Civil ceremonies – approved Portsmouth venues

Portsmouth has a wonderful selection of approved venues, from the register office to historic warships, hotels, theatres and museums. Once you’ve provisionally booked the venue of your choice, check with Portsmouth register office that a registrar will be able to attend on your chosen date, and discuss a time for the ceremony.

Contact the register office if you would like to view ceremony rooms at the register office or make a provisional booking.

Email registrars@portsmouthcc.gov.uk or call 023 9282 9041. Write to or visit us at Milldam House, Burnaby Road, Portsmouth, PO1 3AF. Our opening hours are 9am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday.

For emergencies outside normal office hours on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays, or for help arranging a marriage involving someone who is terminally ill, please contact 023 9282 2251.

Portsmouth Register Office, Milldam House, offers two room options. Couples using either room can have photographs taken on the period staircase and in the award-winning garden.

Portsmouth Register Office – Mildam House ceremonies room (2 to 45 guests)  

The ceremonies room is on the first floor, and is accessible by our feature staircase or lift. This room is available at half hour intervals Monday to Saturday, 10am to 3.30pm (to 3pm on Saturdays). You can have music, extra vows or a personal reading (all optional). Any music, personal vows or readings should be non-religious.

Before the ceremony couples can be seen together or separately, and the room is suitable for the bridal party to make an entrance. Depending on the day and time of your ceremony there could be some outside noise from guests from later or earlier ceremony parties.

Portsmouth Register Office – statutory ceremony in Superintendent Registrar’s office (The couple and 2 adult witnesses only)

Our statutory ceremony is available on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 9.30am. Please note that this is not a formal ceremony room. Music, personal vows or readings are not permitted. Due to the location of this ceremony room you may hear phones ringing and people talking at the reception area during your ceremony.

For more information on becoming an approved wedding venue, contact Licensing by email at licensing@portsmouthcc.gov.uk phone 023 9283 4073 or write to Licensing Service, Civic Offices, Guildhall Square, Portsmouth, PO1 2AL.

Below is the full list of venues currently approved to hold marriage and civil partnership ceremonies in Portsmouth.

For a ceremony at an approved venue, you will need to check availability with both the venue and the registrars at Portsmouth Register Office. The registrars will advise you of their fees to attend the venue and officiate at your ceremony; the venue will advise you of their fees separately.

Please note that the room capacities listed must include the couple and all their guests, the two registrars that will attend your ceremony, any venue staff, photographers or musicians.

*Please note that the room capacities listed must include the couple and all their guests, the two registrars that will attend your ceremony, any venue staff, photographers or musicians.

Find out more about Portsmouth’s historic wedding venues

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