Help me find a wedding reception venue-Medway area!

[whitershadeofpale]

I was hoping one of you wonderful Mnetters could help us with our wedding plans.

We had a venue in mind for our reception and when we visited yesterday we had a few reservations. We are however sold on a particular ceremony venue in Rochester for March 2021. We now need somewhere for the reception that's no more than probably 20mins away?

Our total wedding budget (excluding dress and honeymoon is 10K) but seem to be finding either places that are £££ and do whole day events with ceremonies, or extremely basic which would mean having to bring everything externally.

We'd ideally want somewhere that could at least provide catering/ staff and tables and chairs.

Please help!

i don't know if they offer private bookings, you will have to phone and ask, but the bear and ragged staff sounds like it could fit? it's in Dartford so around 30 mins from Rochester

Thank you. I think we were hoping for something with a touch more personality, although I appreciate it’s hard.

https://www.medway.gov.uk/info/200273/therochesterrcornexchange

This is gorgeous inside plus loads of parking and pretty cathedral for pictures nearby?

thedockyard.co.uk/hire/weddings

Might just do receptions?

Upchurch golf clubs nice

Wonderful, thank you. Just emailed the Corn Exchange as it’s lovely and very near our wedding venue.

Upchurch golf club is awful, sorry to say. Itvs so dated, and both the food and service are poor. It recently received a 1 for its hygiene rating.

Turkey mill is nice - it's in Maidstone but the roads from Rochester are quite quick.

Corn exchange is okay inside but not the prettiest outside

Barnyard in Upchurch is really nice as is cooling castle

I went to a lovely wedding at the Bridgewood manor hotel.

Castle Hotel in Eynsford did ours, our was amazing

I went to a beautiful wedding at chiddingstone castle. Not sure if it's ok for you location or budget-wise though, sorry.

Wonderful, thanks everyone 😃

Good luck I hope you find somewhere lovely x

Bridgewood hotel?

They are all here, very helpful www.akentishceremony.com/venues/

We are going to book George Vaults in Rochester for our whole wedding but they allow you to book just the reception there, they hold weddings in the vault underneath the wine bar. We are not having more than 80 guests, think that's the maximum. How many guests are you having?

www.hitched.co.uk/wedding-venues/the-george-vaults_5774.htm

@TippledPink we were planning on 75 but after a big chat last night where we realised that we were going to end up with something that’s not very us, we’ve decided to bring it down to around 30-40 and hopefully have it somewhere within Rochester itself.

@TippledPink - I have seen some fab pics at George Vaults, hope you have a great day

Is Leeds Castle too ott?

@LoisLittsLover Thanks! That was actually one of my worries, I read it can be difficult to get good pics at George Vaults due to the lighting, hopefully it will be ok though!

@SunshineCake it’s beautiful but I think it is a bit, particularly as we are having smaller numbers now. Also I had my 6th form leaver’s ball there so would prefer something else.

We’ve got appointments with the Corn Exchange, Castle Hotel, and Barn Yard at the moment. I’ve spoken to a few others where we wouldn’t be able to have a party in the evening or would have to share with others which is a bit of a deal breaker.

Good luck op, I only know the Corn Exchange but I'm sure it'll be a wonderful day wherever you pick.

I second the Dockyard, I got married there and had a fantastic day, think that you could just have the reception there

@whitershadeofpale 8 have been wracking my brains to think of the other venue near Rochester and finally found it - little hermitage. It's gorgeous so may be worth a look

Thank you @LoisLittsLover and everyone else. 🤞