Issue 51

FUNCTION VENUES
CASE STUDY
Sychpwll Centre
A 10 acre eco-friendly venue on the Powys/Shropshire border
which is “far from commercial”
We talk to Sebastian
Hendry about how a family
home and smallholding
has evolved into a venue
based on eco and organic
principles. Sychpwll offers
a blank canvas for a small
amount of weddings and
events along with camping
and glamping.
When did you start your venue
business and what is its history?
It started organically really, I
can’t pinpoint an exact date. In
1982 my parents saved Sychpwll
from dereliction and the site
became an organic smallholding
with various outbuildings. In the
mid to late 1990s the open hay
barn and old tractor shed were
turned into straw-bale buildings
and used to house various arts
and environmental activities/
charity work. It became a venue
by virtue of the fact that there
were requests for residential
activities, and the place evolved to
accommodate these events safely
and responsibly.
Tell us about your location
and site
The Sychpwll Centre is a 10 acre
eco-friendly smallholding situated
on the banks of the River Vyrnwy,
right on the Powys/Shropshire
border. We are a bit hidden really,
we are only a few miles from a ‘main
road’ but often guests remark that
the peace and tranquillity feels like
a world away from life’s everyday
stresses.
“IT BECAME A VENUE BY VIRTUE OF
THE FACT THAT THERE WERE
REQUESTS FOR RESIDENTIAL ACTIVI-
TIES, AND THE PLACE EVOLVED TO
ACCOMMODATE THESE EVENTS
SAFELY AND RESPONSIBLY”
14 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM