ROMANCE ABOUNDS IN KENT
The wedding venue is often the first thing that couples decide on when organising their wedding. Everything else falls into place around it, so snagging the perfect space for your wedding to take place is essential. But with so many gorgeous wedding venues in Kent, where should you choose? What are your must haves, and what can you live without (if you really had to)? With such an array of choice in Kent, we’ve put together a selection of some of the most idyllic, beautiful, and charming wedding venues in the county.
Port Lympne Mansion
Aldington Road, Lympne, Ashford CT21 4PD
01303 264647
www.aspinallfoundation.org/port-lympne/weddings
Voted Kent’s wedding venue of the year in 2016, the Port Lympne Hotel, a beautifully refurbished Edwardian mansion at the heart of the popular wild animal park, offers a unique, romantic setting for weddings. Built in 1912 the mansion is surrounded by 15 acres of landscaped gardens, incorporating water features, colourful borders, romantic terraces and the famous Trojan steps.
London Golf Club
Stansted Lane, Ash TN15 7EH
01474 875720
Image credit: © Robert Hooper Photography www.roberthooper.co.uk
London Golf Club is one of the few Kent wedding venues located on the beautiful North Downs. Providing a picturesque and private venue for your wedding ceremony and reception all under one roof, London Golf prides themselves on outstanding catering and attention to detail. Set in the heart of 700 acres, a Clubhouse for all seasons awaits you from the impressive one-mile driveway – a real wow factor from the start.
The venue has three beautiful room options licensed to host your wedding ceremony. Reception drinks and canapés can be served on the terrace which offers breathtaking views over two championship golf courses. Here heavenly sunsets present a stunning backdrop for your wedding photographs. The Banqueting Room can accommodate up to 150 guests for a sit down wedding breakfast and up to 250 for an evening buffet.
Your wedding is a unique occasion and we would be delighted to help you celebrate at London Golf Club.
Chiddingstone Castle
Hill Hoath Road, Chiddingstone, Edenbridge TN8 7AD
01892 870347
www.chiddingstonecastle.org.uk/weddings
Award-winning Chiddingstone Castle is a hidden gem nestled in the heart of the Kent countryside – the perfect venue in which to hold a truly magical wedding day. Set in 35 acres of beautiful grounds, including a lake with a footbridge, the Castle retains the timeless splendour of centuries gone by and is one of Kent’s finest Historic Houses.
With three licensed areas available for the civil ceremony – the Great Hall, the White Rose Drawing Room and the Victorian Orangery in the gardens – and with the Castle and grounds closed to the public for weddings and receptions, they are able to offer exclusive use throughout the day.
Canterbury Cathedral Lodge
Canterbury Cathedral, The Precincts, Canterbury CT1 2EH
01227 865350
www.canterburycathedrallodge.org
Situated within a wonderful and unique location in the beautiful grounds of Canterbury Cathedral, sits an often unknown wedding gem. For those seeking a truly exceptional wedding reception, Canterbury Cathedral Lodge is a modern and contemporary venue that can accommodate up to 120 guests for a sit-down wedding breakfast.
The team at the Cathedral Lodge are dedicated to offering wedding couples quality and choice. Using its own in-house catering team to offer fine food and fine wine and in keeping with the ethos of the Cathedral, the highly skilled chefs source high-quality, fair-trade and local produce whenever possible.
A hidden treasure is the beautiful Campanile Garden, which sits in an elevated position overlooking the Cathedral to provide a stunning backdrop. In the summer months, a Champagne drinks reception in the garden is a must, with superb photograph opportunities available.
A dedicated events team offers expert help and advice in assisting couples with their individual requirements, ensuring the highest level of hospitality at all times. Offering peace and privacy within the heart of the city, those attending weddings have the option to stay overnight in stylish guest accommodation – with each room in the hotel benefiting from an amazing view.
The BarnYard
Gore Farm, Oak Lane, Upchurch ME9 7EZ
01634 235059
Nestled in the heart of the Kentish countryside surrounded by 150 acres of stunning landscape combining rolling hills, natural woodland and romantic orchards, The BarnYard is an enchanting setting for the most memorable day of your life.
Tranquil, charming and unique, licensed for ceremonies and home to a luxurious marquee which can host lavish receptions for up to 300 guests. Welcome your guests after your ceremony with a celebratory drink, relax and mingle on the beautiful lawn while your perfect memories are captured on film, or meander over a romantic wooden bridge built over a lily pond, home to exotic koi carp, set amongst stunning landscaping with a view of our family friendly animals.
Charlton Place
Charlton Park, Bishopsbourne, Canterbury CT4 5JA
01227 831355
Charlton Place is a private country house set in parkland, just a 10-minute drive from Canterbury. The stunning white Regency façade and elegant first floor ballroom create perfect backdrops for civil marriages, celebrant weddings, and wedding receptions. Up to 80 guests can be seated in the ballroom for served meals, while marquees are erected to accommodate greater numbers (350 max) and evening dancing. The Bechstein piano in the ballroom is used during ceremonies and wedding breakfasts too.
Celebrant ceremonies held on the lawns and in the woods are tailored to the happy couple’s wishes. Meanwhile, during the winter months, guests can enjoy the open log fires in the hall and drawing room, and the marriage, wedding feast and evening party (up to 60 guests) can be held in the house. The Charlton Park team is dedicated to creating the perfect, bespoke wedding day.
Penshurst Place
Tonbridge TN11 8DG
01892 870307
www.penshurstplace.com/wedding-event/your-wedding
Weddings at Penshurst Place are spectacular things, as they should be; there have been nuptials taking place here for hundreds of years, so they really do know what they are doing. This is a truly romantic place, and if beautiful wedding photos are on your list of must haves, then Penshurst Place won’t disappoint. You can have your choice of rooms within the house to have your wedding including the impressive medieval Baron’s Hall (which was built in 1341) which comes complete with a minstrels’ gallery and open fire pit. Whatever your party size, there will be a room to match it. And of course there is the stunning inner courtyard for ceremonies or summer receptions.
Dode Village
Great Buckland, Gravesend DA13 0XF
01622 734205
The Lost Village of Dode is far and away one of the most unique and sought after wedding venues in Kent. The marriage room itself was built over 900 years ago. It’s small but truly lovely, and can hold up to 40 guests. Weddings are held only on certain dates throughout the year, with only one wedding per day, so if there is a particular date that you want, it is best to contact Dode early to ensure that you get it. As well as a wonderful wedding room, there is a dedicated wedding planner who can help you get everything organised.
The Night Yard
Highland Court Farm, Bridge CT4 5HW
01227 832116
The Night Yard in the picturesque village of Bridge near Canterbury is a very special kind of place to celebrate your wedding. You will have complete freedom to design and decorate the space here exactly as you want it, and although there are advisors on hand should you need them, all the final decisions are completely yours. It doesn’t matter whether you want a formal wedding or a casual one, a big wedding or a small one… There is space for up to 300 guests with the use of an extra marquee, but an intimate, romantic wedding is just as possible. You can even have access to the orchards for your gorgeous wedding photos if you would like – just say the word.
Bradbourne House
New Road, East Malling ME19 6DZ
01732 897436
www.bradbournehousekent.co.uk
Bradbourne House is a breathtakingly beautiful venue, available for weddings, receptions and civil partnerships; a venue with charm and elegance, exquisite cuisine, true quality of service and attention to detail. This stunning wedding venue in Kent is set in 20 acres of beautiful parkland complete with a lake, waterfalls and ancient trees – a perfect backdrop for photographs.
The Grade I listed house was originally built in Tudor times, a historic venue for a day of elegance and splendor. Booking your wedding at Bradbourne House will mean you can enjoy exclusive use of the truly stunning country manor and its surrounding grounds, exceptional culinary delights and a wedding partner to guide and assist you right through to your wedding day.
Herons Park
Dengemarsh Road, Lydd, Romney Marsh TN29 9JH
01797 320323
If you like the idea of a festival wedding, then Herons Park may well be the best place for you to do it. Hiring the large campsite and three-acre field means that you get three days of fun rather than just one! You will have exclusive use of all 53 camping pitches (14 of which have electric hook up), so you really can make the most of the time you have in this beautiful place.
The Bull
Bull Lane, Wrotham TN15 7RF
01732 789800
The Bull in Wrotham is a charming place to hold your wedding (either the whole thing, or the reception alone), with a dedicated space away from the main pub. The 600-year-old Buttery can be decorated to match your wedding theme and colours, and it is ideal for a buffet, sit down meal, or both!
Martin Deadman, who took over The Bull Hotel in 2008 says: “We have become a destination wedding venue attracting foodies from Kent, London and even further afield. It’s not surprising really; we have a beautiful venue and mouthwatering dishes and now can offer a wedding breakfast unlike any other venue in our area! We give you beautifully created dishes that taste amazing as well as the flexibility and choice of what you want to offer your guests. We understand how important this is to our couples.”
Turner Contemporary
Rendezvous, Margate CT9 1HG
01843 233000
weddings@turnercontemporary.org
www.turnercontemporary.org/weddings
Photo credit: © Nik Jordan
The memories of your wedding day stay with you forever, so make them even more special with a wedding or reception in a truly remarkable venue. Turner Contemporary is fully licensed to hold civil ceremonies and its elegant spaces and warm, welcoming atmosphere provide the perfect backdrop for the bridal party.
The venue’s beautiful reception space has panoramic windows that frame the captivating Margate coastline, a private terrace for your guests to enjoy, and all of the modern amenities to make your celebration flawless.
The dedicated Turner Contemporary wedding team will ensure that your day exceeds all expectations, whilst its superb on-site caterers will tailor the menu to your needs and tastes.
Whether you are looking to celebrate your whole day, the ceremony, or just the reception at Turner Contemporary, the team can provide a package to suit your taste and style.
Hever Castle
Edenbridge TN8 7NG
01732 861800
Hever Castle, once the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, is an award-winning wedding venue in Kent. Whether it is the stately grandeur of the castle itself, the country house atmosphere of The Astor Wing, or the stunning lakeside location of The Guthrie Pavilion, Hever Castle can deliver beyond all expectations.
Whether you are planning an intimate gathering or a larger event, whether you want an outdoor wedding or roaring log fires, it’s all waiting to be discovered at Hever Castle.
Hever Castle also offers 28 beautiful five-star bedrooms, boasting traditional features and antique furnishing sympathetically combined with modern day luxuries.
Eastwell Manor
Eastwell Park, Boughton Lees, Ashford TN25 4HR
01233 213000
Magnificent, secluded Eastwell Manor is simply the best, providing the perfect backdrop for the ultimate bespoke wedding. Renowned for its beautiful gardens and outstanding banqueting facilities, Eastwell Manor offers a fairytale experience. Hold the ceremony in a striking, oak-paneled room overlooking the gardens or in the secret, walled garden with its stunning gazebo.
The award-winning kitchen brigade will be delighted to devise a special wedding breakfast using the finest quality, locally sourced, produce. Eastwell Manor has two rosettes for fine cuisine, four red stars for the hotel rooms, a Champneys Spa and a golf course.
Leeds Castle
Maidstone ME17 1PL
01622 767877
The 900-year-old Leeds Castle is an idyllic setting for the most romantic of weddings whether you seek an opulent celebration inside the Castle or the exclusive hire of the 16th Century Maiden’s Tower.
For weddings of up to 100 guests the beautiful and historic Castle offers magnificent staterooms, impressive views across the moat and opulent 1920’s drawing rooms. For up to 80 guests the Maiden’s Tower is perfect for your wedding ceremony, evening celebrations and overnight accommodation for the bridal party. New in 2016 and proving very popular still is the ‘Garden Party Wedding’ designed to create an informal, relaxed occasion in the private walled garden of The Maiden’s Tower.
Rowhill Grange Hotel
Wilmington DA2 7QH
01322 612778
Every couple deserves a wedding day that is nothing less than perfect, and at Rowhill Grange you can celebrate in a setting that is truly unforgettable. Rowhill Grange is an impressive 19th-century manor house nestled in the Kent countryside. The blend of classic character has been carefully matched over the years with modern design which has seen Rowhill grow into the stylish, four-star boutique hotel and spa it is today. These traditional touches along with a sweeping entrance, romantic gardens, outdoor gazebo and collection of individually designed suites make Rowhill Grange a truly unique venue for your wedding.
Pedham Place Golf Centre
London Road, Swanley BR8 8PP
01322 867000
For a modern yet romantic and intimate venue to be married in, Pedham Place Golf Centre ticks all the boxes. Nestled in stunning surroundings with views that stretch out across Kent’s gorgeous Darenth Valley, this spacious and attractive venue is one in which you and your guests can really enjoy the day and evening in one complete package.
Bromley Court Hotel
Bromley Hill, Bromley BR1 4JD
020 8461 8600
The Bromley Court Hotel has room for large weddings of up to 180 people, but it is just as ideal for smaller weddings too. With everything on hand, including overnight accommodation, you can do everything all in one place, including your wedding breakfast. There are a number of different packages to choose from which will suit any budget and appeal to all tastes, so there is no need to worry about anything when it comes to your wedding day. Let Bromley Court Hotel’s expert wedding organisers arrange the ultimate wedding day for you.
The Bickley Pub & Steakhouse
Chislehurst Road, Chislehurst BR7 5NP
020 8468 7613
Boutique, bijoux and brand new. The Bickley Pub & Steakhouse in Chislehurst has just undergone a major refurbishment and has burst back on the scene looking better than ever. Perfect for couples looking for something a little different, the venue is ideal for those wanting to hold a stunning celebration right at the heart of this leafy suburb.
With a range of areas available for private hire, including the open plan mezzanine or lower restaurant with private basement bar, The Bickley also offers the option of exclusive full venue hire for larger parties. Catering for receptions of all sizes and with a diverse and imaginative menu to match any occasion, it’s the perfect place to create your dream wedding reception. All this plus a relaxing sun trap garden that offers a colourful alfresco dimension to your big day and just a stone’s throw from Chislehurst Station, making it an easy option for your guests too.
