The Beverley Barn Our Story
When couples visit The Beverley Barn, they often ask us how it all began.
The truth is, it wasn’t a carefully mapped-out business plan or a lifelong ambition to own a wedding venue. Like many good stories, it started quite unexpectedly… with a birthday party, a farm field and a tipi.
Where It All Began
Our story started many years ago at my big sister, Megan’s 21st birthday party.
We were lucky enough to grow up on a farm near Little Weighton, and for Megan’s party my dad had hired a huge tipi for the celebration. It was one of those brilliant nights where everyone came together with great food, a band, lots of friends and the atmosphere was full of excitement.
One of those friends happened to be Phil.
At the time, I was only 17 and very much not interested in finding a long-term partner. After perhaps having one too many drinks at the party, I woke up the morning after with a pounding headache and over the course of the next few days I started to receive messages from Phil asking if he could take me out on a date.
For a week I ignored him.
But
Eventually I gave in.
Our First Date
Phil picked me up in his black Volkswagen Golf, and we drove to Chiquito’s at Kingswood for dinner. (Sadly no longer there)
We had a lovely meal, but one moment from that night still makes us laugh today.
I ordered a tequila cocktail and, thinking the rim of the glass was coated in sugar, I enthusiastically licked it.
It was salt.
Lots of salt.
I nearly made myself sick, but it definitely broke the ice. We laughed so much that evening, and in many ways the rest really is history.
The Opportunity That Changed Everything
Fast forward a few years to 2017, when an opportunity appeared that would change our lives.
The property that is now The Beverley Barn was listed for sale through East Riding of Yorkshire Council.
On the day before the sealed bids were due to close, we decided to view the site and put in what can only be described as a very cheeky offer.
We had absolutely no expectation of winning the bid.
A week later, while I was working at Wats On Boutique, my grandmother’s special occasion wear shop down Willerby Road in Hull I received a phone call.
We had got it. We had just landed ourselves with a pretty scruffy and derelict property!
Our excitement lasted about five minutes before the reality set in.
We now had to find a way to actually buy it.
Taking the Leap
At the time Phil and I owned an ice cream van business called Dream Shakes. (My sister, Megan Clappison now owns and runs this business). We travelled around local events and festivals including the Bridlington Kite Festival and had a regular spot at Beverley Maize maze.
We worked constantly.
Our lovely little house in Little Weighton went straight on the market and we moved back in with my parents to help make everything possible.
Every summer event, every long day, every early morning was all focused on saving enough money to purchase the site.
Alongside a bank loan and a few family favours, the purchase finally went through.
It was terrifying. But also incredibly exciting.
Building The Beverley Barn
Planning permission was a nightmare, a very long nightmare! During this time we worked hard on ripping out the house and renovating it so we could move in and start our life down Long Lane.
Finally, planning permission was granted on 22nd December 2017.
Most people would probably have taken a Christmas break.
Not us.
We spent Christmas and even New Year’s Eve painting, renovating and transforming the building into what you now know as The Beverley Barn.
Looking back, it was a whirlwind of hard work, uncertainty and hope.
But we had a vision of creating a place where people could celebrate life’s biggest moments, doing what they wanted, when they wanted with cocktails and all of the little luxuries that make everything personal and unique.
Our First Wedding
Our very first wedding was on 2nd June 2018.
It was particularly special because it was Phil’s sister Amy Hagyard’s wedding.
Hosting that first wedding was unforgettable. Seeing the barn filled with people celebrating, laughing and dancing confirmed that we had created something truly special.
Shortly After Came Covid
Just as the business was beginning to grow, the world changed.
Covid arrived.
Like many businesses in the wedding industry, we faced an incredibly challenging time. For two years we experienced different lockdowns and restrictions.
Some months we had to close completely. Other months we could only host very small weddings and celebrations of life with 15 guests. Eventually that increased to 30 guests, and finally we were able to reopen properly with restrictions still in place. It was an incredibly difficult time for couples and for the industry as a whole.
But it also reminded us just how meaningful celebrations are and how much people value gathering together.
Growing the Dream
Since then, the business has grown in ways we could never have imagined. We welcomed Michelle, our incredible general manager, and we now have a small team of amazing wedding coordinators who help bring each couple’s day to life.
Alongside The Beverley Barn, we also run:
• The Cart Shed Catering Company
and
• From Yes 2 I Do, our wedding planning portal
Everything we do centres around supporting couples and creating memorable celebrations.
What This Journey Has Taught Us
We have learnt so much along the way. About weddings. About business. About people. About resilience.
But most importantly we have met an incredible community of couples, families and suppliers who make this industry so special. Every wedding brings new stories, new friendships and moments we feel privileged to witness.
And The Journey Continues
Our journey is far from over. We continue to reinvest in The Beverley Barn, always looking for ways to improve the experience for couples and their guests. Seeing the venue grow from an empty building into a place filled with laughter, celebration and memories is something we will never take for granted.
Come and See How Far We’ve Come
If you haven’t visited The Beverley Barn yet, I would love to welcome you. Whether you are planning a wedding, organising an event or simply curious to see how far the barn has come, you are always welcome to get in touch.
Just send me an email:
I would be delighted to show you around.
With love,
Yasmin
Director of The Beverley Barn