Parking, and Why It Decides the Guest List

Ruth Abernathy · 4 July 2026

An unglamorous constraint that quietly caps the numbers at a great many outdoor venues.

Count the Spaces

Rural and garden venues frequently have far fewer parking spaces than their stated capacity implies, and the overflow is a field that becomes unusable after rain.

Ask for the number of hard-standing spaces, not the capacity. Then divide your guest count by about two and a half and see whether it fits.

The Shuttle Answer

A shuttle from a hotel solves parking, drink-driving and the field-in-the-rain problem in one move, and it is generally cheaper than people expect.

It also concentrates arrivals, which the venue will like, and it means the end of the night has a defined shape rather than trailing out over two hours.

Access for the Trucks

The caterer, the marquee company and the band all need to get vehicles close to where they are working, and a narrow lane with a soft verge is a genuine constraint.

Somebody should walk the delivery route before the booking is signed. It is usually the thing that has caused the venue trouble before, so they will have a view.