will arrange the chairs and furniture for the ceremony. If poor weather upsets plans for your outside celebration, don’t worry we can quickly bring it inside.
How does the catering work, exactly?
We give you complete freedom to select your own caterers and food. This can be formal dining, a hog roast, street food, BBQ or whatever else fits in with your preference and budget.
We only ask that your caterers have the necessary certificates of competence to comply with health and safety regulations. If you would like recommendations for caterers, feel free to contact some of our former customers.
What does ‘exclusive hire’ mean?
You get exclusive use of the Comb main building, immediate grounds and the dark skies wedding barn.
Is there anything my caterer needs to know about the venue?
The Comb has a driveway that allows vans to drive up and set-up immediately outside. Caterers have their own door at the rear of the dark skies barn for access. The dark skies barn has a food preparation room. The main building also has a fully equipped country kitchen suitable for catering. Your caterers should leave these facilities as they found them.
What’s the deal with drinks?
We have a full alcohol license, and an extensive wine list. Our operations manager will work with you to create a drinks solution suited to your taste and budget. We can arrange for reception drinks to be held in the grounds or in the main building.
On the day of your wedding, our license requires us to supply all drinks on site.
The staffed bar in the dark skies barn is fully stocked with draft beers, lagers, ciders, real ale as well as wines, spirits, soft drinks and bottled beers. Bar prices are comparable to the local country pub and are considerably lower than those of standard city pubs or wedding venues. A list of drinks can be obtained from the operations manager when you visit and we will try to comply with special drinks requests wherever possible.
If you wish to source your own wines for reception and toast drinks this is not a problem, we work out a fair corkage arrangement with you.
The bar in the main building has a drinks fridge which you are welcome to stock and use the night before the wedding.
What time does the bar close?
The dark skies barn bar closes at midnight. However party animals can retreat to the main building bar for further refreshment. Our nearest neighbours are ½ a mile away, but please keep the noise levels down to a level that won’t disturb them!
Can we get early access for decorating and preparations?
The dark skies barn will open to let you decorate and prep from lunchtime on your day of arrival. Like most couples, however, you might find that the barn’s rustic look doesn’t need much extra decoration. The dark skies barn is always locked overnight, then opened up in the morning after your wedding day so that you can retrieve your possessions.
Can we arrange a viewing?
Yes we actively encourage this. The Comb is a beautiful place that visitors tend to fall in love with when they experience it first-hand. Viewings are our best tool of persuasion!
The Comb tends to be fully booked at weekends on an exclusive basis. Viewings are therefore best arranged between Tuesday and Friday lunchtimes. However we will try our best to fit in with your schedule, this can include evening viewings during the Summer.
When do we see the operations manager?
Our operations manager will be available in the afternoon before your wedding to answer questions and close up the dark skies barn, which happens in the early evening. He then returns in the morning to unlock the barn. This happens both before and after your wedding, and is a good time to deal with any issues.
Is there parking?
There is parking at The Comb for around 20 cars. There are overflow carparks elsewhere on the estate which are between 5 and 10 minutes walk from the building.
Do you allow marquees?
Yes, we have marquee locations you can choose from in the grounds. We don’t charge for marquees although you will have to arrange for your own generator and check that your caterers have all the necessary equipment.
Bear in mind that our large, fully equipped dark skies barn comes as part of the hire so a marquee may not be necessary.
Can we extend our stay?
Yes, subject to availability we can add extra nights. This is charged at a self-catering rate which varies based on the time of year.
Is there accommodation for guests nearby?
Accommodation in the Tarset valley includes The Hollybush Inn in Greenhaugh, and the Yurts at Wild Northumbrian and Tarset Tor. In the upper North Tyne Valley options include The Falstone Barns and The Pheasant Inn. The Riverdale and The Cheviot Hotel are to be found in Bellingham. In Otterburn there is Le Petit Chateau and Otterburn Castle. There is also a wide range of bed and breakfasts.
During the Summer months we recommend that you book early.
Are guests allowed to camp?
Yes. There is plenty of space in The Comb’s grounds for camping and our operations manager will indicate where. However if you have 10 campers or more you’ll need to arrange for Portaloos etc. to be dropped off and picked up.
What are the transport links?
The Comb is 3 miles from Greenhaugh, 7 miles from Bellingham and around 40 miles from Newcastle. It’s roughly an hour’s drive from Newcastle train station and about 45 minutes drive from Newcastle airport. It is roughly 25 miles from Hexham where there is also a train station. The last leg to The Comb requires a car, taxi or bus.
Newcastle Station to Kings Cross in London has a journey time of about 2½ hours. Newcastle airport is connected to a range of UK airports with a flight time of approximately one hour from the London airports.
Can full-size coaches get up the road?
Yes. Large vehicles such as coaches have no problem gaining access, but the last mile and half of road is single track. Large vehicles are advised to take the route from the A68 past High Green. This avoids Greenhaugh where there is a tight bend.
There are taxis, minibus and full-size coach hire companies in the area including Howard Snaiths in Otterburn (01830 520609), Bellingham Taxis (01434 220570) and Tarset Valley
Taxis (007711 400152).
Do you allow fireworks?
Yes! We have some of the darkest skies in the UK, which adds to the fireworks spectacle. For health and safety reasons we require professionals to put on displays and expect them to clear up the spent fireworks afterwards.
Are you dog friendly?
Yes. Dogs are welcome in the main building but not on the furniture or in the bedrooms please. We also ask that you clear up after your dogs in the grounds.
If you are bringing more than 3 or 4 animals please check first as this may not be compatible with the logistics of the wedding weekend.
Can we entirely self-cater our wedding at The Comb?
Unfortunately our terms and conditions do not allow for wedding hire on an entirely self-catering basis. This also applies to post-wedding celebrations. We always provide our own staff to discreetly supervise your wedding and to run the bar.
At certain times of year, the main building at The Comb is available for hire on a self- catering basis for non-wedding groups. These hires are not staffed. Health and safety rules limit self-hire overnight guests to 20, and day guests to a maximum of 10.