Following our new Wedding Supplier Spotlight blog series (celebrating suppliers we enjoy working with), we also wanted to highlight the wonderful local wedding venues in Sussex that we have had the pleasure of working with too – and look forward to working in again, once we can.
First up is the award-winning Long Furlong Barn in picturesque Clapham, Worthing. The barn was renovated by the Jenkin family in 2014 and has quickly become a firm favourite venue for couples looking for an idyllic, informal barn venue to be the backdrop to their beautiful big day.
We caught up with venue manager Vicki Lamont to hear more…
Hi Vicki, first things first, why do you think Long Furlong Barn makes such a lovely wedding venue?
I think there are two areas that make Long Furlong Barn such a lovely venue:
The first is our farming history and beautiful location. We are so lucky to have the South Downs National Park as our backdrop, and the barns were beautifully restored to be sympathetic to its surroundings. The historic Granary is a beautiful medieval tythe style design with high ceilings and stunning tall doors which was used to thresh the grain. The Cartshed still features the original grain pit used to store the grain from the surrounding farmland and is always a great talking point! We have recently added our beautiful outdoor ceremony arch which is a subtle nod to the granary architecture whilst being sympathetic to surrounding countryside.
Secondly, it’s a family run business with a great team behind it! We love what we do, and we are always listening, observing and adapting to make sure that Long Furlong Barn ticks all the right boxes for our couples. We understand what makes their day important to them, and we are passionate about creating an exclusive wedding experience just for them.
What’s the history of the venue?
The Long Furlong is a symbolic route for local people driving to and from Worthing and beyond. The surrounding fields that overlook the Barns have been farmed by the Jenkin family for over 100 years, and still are to this very day. The barns were originally used to thresh and store the grain. We are proud of our local heritage and connections to our community.
How would you describe what you do?
Relaxed wedding days. We look at what our couples need most to have a stress free wedding day and if we can, we provide it. For example, we are always adding to our extensive décor range which our couples are free to use. We have a onsite bridal suite to allow the bridal party to be onsite from 9am and relax as they prepare for the big day. The Barns are fully weather protected with both air conditioning and underfloor heating to ensure that the weather won’t dampen their day.
What do you, personally, love most about what you do?
I love getting to know our couples. Every couple is unique, making every wedding day different and special. No wedding is the same and you get to meet all types of personalities and styles.
What’s been your highlight so far?
Winning the TWIA 2020 High Commended award for Best Venue in the South East!
What would be your top tip for choosing a venue?
Choosing a venue is a very personal choice and very overwhelming! Make sure you have a list of what is important to you when choosing your venue for making your day perfect.
You also sponsor HOPE Charity Project – why did you want to get involved with this wonderful charity?
Long Furlong Barn is a family run venue and we wanted to give something back to our local community. We believe that every child deserves the right to grow up feeling happy and confident, and that no child should ever feel alone. Hope Charity Project is a local charity supporting Sussex families that drive by our venue every day. We wanted them to know that we hear them and that we support them.
Is there anything else you’d like to say?
I personally want to give a shout out to all our fellow wedding suppliers and our 2020 couples that are experiencing the toughest of times right now. Thank you to you all from the bottom of our hearts for your continued support and strength as we navigate through 2020.
5 second questions
The song I love to dance to most is…
‘It’s My Life’ by Dr. Alban
What biscuits would you like to see most in the biscuit tin, and why?
Has to be a jammy dodger. I can split it and make it last longer!
What bit of advice would you give to your younger self?
Don’t take life too seriously, take risks and never give up.
Who is your secret celebrity crush?
Santiago Cabrera
If you were to host the ultimate dinner party what four guests would you invite and why?
George from Australian MasterChef, because he is not good with spicy food and would cook an awesome meal! Delta Goodrem, as she is my music idol and I would love to meet her. Micheal McIntyre, he would bring the spicy food and my Mum, because she loves Micheal and George!
Cats or dogs?
Cats
Tea or coffee?
Tea
Thanks Vicki! Find out more about Long Furlong Barn by visiting their website or following them on Facebook and Instagram.
I am proud to be a recommended supplier at Long Furlong Barn. Don’t forget to pop in to one of the venue’s open days, and say hello!
Many thanks to the lovely Shelley Welti for the help in putting this feature together for me.
