As a wedding DJ, Restoration Yard is one of the more relaxed, characterful venues I work at. Restoration Yard, set within Dalkeith Country Park’s 1,000 acres, is a beautifully reimagined 18th-century stables and courtyard just outside Edinburgh. I was glad to add it to my list of Scottish wedding venues.
I provide wedding DJ and ceilidh calling services at Restoration Yard. If you’re planning your wedding here, this page covers what you need to know about how the space works for entertainment. You can also read my full review of a recent Restoration Yard wedding for Timea and Gregor.
The Kitchen
Restoration Yard’s reception room, known as The Kitchen, pairs exposed original stonework with floor-to-ceiling glass doors opening onto the park and the historic Orangerie beyond. It’s a bright, relaxed space that seats up to around 90 for the wedding breakfast. Once the tables are moved, it clears easily into a proper dancefloor.
I bring my full sound system, lighting rig and DJ booth to every booking here. Because the room mixes stone, glass and timber floor, the sound has plenty of natural warmth. There’s also good space for a generous dancefloor, without losing the room’s relaxed, informal feel.
Speeches & the Wedding Breakfast
I provide microphones for speeches and handle the announcements to introduce each speaker. I then play background music through the wedding breakfast until it’s time for the evening to properly get going. As a result, everything flows smoothly without anyone needing to think about the practicalities.
Wedding DJ Restoration Yard — Ceilidh Dancing
The Kitchen works nicely for ceilidh dancing — there’s a good clear floor and the room carries a caller’s voice well. Worth knowing if you’re planning a summer wedding here: the doors open straight onto the garden. On a warm day, your guests will happily drift outside between dances. However, I’ve found a good ceilidh set is a great way to draw everyone back in. Dances like the Gay Gordons, the Dashing White Sergeant and the Virginia Reel all work well here. Even a crowd that’s never ceilidh danced before can pick them up from scratch. See my full guide to wedding ceilidh dancing for more on how it all works.
The Evening Party
Once the ceilidh winds down, I move into the evening disco, reading the room and adjusting as the night goes on. For couples who’d rather wind the night down gently than finish on a high-energy note, I can ease into background music at the end.
Location
Restoration Yard sits within Dalkeith Country Park, around 20 minutes from Edinburgh, which makes it an easy venue for guests travelling from further afield. This is useful if you’ve got family or friends coming from overseas, as is often the case with the couples I work with here.
Wedding DJ Restoration Yard — What I Provide
Wedding DJ — a full evening disco service including professional sound system, lighting rig, DJ booth, and a music programme planned with you in advance, plus speech microphones and MC duties through the wedding breakfast.
Ceilidh Calling — I act as ceilidh caller, teaching and leading the dances with traditional music, before transitioning into the evening disco. No prior dance experience needed among your guests — I bring everyone along regardless of ability.
Wedding DJ Restoration Yard — Frequently Asked Questions
Do you know Restoration Yard as a venue?
Yes — I’ve worked at Restoration Yard and know The Kitchen well, including its layout, acoustics and how the space flows from wedding breakfast through to the evening party.
Can I have both ceilidh and disco at Restoration Yard?
Absolutely, and it’s a combination I’d recommend. The Kitchen suits both well. A typical format is one or two ceilidh dances to get everyone up and mixing, followed by the full evening disco. I handle both as a single booking, with no changeover needed.
What ceilidh dances work best at Restoration Yard?
The Gay Gordons, Dashing White Sergeant and Virginia Reel all work well in The Kitchen and suit a mixed crowd, even complete beginners. See my full guide to wedding ceilidh dancing for more options.
The doors open onto the garden — will guests drift outside?
On a warm day, quite possibly! It’s part of the charm of the venue and something I plan around — a well-timed ceilidh set is a great way to bring everyone back inside for some dancing before easing into the evening disco.
Do you bring all your own equipment?
Yes — everything. Sound system, lighting rig, DJ booth, microphones, cables, and all supporting equipment. I’m fully self-sufficient on the night.
How many guests does The Kitchen hold?
The Kitchen seats up to around 90 for a formal wedding breakfast, with plenty of room to clear a proper dancefloor once tables are moved for the evening.
How do I check availability for my Restoration Yard wedding?
Get in touch via the contact page with your date and I’ll come back to you quickly. I keep my calendar deliberately limited to ensure every couple gets my full attention, so I’d recommend reaching out as soon as your date is confirmed.
