The Oakfield
Stood at the heart of the zoo since 1931, when our Founder George Mottershead moved in with his family and his vision of a ‘zoo without bars’ was created.
The birthplace of our zoo
The Oakfield is where it all began for the zoo, serving as our pioneering founder George Mottershead's family home. Beautifully restored and renovated in 2018, The Oakfield retains many stunning original features like the intricate wood panelling in the Library and the sumptuous luxury of the Boardroom.
Since then, The Oakfield has had many uses from a family home to an aquarium, before becoming a stunning Grade II listed wedding venue. Today, the building’s original structure has been retained, and its original features preserved.
Take a look around
Our spaces in The Oakfield are set apart from the rest of The Oakfield so you are ensured privacy for your events, while still allowing you flexibility to use the whole venue if you wish. Our zoological gardens provide an inspirational backdrop for successful meetings.
Flexible event spaces
From our private meeting rooms upstairs, to larger spaces in The Library or Garden Room, The Oakfield can cater to meetings of all sizes. Inspire your team in state-of-the-art meeting rooms, or let the stunning surroundings of the zoo impress your clients.
Three separate meeting rooms of varying capacity:
Dove Suite
Boardroom: 18
Classroom: 18
U-shape: 18
Theatre: 48
Magnolia Suite
Boardroom: 14
Classroom: 16
U-shape: 10
Theatre: 30
Redwood Suite
Boardroom: 14
Classroom: 12
U-shape: 14
Theatre: 25
Key Features
The Square is a stunning place to hold any event, when you book with us you'll get:
- 75" TV screens with laptop connectivity
- WiFi
- Large windows looking out over the zoo
- Hire one room or all at once as breakout spaces
- Kitchen area giving you access to refreshments
- A variety of catering options - from working lunches to sit-down
- Talks and tours available from zookeepers
