Former Oswestry army barn transformed into wedding venue

Barnutopia's latest venture is hosting wedding ceremonies in the long barn which was re-located from Park Hall army barracks, near Oswestry, to their farm in Llansilin in the 1970s.

The company's owner, Katrina Boydon, said the structure had fallen into disrepair and needed restoring.

"It's a wonderful barn but it had been left to go to rack and ruin," she said.

"So, we painted it, re-wired it, laid some flooring, added some fairy lights and generally refurbished it and it was ready for weddings.

"It's definitely a unique place for a wedding - we call it rustic - but people seem to love it."

Mrs Boydon and her husband Steve held their first wedding at Tanycoed Farm earlier this month in the former army barn, which holds up to120 guests - and even stepped in to save the day when a caterer cancelled at the last minute.

"Our application was successful, along with our applications for an alcohol and entertainment license and approval as a venue for wedding ceremonies," she added.

"We hosted our first wedding ceremony here on August 19. It was a fabulous success and we even saved the day when the evening caterer booked by the bride did not turn up.

"A quick trip to Aldi and we had burgers and chicken patties on the griddle and more than 60 happily fed guests within an hour or so.

"We've got another wedding booked for September and a more already in the diary for next year.

"It's something different and I think people like that."

The family moved into Tanycoed Farm in April 2015 and opened for business in June, and Mrs Boydon said it has gone from strength to strength.

The site now has luxury yurts, a furnished stable, a dome tent and a number of barns suitable for weddings and parties.