Welcome The University of Winchester is the perfect location to say ‘I Do’ The University of Winchester offers two great locations you can celebrate your wedding in style. Whether you prefer traditional and elegant or modern and striking, we have the right venue for you. For traditional and elegant weddings, the Grade II listed Victorian Building is a perfect setting offering style, charm and character for up to 110 guests. If you are looking for a more modern and contemporary feel, the dining hall is a bright and sunny space with a modern twist, best suited to larger weddings for up to 250 guests. .
Civil Ceremonies With two beautiful licenced rooms available to hold your Civil Ceremony or Civil Partnership, we can provide you with a small intimate ceremony or a more lavish and grand affair depending on your requirements.
Ceremony Room (West Downs 2) A fine example of Victorian architecture. The room features a stunning double height wooden beam ceiling which creates a perfect setting for wedding ceremonies. Maximum capacity 120
Shakespeare Room In keeping with the traditional Victorian architecture, the Shakespeare Room is a beautiful oak-panelled hall with raised gallery and two staircases leading down to the parquet wooden floor. Maximum capacity for ceremonies 60
Wedding Breakfast/ Wedding Reception Whether you are arriving from elsewhere or have just been announced as Mr & Mrs here with us, The University of Winchester is a truly stunning reception venue. Maximum capacity for wedding breakfast 110 Maximum capacity for receptions 140
Shakespeare Room If your style is more traditional, the West Downs Centre is perfectly suited for you with the Shakespeare Room transforming into a beautiful reception space. Think crisp white linen and captivating flowers by day, with twinkling fairy lights by night and a band to get the party started.
University Centre In contrast, the University Centre showcases a more contemporary setting with the Dining Room offering a bright and sunny atrium with a modern twist. With floor to ceilings windows, you’ll have plenty of natural daylight shining onto your celebrations. Maximum capacity 200
Catering We are proud to be able to offer a wide range of menus sourced from our regional and local suppliers, and we champion organic, free range and ethically sourced ingredients. Whilst the bride and groom are having their photos taken, our catering team will create a welcoming atmosphere to guests. Whether you choose to offer Champagne, Pimms, or the more traditional Bucks Fizz, guests will relax and enjoy chatting about the beautiful ceremony which just took place.
As the new Mr and Mrs are announced into the room, guests are seated to commence the wedding breakfast. Our experienced in-house catering team offer exciting menus which can be adapted to suit both yours and your guests requirements. The day turns into the night, the party gets underway and the bar opens (optional and can open before if preferred). Dancing can be hungry work so why not treat your guests to a ‘midnight feast’ such as a traditional finger buffet or ploughman’s, alternatively maybe you would prefer something out of the ordinary like bacon rolls or pizza.
The City of Winchester The University of Winchester is ideally located just a 10-minute walk from the centre of the historic and beautiful City of Winchester. Whether you are travelling on a tight budget or simply looking for clean, fully functional rooms in a central location, we have something to suit your needs.