Where memories are made
National multi-award winning wedding venue in Kent
The Old Kent Barn, a wedding venue near Folkestone in Kent, has won 18 wedding and hospitality awards since 2012.
Highlights include National Countryside Venue of the Year at The Wedding Industry Awards 2019, Best Barn at The British Wedding Awards in 2019 and 2020, five Kent Wedding Awards wins, a Bridebook Platinum Award every year from 2023 to 2026, and Hitched Wedding Venue winner in Kent 2025.
The History
Since we first opened our doors in 2005, we've been lucky enough to be recognised by couples and the wedding industry alike. We're five-time Kent Wedding Awards winners, and we've been finalists for Wedding Venue of the Year ten times. We were also named national Countryside Venue of the Year at The Wedding Industry Awards and won Best Barn at The British Wedding Awards two years running.
To date, we're the only Kent wedding venue to have won The Wedding Industry Awards nationally and back-to-back British Wedding Awards for Best Barn. None of it would be possible without our wonderful team, and the couples who took the time to vote for us. Thank you.
Since 2023, we've stepped over from finalists to judges for TWIA judges, Kent Wedding Awards judges since 2024 and Sussex Wedding Awards since 2026. We're looking forward to another judging season this year.
Award highlights
Five-time Kent Wedding Awards winner: Venue of the Year in 2012, 2016, 2017/18 and 2021, plus Events Team of the Year 2020
The Wedding Industry Awards: National Countryside Venue of the Year 2019
The British Wedding Awards: Best Barn 2019 and 2020
Bridebook Platinum Award 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026
Hitched Wedding Awards 2025, Wedding Venue winner in Kent.
Every award, year by year
2025
Hitched Wedding Awards 2025, Wedding Venue winner in Kent.
2023 - 2026
Bridebook Awards: Platinum Award (four years running)
One of the highest reviewed wedding venues in the UK on Bridebook.
2022
Bridebook Awards: Best in County, for most reviews
The Wedding Industry Awards (South East): Highly Commended, Barn Venue
The Wedding Industry Awards (South East): Highly Commended, Events Team
Kent Wedding Awards: Finalist, Wedding Venue of the Year (our 10th time as finalists)
2021
Kent Wedding Awards: Winner, Wedding Venue of the Year (four Venue of the Year wins plus Events Team of the Year 2020, a total of 5 wins.)
The Wedding Industry Awards (South East): Winner, Events Team
The Wedding Industry Awards (National): Highly Commended, Events Team
2020
The British Wedding Awards: Winner, Best Barn (second year running)
Kent Wedding Awards: Winner, Wedding Events Team of the Year
Kent Wedding Awards: Highly Commended, Wedding Venue of the Year
The Wedding Industry Awards (South East): Winner, Countryside Venue (second year running)
The Wedding Industry Awards (National): Highly Commended, Countryside Venue
2019
The Wedding Industry Awards (National): Winner, Countryside Venue
The Wedding Industry Awards (South East): Winner, Countryside Venue
The British Wedding Awards: Winner, Best Barn
2018
Quality in Tourism: 5-Star Gold Accommodation with Breakfast Award
2017/18
Kent Wedding Awards: Winner, Wedding Venue of the Year
2016
Kent Wedding Awards: Winner, Wedding Venue of the Year
UK Wedding Awards: Shortlisted, Best Barn Venue
2012
Kent Wedding Awards: Winner, Wedding Venue of the Year
Last updated: September 2026
Wedding Experts
Our team has judged The Wedding Industry Awards since 2023 and the Kent Wedding Awards since 2024, and joined the Sussex Wedding Awards judging panel in 2026.
It's a real honour to be recognised for our experience and trusted to help shine a light on the best talent in the wedding industry. Contributing in this way reflects our commitment to championing excellence and celebrating the hard work of suppliers across the sector.
Because we judge these awards, we no longer enter them as a venue. Our most recent Kent Wedding Awards win was Venue of the Year 2021.
2026
Judges, The Wedding Industry Awards, Kent Wedding Awards and Sussex Wedding Awards
2024–2025
Judges, The Wedding Industry Awards and Kent Wedding Awards
2023
Judges, The Wedding Industry Awards
Awards FAQs
The Old Kent Barn has won 18 awards since 2012. They include National Countryside Venue of the Year at The Wedding Industry Awards (2019), Best Barn at The British Wedding Awards (2019 and 2020), Kent Wedding Awards Venue of the Year (2012, 2016, 2017/18 and 2021), Kent Wedding Awards Events Team of the Year (2020), a Bridebook Platinum Award each year from 2023 to 2026 and Hitched Wedding Awards 2025, Wedding Venue winner in Kent.
Yes. The Old Kent Barn was named National Countryside Venue of the Year at The Wedding Industry Awards in 2019 and won Best Barn at The British Wedding Awards in both 2019 and 2020. It is the only Kent wedding venue to have won The Wedding Industry Awards nationally and back-to-back British Wedding Awards.
Five times: Venue of the Year in 2012, 2016, 2017/18 and 2021, and Events Team of the Year in 2020. The venue has also been a Venue of the Year finalist ten times.
Yes. The team has judged The Wedding Industry Awards since 2023 and the Kent Wedding Awards since 2024, and joined the Sussex Wedding Awards judging panel in 2026.
Our team has judged The Wedding Industry Awards since 2023 and the Kent Wedding Awards since 2024, so we no longer enter them as a venue. The only awards we now enter are the Bridebook and Hitched awards, which are decided by couples' reviews.
The Old Kent Barn is at Smersole Farm, Swingfield, Kent CT15 7HF, between Folkestone, Dover and Canterbury.
