Sopley Mill takes meetings and conferences for up to 100 people, relaxed drinks events and product launches for up to 150, Christmas parties and weddings in a restored water mill on the River Avon at Sopley, near Christchurch. The venue is hired as a whole, with three floors of rooms, a deck over the water and a private garden island of about 1,000 square meters.
Seminars and company events
For company use the mill offers meetings, conferences, client events, team gatherings, product launches, summer parties and Christmas parties. Meetings and conferences take up to 100 people, and relaxed formats such as launches or drinks receptions up to 150. The Granary on the second floor is the usual room for a conference setup or a drinks reception and has air conditioning. The River Deck over the water works for breaks between sessions, a buffet lunch or drinks. The fenced garden has room for team-building activities, lawn games, a barbecue or crazy golf. Bands can play in the Granary within sound limits, and DJs come through the venue's partner company. The garden and river are lit in the evening.
Weddings and receptions
Couples choose between exclusive use, venue-only hire or a wedding package. The mill is licensed for civil ceremonies in two rooms: the Granary, which seats 100, and the Boat Room on the ground floor for small weddings. Hampshire registrars officiate. From April to October, outdoor ceremonies take place on the terrace beside the river, decided the night before according to the weather, and the village church next door is another option. The site gives 100 guests for a ceremony with a seated meal and 140 for a reception only. The Avon Suite on the first floor serves as the getting-ready room.
Rooms and capacities
The Riverview Room on the top floor has a vaulted, beamed ceiling and seats 100 on ten round tables of ten, or on long tables or a buffet. The Granary seats 100 and takes up to 120 for a party, with the Potting Shed bar and a dance floor. The ground floor holds up to 100 for a reception and has three beamed rooms: the Holt, with its own bar, a middle room with a fireplace, and the Boat Room with double doors to the garden. Outside there are the River Deck, the River Bar and the lawn.
Catering
Food comes from the mill's listed caterers or from a caterer you choose, who works from a kitchen on the top floor. Drinks are run by Thirsty Willow, which operates the bars. You may bring your own drinks with no corkage charge, and the bar team serves them.
Accommodation
There are no bedrooms at the mill. Several rental cottages sit a minute's walk away, and Christchurch, about five minutes by car, has guest houses and hotels.
History and setting
The owners write that a mill stood here in 1066. The present building dates from around 1780 and ground grain until the mid-1950s, then housed a restaurant for about 25 years. It has belonged to the same family since 1870. David and Lucy took it back in 2012 and spent about 18 months converting it into a venue. The garden island is ringed by the millstream and looks over water meadows.
Getting there
The address is Mill Lane, Sopley, BH23 7AU. Bournemouth is about ten minutes by road, Christchurch station is close by with taxis, and there is ample parking, with cars allowed to stay overnight.
