“Together we’re an award-winning team”

The Old Kent Barn has been fortunate to be successful winning awards locally, regionally, and nationally for both barn and team.

None of our success would be possible without the support of all our amazing couples, and our exceptional team.

Our award history began following the successful launch of the New Barn in 2011. The founding partners entered the Kent Wedding Awards for the first time. Attending the glittering awards gala, The Old Kent Barn was named Wedding Venue of the Year 2012, the partners collectively thrilled to have their hard work and renowned excellent standards recognised.

The barn re-entered in the following years, becoming finalists and consecutively winning Kent Wedding Awards Venue of the Year in 2016 and 2017/18.

In 2018 we entered The Wedding Industry Awards for the first time with much excitement and anticipation. The awards reputation and of expertise of entrants preceded them.

We were overjoyed to be regional finalists, in one of only two venue categories in the South East region covering Greater London, Surrey, West Sussex, East Sussex and Kent. We travelled to the South East regional awards at Blackstock Country Estate, Hellingly, East Sussex, and could not have dreamed later that evening we would be named The Wedding Industry Awards South East Countryside Venue 2019. Upon winning the regional accolade, we’d become one of 8 Countryside Venue National Finalists.

January 2019, we travelled to Cafe De Paris, London for The Wedding Industry Awards National Event.

A spectacular evening of entertainment in the city, celebrating with Nationalist finalists from across the UK. As the regional finalists for Countryside Venue were read out, we prepared to cheer on the winners. To our complete surprise and elation, The Old Kent Barn was announced The Wedding Industry Awards National Countryside Venue 2019, a particularly special win, with only 2 venue categories across the country. We were flying the flag for the Kent wedding industry! Our team recognised across every department.

Soon after in February 2019, we next travelled to London once again, to the prestigious Royal Horse Guards Hotel, as finalists in The British Wedding awards, amongst great barn venues from across the UK.

Later that evening The Old Kent Barn was announced national winners, The British Wedding Awards, Best Barn 2019 and featured in the glossy Wedding Ideas magazine.

Towards the end of 2019, we travelled to Field House Manor, Worthing, Sussex, as regional finalists The Wedding Industry Awards Countryside Venue, who would be the new title holders, this year?

We were stunned when it was announced we were once again regional winners, for a consecutive year, going onto the National Finals!

We began 2020 with another magical evening in the city, attending The Wedding Industry Awards National awards evening, at Café De Paris, Leicester Square. We’d been so fortunate win the year previously, we did not expect to be awarded Highly Commended Countryside Venue and cheered on the new National title holders. To be acknowledged for a consecutive year, we were all elated for the barn and team, once again their hard work recognised and judged nationally.

At this time, we were national finalists for The British Wedding Awards Best Barn for a consecutive year, the winners due to announced in March 2020, when suddenly, the world as we knew stopped. A decision was made the award evening would take place on a later date, once the world re-opened, winners announced belatedly.

After some time, it became clear the evening would not be able to take place for some time, instead announced virtually, we’d won for a consecutive year, The British Wedding Awards Best Barn 2020, thrilled to receive another national recognition.

 In November 2020

The team tuned in virtually, as finalists in both Barn Wedding Venue and Events Team to watch The Wedding Industry Awards Regional event. Overjoyed from home to win, South East Region Events Team 2021. The team went on to also receive a National Highly commended Events Team award following.

 Hospitality re-opened and we were full time doing the work we love so much.

In November 2021 we were once again finalists for The Kent Wedding Awards Wedding Venue of The Year.

The team excitedly watched the awards virtually, from the stylish surroundings of Rocksalt’s cocktail bar. As the results were announced, the team roared as we took home Kent Wedding Venue Of The Year for a fourth time. This was a particularly special win for all team, following the difficult covid months and the exceptionally hard work in 2021, hosting a record number of consecutive weddings following the return of weddings without restrictions.

We had a great start to 2022, The Old Kent Barn awarded Best in County in the Bridebook awards for most reviews, thanks to the wonderful feedback from our couples in 2021.

Later that month we travelled to Old Thorns Hotel, Liphook, Hampshire attending The Wedding Industry South East Regional awards, where we were awarded both Highly Commended Barn Venue and Events Team, an exciting evening, the barn and team further recognised by The Wedding Industry Awards from across regional finalists across the South East.

In the summer of 2022 the barn was officially announced Judges in The Wedding Industry Awards 2023.

Judging wedding venues across the country for both regional and national awards. Coming full circle from new entrants in 2018 to the present, with our fantastic experiences with the awards.

 In November 2022, we ended the year, the barn once again finalists for Wedding Venue of The Year in The Kent Wedding Awards, a 10th time in our history and a decade of history and 5-time Kent Wedding Award winners.

We began 2023, a Bridebook platinum award winner, The Old Kent Barn in the top 1% of wedding venues in the UK for most reviews.

To date The Old Kent Barn is the only Kent wedding venue to have won The Wedding Industry Awards Nationally and won consecutive British Wedding Awards for Best Barn.

We’re incredibly proud of the awards and accolades we’ve been so fortunate to receive. They are a reminder of the hard work and dedication from all of the team across all departments; however, we could not have won without the support of our fantastic couples, choosing to hold their weddings at The Old Kent Barn and their incredible feedback.

What’s Next?

We’re delighted to announce we’re judging The Wedding Industry Awards 2024.

We’re taking a break from entering awards in 2023. We’ve an amazing history, for both venue and our exceptional team, and judged locally, regionally and nationally.  

To now be judges in the recognised The Wedding Industry Awards and considered experts is a fantastic high after our long history.  

Maybe we’ll miss the fun too much and return to awards next year, or for our 20th year milestone in 2025 … or maybe when The British Wedding Awards return, should we race for the treble?