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About

On Hitched.co.uk since 2020

Last update: September 2024

Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve

Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve is an award-winning wedding venue in Lympne, Kent. This 600-acre country estate is Kent’s largest wildlife park and offers unforgettable safari experiences and all the luxury, romance, and glamour you need to celebrate your special day in style.

Facilities and Capacity

Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve affords breathtaking panoramic views across Kent’s largest wild animal park to the coast beyond, making it the perfect setting for an unforgettable wedding celebration. The property is licensed for civil ceremonies and offers a choice of spectacular indoor and outdoor event spaces, including the four-star Mansion Hotel and the magnificent, nature-inspired Bear Lodge. Port Lympne also has two new event spaces, the garden pergola, tucked away amidst the mansion’s ancient whispering walled garden, and the glass orangery and terrace, a delightful reception space inspired by the Gatsby era. The park is home to some of the world’s most endangered animals; after the ceremony, you and your guests can enjoy a private safari and get up close and personal with your favourite free-roaming wild animals. Overnight accommodation is also available. You can spend your first night as a married couple stargazing at The Bubble, curled up in a shepherd’s hut, or sleep within a whisker of lions and tigers at the Lodge.

Services Offered

Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve is available for exclusive use. They offer a range of wedding packages to choose from, including last-minute and bespoke options, and their experienced and dedicated team will be on hand to assist you throughout your wedding journey. They will help you explore your options and apprise you of all the delightful little extras and unique experiences, including menu tastings, available for you to enjoy. They’re also more than happy to answer any questions you may have. Contact them today for more information and to secure your date. They can’t wait to show you why Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve is the destination of choice for couples looking for a unique venue for their special day.

Elopement Package – NEW TO 2024!

Looking for something more intimate for your special day? We've got you covered! Our elopement package includes exclusive hire of our Moroccan Courtyard or muraled Spencer Roberts Room, a bottle of award-winning Gusbourne sparkling wine and a private ranger-led safari for 2, dinner in our Garden Room Restaurant and a night in our Bridal Suite in our Historic Mansion. Contact eventinfo@portlympne.com for more information

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Frequently asked questions

Venue type:

In the country
Small hotel
Unusual weddings
Stately home
Historic
Outdoor license
Unique weddings

Ceremony options:

Civil ceremony licence

Dining options:

Seated meal facilities
Corkage option
Alcohol licence
Buffet meal facilities
In-house catering

Evening entertainment:

Entertainment licence
Live band facilities
Evening reception facilities
DJ facilities

Overnight accommodation:

Overnight accommodation for wedding couple
Overnight accommodation for guests

Venue staff assistance:

Master of ceremonies/toastmaster
Wedding coordinator

Venue leisure facilities:

Hairdresser

Other features:

Exclusive use
Accessible facilities
Car parking
Helipad
Confetti permitted
Changing room for wedding guests
Orangery on site
illustration notebook

Do you have any questions?

Reviews for Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve

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5.0 out of 5 rating
5.0 out of 5 rating
73 reviews
100% recommend it
  • Quality of the service
    5 out of 5 rating
  • Response time
    5 out of 5 rating
  • Professionalism
    5 out of 5 rating
  • Value for money
    5 out of 5 rating
  • Flexibility
    5 out of 5 rating
Emily
Emily R. Sent on 06/06/2024
5 out of 5 rating

June 2024 Wedding - Incredible Experience & Wouldn’t Change a Thing!

Venue
We opted for Port Lympne to start with as we were swept away with the beauty of the venue. It’s truly the most beautiful place we visited. The mansion house is a lovely reception area, the pergola and orangery are private so just your guests get to enjoy this section. The pergola is light and beautiful, and perfect backdrop for a ceremony. It’s really easy to dress up with flowers, as it’s already so beautiful it doesn’t take much.
The orangery is amazing, high ceilings, beautiful greenery & rose bushes surround the area. There’s lovely lawns which you have the option to play garden games on & have photos.
The Moroccan courtyard is perfect for photos, and again doesn’t need any extra dressing or decoration to make it look beautiful - it’s simply stunning everywhere!

The Wedding Team
First the venue sweeps you the way, then the staff do! They are extremely helpful, lovely and attentive. I emailed them a couple of times a week leading up to the big day and they replied within a few hours every time.
On the big day they weren’t overbearing, no request was too much & they were there whenever we needed them.
They do multiple walk throughs with you & introduce you to everyone who is working on your wedding so you know who to ask if there’s any additional requests.

Food & Drink
On the lead up, you get to try the wedding food. They also offer a choice of two for starters mains and desserts (in contrast to other venues we viewed which only allowed for one choice).
The food was incredible, rich and yummy (not dry at all which you sometimes find with wedding food).
The queue for the bar was quick all night (and we had over 100 guests who are all big drinkers). There was no draught beer which we were worried about, but it was fine on the day as this meant everyone was served quickly.
The wine they pair the food with was gorgeous - and again you get to try all this before the big day.
They were accommodating to vegetarians and multiple allergies. This was all planned before hand & we had no issues with this on our day.

Safari
We opted for safari and it was a really magical and memorable touch. All our guests loved it!
You also get to use the buggies the day after the wedding (up to 10am) which is a lovely way to recover from the wedding and a fun way to start your first day of marriage bliss!

There’s nothing more we could have asked for! Perfect for 100-150 guests.
Shona
Shona H. Sent on 13/08/2024
5 out of 5 rating

The wedding of dreams ✨

Looking for a spectacular, unique venue with exceptional customer service? Look no further than Port Lympne! It's hard to find a better wedding venue. From the staff to the views, the facilities to the accommodation, and the food to the animals, everything is outstanding. Every member of staff goes above and beyond to make everyone feel welcome and to provide unforgettable experiences. Words like "unbelievable," "breathtaking," and "stunning" were frequently used by our guests, many of whom claimed it was the best wedding they had ever attended.

Special shout-outs go to…

Ceyda: Thank you for being our incredible wedding coordinator. Your responsiveness to countless emails and your dedication to making our big day exactly what we dreamed of were remarkable. Thank you for altering our function sheet so many times without question and for holding my drinks and fluffing my dress when needed!

Charlotte: Your calming presence and willingness to accommodate every request were invaluable. Thank you for keeping me calm in the morning and for your excellent communication throughout the day, ensuring everything ran seamlessly.

Our glorious toastmasters, Jonathan and Nikki: WOW, what a duo! Thank you for ensuring our day ran smoothly and for guiding our guests flawlessly. We (and our guests) loved both of your outfits, especially the park ranger uniforms.

Harry: Thank you for rescuing me and my bridesmaids when we locked ourselves out of Rhino Lodge.

Wedding breakfast serving staff: Your prompt, well-coordinated, and faultless delivery of our food was exceptional.

The chefs: Thank you for producing a mouthwatering three-course meal that was beautifully presented. Our guests couldn't believe the high standard of food and that all main courses were served hot. Thank you also for accommodating special requests and dietary requirements.

Evening bar staff: Your constant smiles and enthusiasm, especially joining in with the Macarena, added so much fun to our celebration.

Hotel staff: Thank you for assisting our overnight guests with check-in and ensuring their bags were taken to their rooms, allowing them to celebrate without interruption.

Our wedding at Port Lympne was a dream come true, thanks to the incredible team and the breathtaking venue. We highly recommend it to anyone looking for a truly magical wedding experience.
Scott
Scott K. Sent on 20/05/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Outstanding Venue

Port Lympne was an outstanding venue the whole team amazing from the events team to the ground staff always welcoming and helpful up to the day and then the wedding itself.
Safari it’s a great added extra guests totally loved. The mansion house was a perfect venue that sold it for us on our first visit. Outstanding accommodation across the site and food across the day was perfect.
Thank you port lympne team.
Anna
Anna D. Sent on 05/01/2024
4.4 out of 5 rating

Beautiful venue with a twist

Our October wedding at Port Lympne was stunning - we had our ceremony in the Pergola followed by a reception in The Orangery, and the day ran smoothly. The staff are friendly and accommodating, the venue itself is beautiful with very little additional decorations needed, the safari was a huge talking point and we've been told repeatedly that the food was the best anyone had at a wedding all year. We'd definitely recommend booking your wedding here, you won't regret it.
Rosie
Rosie M. Sent on 12/08/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Dream venue for a fairytale wedding

My husband and I had our dream wedding at Port Lympne this July and it truly was the most magical day of our lives – I never wanted it to end! The whole experience and the service we received from start to finish was spot on, and the weddings team were amazing at making the planning process and the day itself run as smoothly and as stress free as possible.

We were already familiar with the venue before we got engaged and it’s a very special place for us as a couple, so it was our number one choice when it came to venue viewings. We did view several other venues in the Kent area but nowhere else really came close to what Port Lympne could offer.

We booked our package several weeks after viewing, there was no rush or pressure to secure a date as we experienced at a couple of other venues – we were given the time and space to decide in our own time but the team were always on hand to answer our questions. We even had to move our date forward almost a whole year (having originally booked for May 2024) due to a family illness but this was all handled smoothly and efficiently by the venue.

The team were super organised during the lead-up to our day, responding quickly to all emails and making sure we had everything in place which really gave us peace of mind that everything was under control. The wedding day itself all ran seamlessly despite a slightly late start to our ceremony (the delay was nothing to do with the venue – just one of those things) – the staff were great at calming me down during this rather stressful moment!

We have already received a few previews from our photographer & videographer and they look stunning – if you are looking for a venue with lots of incredible spots for couples photos, Port Lympne has it all.

Since the wedding we have had so many compliments from our guests, with a few of them saying it was the best wedding they have ever attended! The evening safari was definitely a highlight for everyone as it’s such a unique experience. We also heard lots of positive comments on the food!

A massive thank you to Stephanie, Ceyda and Annie for all your hard work and of course to every other Port Lympne staff member who helped ensure our day was a success. We really appreciated the little extra touches like the complimentary bottle of Prosecco that was sent to our table to kick off the celebrations during dinner the night before our wedding.

The staff also arranged for us to have a private feeding with Rosie the rhino after hearing our story about how we discovered the venue through her. It was the most unforgettable experience and really was the cherry on top of our dream wedding.

I cannot recommend Port Lympne highly enough if you are looking for a wedding venue that’s unique yet timeless, with great food, stunning scenery, beautiful event spaces and of course surrounded by wild animals.

The memories of our special day at Port Lympne will stay with us forever, and we can’t wait to come and stay again to celebrate our first anniversary!
O
Olivia H. Sent on 07/09/2024
5 out of 5 rating

The most incredible wedding day

Port Lympne is an absolutely stunning venue, from the moment you arrive, you can feel how special and beautiful it is. The pergola has been designed so beautifully, with faux flowers intertwined all around it. It doesn't need any further decorating, it is stunning. What is great about this too is that the staff can put up Perspex glass over the windows if the weather isn't ideal, or can leave the windows open for a nice breeze if the day is good. The orangery is breath taking. As a bride, the worry about making either of these areas look pretty was a job already completed. Easily, the best and most beautiful venue.

The Wedding Team are incredible from start to finish. Nothing is too much trouble, they respond quickly to emails. I felt so cared for throughout the entire process, both myself and my husband were impressed by them. It is more expensive than other venues, but they are worth it. I'd hire them again in a heartbeat. We changed things close to the wedding day, the team easily accommodated, we asked for a different area for the reception drinks (we had to pay for this), but again, the team said yes and adjusted the scheduling in a thoughtful manner so we had more time by the southern terrace.

Food is amazing. We had lots of compliments about this. They catered for a number of vegetarian and vegan guests with ease. The evening buffet was so good. Plenty of good high quality food. I really was impressed.

We had the safari between the meal and evening reception - it was the best. Guests loved it, we loved it.

Honestly the best venue and staff. I want to attend a PL wedding as a guest now!!
L
Leyla A. Sent on 29/11/2023
4.8 out of 5 rating

Wedding 2023

Port Lympne as it's no normal wedding venue, it's the Disneyland of Kent wedding venues. We would also like to say a big thank you to Stephanie who worked so hard to make sure the day was perfect. She made our dream weddings come true with Georgina, and Olivia, who handled every aspect of the day so well. All our guests were blown away and had the time of their lives. They keep telling us how perfect the venue was. It really does have it all: 5 star food, the most stunning spaces, water features, coastal views, and breathtaking grounds with animals from across the world (which all our guests got to see as part of our day). If you are looking for a venue that ticks all the boxes Port Lympne and the team can and will make this happen.The team managed everything so professionally, and they made our dream come true! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
C
Chris W. Sent on 28/10/2023
4.8 out of 5 rating

Unique Venue

We were married at Port Lympne on the August bank holiday 2023 and would thoroughly recommend the venue.

The Port Lympne team were incredibly helpful and responsive throughout. No question or detail was too much for Stephanie and Annie, who provided an excellent standard of service; they were straightforward to deal with and any concerns or queries were dealt with swiftly.
The wedding day itself ran smoothly and was truly memorable for both us and our guests. The combination of the pergola and the orangery provide for a stunning venue. There are also so many locations for beautiful photos!

A key reason we chose Port Lympne was the high-quality food we had experienced on previous visits to the garden room. For our wedding breakfast, we selected the sea bass with brown crab gnocchi, which was delicious and enjoyed by all guests. There is also an option to select a second/alternative main for those who preferred a non-fish dish.

In the evening we surprised our guests with the safari; it is a must-do and made the day truly memorable and unique.

We also had over 50 guests staying at the venue overnight and Stephanie and Annie efficiently co-ordinated the transport and accommodation elements.

Overall, we had a fantastic day and would highly recommend Port Lympne to couples seeking a unique and special wedding day.
R
Rebecca T. Sent on 08/12/2021
5 out of 5 rating

Perfect venue

Dear Kylie and Team,

I have waited four days to try to put into words how grateful myself and Ricky are for all of your help to make our day as special as it was.

Kylie, from the moment you took over planning from Jess, nothing was too much of a bother. You were happy to answer my millions of questions and put my mind at ease. I can only imagine how much time was put in to ensure all of our needs and wants were met and for that we are so thankful. Even on the day you were calm and helped get us through the day at our own leisure. You are an absolute credit to Port Lympne and I hope your management know how lucky they are to have you.

Stefan and Darren, what amazing people you are. You pieced together the garden room to absolute perfection, I couldn’t have visioned it anymore beautiful than it was. Your kind hearts made not just our day but all of our guests too. Anytime anything stressful arose you were there to make it all disappear. The food was impeccable, people are still talking to us about it now! Your bar staff and waitresses were all so kind and lovely to us and our guests making sure that we were all catered for. They all asked how my day was, if I needed anything, commented on how lovely my choice of things were which warmed my heart to the fullest.

Some of our guests said it was the best wedding they had ever been to, which I can agree on as it was the perfect venue to say I do at.

I write all of this with a tear in my eye, you were all so wonderful and I no words will sum up how grateful we both are to you all. I wish I could relive our day 100 times over with all of you involved.

We will be back again and again, we are already planning our next visit to you. We will be back every anniversary as Port Lympne and you all hold a very special place in our hearts.

Attached are some photo booth photos for you all to enjoy!

We send so much love your way and wish you all the best Christmas!

Mr and Mrs Taplin
Xx
N
Nick Sent on 23/05/2019
5 out of 5 rating

Amazing

Nick and I got married here on Saturday and well what can I say. INCREDIBLE! I want to say a huge thank you to all of the staff, the cleaners were so kind and informed me personally when the room was ready, the restaurant staff went above and beyond to make sure my dress was in a safe place, the rangers were on time to pick us up from bear lodge in the morning and for our giraffe encounter and were genuinely excited for us. I want to mention a special thank you to Jess our wedding organiser who’s calm personality is just what I needed!! She has been an absolute star from day one when we booked (which was about a year ago). She replies to all my questions, and believe me I do go on and on! The day was 10000% better than I expected, I thought I was going to be stressed the whole day but nope not at all! Not to mention how absolutely stunning the venue is! We are lucky it didnt rain but if it had done you have no worries, its stunning in every room. I honestly cannot recommend having your wedding here enough, they were so so accommodating and we will definitely be spending every anniversary here that is for sure! I want the day to happen 100 times over again! Thank you so so so much it really was the best day of our lives xxx
N
Nick Sent on 17/09/2018
5 out of 5 rating

Thank you

Hi Jess,

What can we say about our wedding! WOW! I think sums it up.

We had a great time. Everything went very smoothly. We didn't have any worries or concerns. It flowed beautifully.

Everyone thought the venue was stunning, the food was fabulous, the wine was excellent. The DJ hit the feel and tone we wanted right on the nose. He even played a tune at the very end that we had considered for a long time for our first dance and Sam wanted it to be played during the reception and no one had briefed him.

The rooms were dressed just as Sam wanted them.

The guest rooms. Fantastic. All the feedback we got was they were gobsmacking. We were stunned by the size, the furniture and the facilities in our room.

The Safari was an added bonus we really enjoyed I know the weather wasn't ideal but we saw a couple of sights that we will remember forever. The giraffes running along beside the truck and the views.

Jess many thanks for the work you and team put into our wedding. Please pass onto those who were involved our sincere thanks. You played a blinder that day.

All in all WE HAD A FANTASTIC WEDDING and A GREAT TIME.

Thanks

Nick and Sam
D
Dawn Sent on 17/09/2018
5 out of 5 rating

Wonderful

Bronwyn

Thank you so much for all of your help to create an incredibly memorable day.

We all had such an amazing time and we couldnt have asked for it to have been more perfect.

We have had so many comments as to how beautiful the venue is and we couldn't agree more.

All the best

Dawn & Tom
H
Hannah Sent on 17/09/2018
5 out of 5 rating

Thank you

Hi Jess,

Ben and I just wanted to thank you and all of the staff at Port Lympne for helping us to have such a magical wedding day. We loved every minute of it and really did have the best day ever.

We have many happy memories to take away from the day and all of our guests commented on the venues location, the efficiency of the staff and the good food that we enjoyed.

We will definitely be back to stay at some point. Thank you again.

Kind regards,

Hannah and Ben
L
Liz Sent on 17/09/2018
5 out of 5 rating

Wonderful

Hi Jess,
We had the most amazing day! Absolutely perfect. The weather was incredible and the hotel and grounds just shone! We were so so happy and couldn’t have dreamed it would go so well. Thank you to you and your whole team - amazing. After the first hour of sheer panic I was able to relax and enjoy the whole thing - from the ceremony onwards I had the best time and Maz did too!

I hope everything was cleared up ok? My aunt and uncle and mum were left with instructions! We’ve arrived in Inverness after catching the sleeper! All went to plan.

Thanks so much again - incredible
All the best
Liz and Maz xx
M
Millie Sent on 30/07/2018
5 out of 5 rating

Thank you

Hi Jess.

We wanted to just say a massive thank you to yourself and all the staff. You were amazing in every detail of the day, which helped it all run smoothly.
Everyone has praised the food and service they received.

We want to do it all again!!!

Many thanks
Millie Walker
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Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve Real Weddings

Leane & Dan
71 photos · 01/06/2019

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Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve CT21 4PD Lympne (Kent)
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