The Old Kent Barn

(227)
£4,200 - £8,750 for Venue Hire
Up to 150
3 Bedrooms
Exclusive Use
Wedding Licence
Late Availability
Last Minute Dates Available
Winter Weddings 2023
The Old Kent Barn is a passionate family business offering the very best facilities, a first-class service and a high attention to detail. Our venue is exclusive to you and your family.
Pricing & Costs

Venue Hire Only

Prices Start At
£4,200
Maximum Price
£8,750
What is included in this pricing:
Furniture included
Couple accommodation included
Exclusive use
Wedding coordinator available on the day
Non consumables (e.g. linen, lights etc.)
Multiple course wedding breakfast

In-house catering
(price per head)

Prices Start At
£40
Maximum Price
£54
We have a great choice in our menu for you to offer your guests during the day and evening, from relaxed to formal, there is something for everyone, we love to chat all things food to help you plan your day!
What is included in this pricing:
Menu tasting included
Minimum numbers apply
Cutlery included
Table linen included
Features & Capacity

Overview

Venue Type
Barn
Dining Capacity
150
Reception Capacity
250
No. of Bedrooms
3
Sleeps No. of People
6
Bridal Suite
Honeymoon Suite
Usual Access Time
08:00 AM
Usual Finish Time
12:00 AM

Ceremony & Reception

Wedding Licence
Sound System Available
Dancefloor Available
Outdoor Ceremony Available
Confetti Permitted

Venue

Landscaped Gardens
Exclusive Use
Bridal Changing Facilities
Pet-Friendly
Disabled Access
On-Site Parking
In-House Wedding Coordinator

Food and Drink

In-House Wine List
In-house Catering
Alcohol Licence
Halal Catering
Asian Catering

Cultural Specialists

Asian Wedding Specialist
Muslim Wedding Specialist
Other
Full Description
We pride ourselves on the quality and warmth of the service we offer, and we personally work tirelessly with our staff to ensure your wedding is perfect in every way for you, your family and your guests. Set in an idyllic rural location, there are 2 barns on site; a purpose-built 110ft oak framed barn for indoor weddings and receptions and the original 'Old' barn for accommodation which was built over 225 years ago. The barns are set in manicured landscaped grounds and surrounded by picturesque Kent countryside making it the perfect backdrop.

The 2 ½ acre gardens, with formal parterres, are planted with romantic roses, sweeping curved hedges and an informal lake garden with a lit fountain all set against a backdrop of mature trees. Dedicated gardeners are here on a daily basis.

The paved seating area for outdoor ceremonies has a rose and wisteria covered aisle along with a canopy to shelter up to 150 guests. Both indoor and outdoor ceremony areas have a high quality sound system so all your guests can hear the ceremony clearly. Atmospheric up-lights and fairy lights have been placed throughout the grounds, both you and your guests can enjoy their surroundings in the evening.

Personal Message from the Manager

Name of Wedding Contact: Kerry Godden - Office Manager
Welcome to The Old Kent Barn, we are always happy to help with any questions you may have, we have fantastic team, all dedicated to you and your wedding. We look forward to hearing from you.

Experience

Year Business Was Established
2005
No. of Weddings Hosted
More than 50
Public Liability Insurance
Yes
No. of People In Team
40
Reviews
(227)
M
Mr and Mrs Foreman
Wedding: December
January 2023
Thank you you for a perfect day from start to finish
We came to The Old Kent Barn on 29th December for my daughter's wedding and I just wanted to thank you and your staff for a perfect day from start to finish. We arrived with our daughter around 7:30 and were shown to the room to get ready where we were joined by the Bridesmaids, our hairdresser and the make up artist. The room was large, comfortable, warm and clean as was the attached bathroom with clean towels and dressing gowns provided. We were also given a variety of drinks and a bell to enable us to contact our wedding coordinator if we needed anything. Later in the morning we were provided with a number of delicious pastries. The wedding coordinator kept us fully informed of what was happening and told us when the groom had arrived etc. Due to the travelling distance between our home and the venue we had stayed at a local hotel the night before and as that room had to be evacuated in the morning we were very grateful that my husband (father of bride) was allowed to get into the bedroom (Wisteria) at the venue earlier than usual. The venue was more beautiful than I had imagined and so incredibly romantic looking, with the very large voile curtains hanging from the ceiling, pretty fairy lights it all looked incredible. The tables - everything - looked wonderful and it all ran smoothly and was timed to perfection. My husband even had his tie tied by one of your staff as did a few other family members - what a great service! For the start of the ceremony the taxi ride - although short - was a godsend on a blustery day where we had previously had lots of rain … The wedding went well as did the evening reception and the meal - I could not fault anything - it was all so perfect. My husband and I spent the night in Wisteria - such a lovely sized room with a lovely large bathroom - both again incredibly clean and a beautiful room, comfortable and tastefully decorated - as was the whole of your venue. My daughter was allowed to invite some guests for breakfast the following morning and once again this was lovely. It was also amazing that your staff knew where items would be when you are separated from them - eg a mislaid pair of sandals from the night before etc … etc - everything was so well co-ordinated… Your staff - friendly, very helpful and incredibly professional are a credit to your business.
M
Mr & Mrs Bravery
Happy couple married in December
December 2022
couldn’t of picked a better venue
Thank you so much, we had the best day It was just how we imagined, pulled off beautifully All of the staff were very helpful and made us feel special we will remember this day forever and couldn’t of picked a better venue
C
Chris & Olly
Happy couple married in December
December 2022
We couldn’t have asked for more
To The Old Kent Barn Thank you for a truly wonderful day and making yesterday so amazing – it was perfect! The whole team were fantastic, and Ashleigh was a superstar! We couldn’t have asked for more and it’s a day that will stay with us for the rest of our lives!
C
Claire & Jono
Happy couple married in December
December 2022
We loved absolutely every second!
Thank you so much for a wonderful wedding we loved absolutely every second! Everything was perfect!!
M
Mr and Mrs Warrender
Happy couple married in November
December 2022
Every minute from start to finish was absolutely seamless
Thank you for everyones help in the ensuring we had the best day ever! Every minute from start to finish was absolutely seamless – you really run a smooth ship! Thank you for helping us have such a special day
M
Mr & Mrs Lodge
Happy couple married in November
December 2022
The day was beyond our wildest dreams!
To the entire staff at The Old Kent Barn Thank you!!! The day was beyond our wildest dreams!
Location & Contact Details

Address

Smersole Farm, Swingfield , Kent, CT15 7HF, England

Nearest Town

Folkestone

Nearest Motorway & Junction

M20

Nearest Train Station

Folkestone West

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FAQ
(10)

Describe the best wedding that happened at your venue?

Rather than the best wedding (because in our opinion they are all so special) we feel the best weddings are when everyone truly relaxes, enjoys all the day has to offer and then dance the night away, memories to cherish.

What is your No. 1 wedding planning tip for couples?

Take everything step by step, start with your ideas and research, choose your ceremony and reception location and from there, each supplier as you would need them throughout the day.

What’s your favourite personal touch you’ve seen at a wedding?

Our couples are fantastic choosing their personal touches, we love to see them! Some of our favourites are personalised miniature funny pictures of the guests as their name places, sometimes these have been animated too, always a joy to allocate these to their corresponding table place during the morning and seeing their delight later when they find their place at the table.

Describe your venue in 5 adjectives.

Welcoming, passionate, supportive, enthusiastic & consistent

Where’s the best photo spot at your venue?

We are fortunate to have so many favourites, the illuminated Orchard is particularly magical. TOKB Top Tip! Check what time the sun is due to set at the time of year you are marrying, if for example in the Summer, the sun will set later and you may need to book your photographer longer to capture any night time shots.

Have you had any celebrity guest or wedding at your venue?

We have had a range of celebrity guests over the years, all of whom have been very lovely and a pleasure to see them at the barn.

What’s your favourite canapé?

It has to be the mighty parmesan arancini. These delicious crunchy parmesan risotto rice balls Japanese-style breadcrumbs, quickly deep fried are such a delicious warm treat, they even have their own following! Our honey and mustard sausage bites are a close second!

What’s your favourite midnight treat?

Wedding cake! We always make sure there is some wedding cake in our couple's overnight suite so they have a chance to have some cake if they have been too busy during the evening.

What is your venue's most unique feature?

The old barn, it has been stood for over 225 years within the grounds, and has proudly been part of over 1000 weddings to date. It's unique character and welcoming feel makes it the perfect location for overnight stays with views over the grounds in addition as a great backdrop for wedding photography.

What part of your business are you most proud of?

The family of staff, who all work tirelessly looking after each couple and their wedding, we are incredibly proud of them and all of the work that they do.