TTKS Visits: Falside Mill, St Andrews

St Andrews is famous for many things – as the birthplace of golf, as a quaint and charming seaside town, and as the place where the future king and queen met while at univer­sity. To me, though, following my recent visit, St Andrews will always make me think of Falside Mill.

Owned by husband and wife David and Alyson for the past five years, the beautifully renovated steading has become a huge hit with couples looking to hold their celebrations in a space that’s modern yet full of rustic charm. It hosts more than 100 weddings a year and already has bookings in the diary for 2027.

As Alyson and I sit down for a chat (on one of those comfortable Chesterfield sofas that couples can hire to furnish the venue), I ask her what she believes makes Falside Mill stand out from the crowd.

“We really give our couples the run of the place,” she tells me. “We like to be as accommodating as possible, and try to build a relationship with our couples – they become our friends. We still hear from so many people who married here – it’s one of our favourite things, getting updates and photos further down the line.”

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And on a more practical level? “You cannot fault our toilets!” she laughs. “We’re pretty unique in that we’re a barn venue but we have indoor toilets. It is such a huge selling point.”

It’s not just the loos that are impressive, of course. Falside Mill is made up of a collection of special spaces, all under one roof. You could say ‘I do’ in the ceremony room (with space for up to 200 guests) before a drinks reception in the sheltered sun-trap courtyard (complete with its own cocktails tuk tuk).

For more intimate ceremonies, there’s the Mill Ring, a circular building with big windows and capacity for 50 guests.

The star of the show is the main hall, with its timber-clad ceilings and twinkling fairylights. There’s a fully stocked bar here as well as ample space for a band to set up, meaning nobody has any reason to leave the party – unless it’s to take in the stunning views of the surrounding hills and farmland.

Alyson and David have gone out of their way to make weddings here as special and stress-free as possible.

“We have recently introduced our own minibus, which can be used not only to bring the bridal party here from their nearby accommodation, but also to shuttle guests back to wherever they’re staying in the evening – appreciated by those older guests who perhaps want to leave before carriages,” Alyson explains.

And speaking of accommodation, Falside Mill has something exciting (and currently top secret) in the final planning stages, according to David…

Top-quality food is also guaranteed here. The couple worked in catering before they took over at Falside, so know their way around delicious wedding menus.

The service also runs like clockwork (as proof, the university’s annual Welly Ball is held here, which sees 1,000 hungry students served in less than 15 minutes!). “We can do everything from sit-down plated meals to sharing dishes,” David tells me. “A personal favourite is when couples opt to make a guest at each table the ‘carver’ – we get them dressed up in a chef’s hat and apron and it makes for really great photographs.”

A taco station, fudge doughnuts and a dance-off in the evening: Siobhan and Bradley definitely succeeded in achieving their vision for a relaxed, fun day at the venue

Local suppliers are big fans of the venue too. The owners have great relationships with photographers, musicians, celebrants, decor specialists and more, and are happy to share their details at your initial walk-round (that meeting, incidentally, can be at a time of your choosing, since the couple live on-site).

“We are more than a venue, we are a destination,” David and Alyson say as I go out the door. And looking over my shoulder, it’s clear to see why they and countless others have fallen in love with Falside: it’s a little bit of hidden magic.