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About
The Gallivant
Just over an hour from central London, The Gallivant is a boutique wedding venue in Camber Sands, East Sussex, offering couples a relaxed, destination-style celebration by the sea. Set moments from the iconic sand dunes, this coastal retreat feels like a private beach house, where weddings unfold at an unhurried, joyful pace.
Fully licensed for civil ceremonies, The Gallivant is ideal for couples seeking an intimate yet stylish wedding away from the bustle of city life. With thoughtfully designed interiors, seasonal, ingredient-led food and open fires in cooler months, every detail is curated to create warm, memorable experiences for couples and their guests.
Facilities and Capacity
Located just behind the dunes of Camber Sands, The Gallivant is an award-winning coastal hotel recognised with a MICHELIN Key for outstanding hospitality. Weddings are offered on an exclusive-hire basis, allowing couples and their guests full use of the property throughout their celebration.
The venue features 20 individually designed bedrooms and a collection of flexible indoor and outdoor spaces, making it well suited to weddings of between 50 and 80 guests. Ceremony and dining spaces include the Summer Room, the Dining Room and the Sitting Room, while the coastal garden and nearby dunes provide unforgettable settings for drinks receptions and golden-hour moments by the sea.
Services Offered
Weddings at The Gallivant are delivered by a dedicated in-house team who support couples from first enquiry through to the wedding day itself. With a calm, considered approach, the team takes care of planning, logistics and on-the-day coordination, allowing couples to relax and enjoy every moment.
Food is a central part of the experience and is led by the kitchen team at Harry’s, the hotel’s French-inspired restaurant. Menus are seasonal, generous and designed for sharing, with a menu tasting included as part of the planning journey.
For couples wishing to enhance their stay, optional wellbeing experiences such as beach walks, yoga and wild swimming can also be arranged, alongside a peaceful treatment room just moments from the sea.
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Frequently asked questions
Venue type:
In the country
Small hotel
Coastal weddings
Unusual weddings
Outdoor license
Unique weddings
Ceremony options:
Civil ceremony licence
Dining options:
Seated meal facilities
Alcohol licence
Buffet meal facilities
In-house catering
Evening entertainment:
Dance floor
Entertainment licence
Live band facilities
Evening reception facilities
DJ facilities
Overnight accommodation:
Overnight accommodation for wedding couple
Overnight accommodation for guests
Venue staff assistance:
Wedding coordinator
Venue leisure facilities:
Beautician
Other features:
Exclusive use
Accessible facilities
Car parking
Pet-friendly
Reviews for The Gallivant
Jack Sent on 13/09/2025
5 out of 5 rating
Our dream day
From the moment we viewed The Gallivant we knew we had to have our wedding there. We were treated to a lovely lunch with great service, showcasing everything that was to come.
Victoria and Agnes were very helpful in setting out the different options for the day and what was possible within the spaces available. There is a good variety of where you can hold the different elements of a wedding depending on your preference.
On the day of the wedding itself, every single member of staff were incredibly kind to our guests and made the hotel a home away from home - this made all the difference and meant we were not stressed at all going into the day.
There were some last minute changes required due to weather, and the team were so helpful in planning for lots of eventualities to make sure we had a great day no matter what.
Our guests commented that the wedding food was the best they have had. It came out promptly, with excellent service, and was hot and unbelievably tasty. The dishes looked exactly the same as they had at the tasting.
We had the most wonderful day and if you are looking for a coastal wedding with incredible food and great service then this is the venue for you.
We will be eternally grateful to everyone at the Gallivant for enabling us to have our perfect wedding day.
Victoria and Agnes were very helpful in setting out the different options for the day and what was possible within the spaces available. There is a good variety of where you can hold the different elements of a wedding depending on your preference.
On the day of the wedding itself, every single member of staff were incredibly kind to our guests and made the hotel a home away from home - this made all the difference and meant we were not stressed at all going into the day.
There were some last minute changes required due to weather, and the team were so helpful in planning for lots of eventualities to make sure we had a great day no matter what.
Our guests commented that the wedding food was the best they have had. It came out promptly, with excellent service, and was hot and unbelievably tasty. The dishes looked exactly the same as they had at the tasting.
We had the most wonderful day and if you are looking for a coastal wedding with incredible food and great service then this is the venue for you.
We will be eternally grateful to everyone at the Gallivant for enabling us to have our perfect wedding day.
Lily Sent on 08/08/2025
5 out of 5 rating
A dream venue
When we first discovered the Gallivant, we knew it was our dream wedding venue. I am a wedding photographer myself and I knew I wanted a venue that was gorgeous inside and out, filled with light, fantastic service and plenty of opportunities for photos. We also really wanted our guests to feel like they were on holiday. But, we never thought we'd actually be able to make it happen. However, from the moment we got in touch with Victoria, she was so warm and welcoming and flexible with all of our requirements and it was just a dream come true to get married at the Gallivant.
To take over the entire gorgeous venue and fill it with your nearest and dearest it's such a special thing. We had 45 guests, with the majority staying over for either one or two nights and it felt like the perfect amount of people to fill the space without it feeling overly crowded. My friends and I did yoga on the beach on the morning of the wedding and so many of us went for a morning beach stroll/swim the day after our wedding. Our guests cannot stop raving about how gorgeous the hotel was, how incredibly friendly and attentive the staff were and how delicious the food was. Several guests told us it was the best wedding food they've ever eaten.
The team at the Gallivant accommodated all of our requests and really looked after our guests. One thing to note was that it poured with rain when we were having our drinks reception which meant we didn't make it out to the coastal garden, but this didn't make the slightest bit of difference. The Gallivant is so cosy that it felt like we were in a friends living room (a friend with impeccable taste in interior design!) But when the rain stopped, we hotfooted it to the beach for some gorgeous pictures in the dunes.
We wanted our day to feel super relaxed and the Gallivant team made that happen in abundance. We can't wait to return every year for our anniversary!
To take over the entire gorgeous venue and fill it with your nearest and dearest it's such a special thing. We had 45 guests, with the majority staying over for either one or two nights and it felt like the perfect amount of people to fill the space without it feeling overly crowded. My friends and I did yoga on the beach on the morning of the wedding and so many of us went for a morning beach stroll/swim the day after our wedding. Our guests cannot stop raving about how gorgeous the hotel was, how incredibly friendly and attentive the staff were and how delicious the food was. Several guests told us it was the best wedding food they've ever eaten.
The team at the Gallivant accommodated all of our requests and really looked after our guests. One thing to note was that it poured with rain when we were having our drinks reception which meant we didn't make it out to the coastal garden, but this didn't make the slightest bit of difference. The Gallivant is so cosy that it felt like we were in a friends living room (a friend with impeccable taste in interior design!) But when the rain stopped, we hotfooted it to the beach for some gorgeous pictures in the dunes.
We wanted our day to feel super relaxed and the Gallivant team made that happen in abundance. We can't wait to return every year for our anniversary!
Alice Sent on 06/07/2025
5 out of 5 rating
Simply perfect
The most beautiful, special wedding weekend we could have ever dreamed of! In contrast to many other wedding venues, The Gallivant really does make an effort to make you feel special from the very first visit onwards... there is nothing about it that makes you feel like you're "just another wedding". Their attention to detail, incredible local food and wine, impeccable service and absolutely stunning venue make this a really special place to get married.
It has a relaxed, yet stylish and high quality feel to it, without being pretentious. Being able to hire the whole hotel out for your friends and family to stay with you feels so special and unique, and our guests haven't been able to stop praising it since. From the outstanding food and drink (some of the best we've ever had, despite it being "mass catering"), to the amazingly helpful and friendly staff, to the organisation in the lead up to and on the day itself. Everything felt taken care of and we had a completely stress-free and care-free day! Drinks reception on the dunes, in the beaming sunshine, really was the icing on the cake too!
We can't recommend The Gallivant enough if you're looking for a relaxed, slightly alternative, unique, beautiful, stylish wedding venue with the best food and drink you could imagine!
It has a relaxed, yet stylish and high quality feel to it, without being pretentious. Being able to hire the whole hotel out for your friends and family to stay with you feels so special and unique, and our guests haven't been able to stop praising it since. From the outstanding food and drink (some of the best we've ever had, despite it being "mass catering"), to the amazingly helpful and friendly staff, to the organisation in the lead up to and on the day itself. Everything felt taken care of and we had a completely stress-free and care-free day! Drinks reception on the dunes, in the beaming sunshine, really was the icing on the cake too!
We can't recommend The Gallivant enough if you're looking for a relaxed, slightly alternative, unique, beautiful, stylish wedding venue with the best food and drink you could imagine!
Hattie Sent on 04/06/2023
5 out of 5 rating
Absolutely incredible
We LOVED getting married at The Gallivant - it is the most stunning venue and it was so special to be able to bring all of our guests there for a unique experience and to have them all stay at the venue with us. We went for a big hungover swim at the sea next day (with blankets, towels, flasks of tea and coffee - all provided by the Gallivant!), which was such a fun experience.
The team were incredible from start to finish and thought of every single detail that made our day even more special. Daisy was a fantastic wedding planner, who was always responsive and came up with some amazing ideas for how we can really make the most of the space at The Gallivant. The food was unreal (many of our guests commented it was the best food they'd ever eaten, let alone at a wedding!). On the day, Hamish and the team thought of everything, dealing with any issue that came up, catering to each of our guests and making sure that my husband and I were able to have many moments together just us - we didn't have to worry about a thing and could fully focus on enjoying every part of the day.
We could not recommend having your wedding at the Gallivant more. If you want a relaxed, chic and elegant wedding, where you can have all your guests in one place and bring them the best of local food, wine and a team that will do anything to make sure you have the best possible day.
The team were incredible from start to finish and thought of every single detail that made our day even more special. Daisy was a fantastic wedding planner, who was always responsive and came up with some amazing ideas for how we can really make the most of the space at The Gallivant. The food was unreal (many of our guests commented it was the best food they'd ever eaten, let alone at a wedding!). On the day, Hamish and the team thought of everything, dealing with any issue that came up, catering to each of our guests and making sure that my husband and I were able to have many moments together just us - we didn't have to worry about a thing and could fully focus on enjoying every part of the day.
We could not recommend having your wedding at the Gallivant more. If you want a relaxed, chic and elegant wedding, where you can have all your guests in one place and bring them the best of local food, wine and a team that will do anything to make sure you have the best possible day.
Christopher Sent on 11/07/2021
5 out of 5 rating
Magical, unique, memorable… the best day
We originally planned to get married in Spain in 2020, but the pandemic put paid to that, and it was by something of an accident we came across the Gallivant when searching for a UK venue. But as we write this two weeks on, we wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. The Gallivant was simply perfect. The venue is gorgeous, the service impeccable, the food and drink absolutely sensational, and the drinks reception on the Dunes in the sunshine, with the brilliant Ben on the piano, genuinely was the stuff of dreams. The run-up to the day wasn’t easy, with doubts over restrictions and numbers, but we can’t thanks Sarah and the rest of the staff for all of their understanding and flexibility. This is what the future has to be about - people working together and helping each other out to create happy memories. We can’t recommend The Gallivant highly enough.
Jaime Sent on 17/06/2021
5 out of 5 rating
A perfect day at the Gallivant!
Having originally planned to get married in August 2020, due to government restrictions we tied the knot in October 2020 with 15 of our nearest and dearest. Even at the best of times, the build up to your wedding can become quite stressful(!) however the support we received from everyone at the Gallivant was overwhelming. Sarah was our main point of contact and was amazing from the planning stages through to the day itself, going above and beyond to make sure we and our guests were perfectly looked after.
Head chef Jamie put together the most incredible menu for the day and the quality of the food and drink served across our weekend really stood out and was a big highlight for us.
The venue styling feels so sophisticated yet relaxed and having the exclusive use of such a beautiful space and accommodation felt very special. There were little details at every turn that made the day so personal to us, like the Bloody Mary 'Recovery Station' at breakfast as an example!
Our day couldn't have been more perfect, thank you all so much for the efforts you went to for us, it's one we will always remember.
Head chef Jamie put together the most incredible menu for the day and the quality of the food and drink served across our weekend really stood out and was a big highlight for us.
The venue styling feels so sophisticated yet relaxed and having the exclusive use of such a beautiful space and accommodation felt very special. There were little details at every turn that made the day so personal to us, like the Bloody Mary 'Recovery Station' at breakfast as an example!
Our day couldn't have been more perfect, thank you all so much for the efforts you went to for us, it's one we will always remember.
Rebecca Sent on 23/05/2021
5 out of 5 rating
Perfect venue for our laidback wedding
We had originally planned to marry at a different venue in the centre of Rye but unfortunately, three months before our wedding, there was a fire and the venue was forced to close.
We'd spent over a year planning the day and so the thought of having to do it all again, in such a short space of time, was pretty soul destroying. However, the team at The Gallivant were amazing at recreating our vision and went above and beyond to make sure all the little details we'd already planned could still be incorporated into the day.
We wanted a laidback, slightly less conventional wedding, with an intimate breakfast for family and then a big party with plenty of locally-sourced food and drink for everyone afterwards. A special mention to head chef Jamie, who as well as creating a stunning menu, also sourced and shucked local oysters, which is something not usually on the menu but we were keen to include for our guests in the afternoon.
They say things happen for a reason and, while the day wasn't the original we had planned, The Gallivant was the absolutely perfect venue for us and the day surpassed all our (and our guests') expectations.
Becky and Sam
We'd spent over a year planning the day and so the thought of having to do it all again, in such a short space of time, was pretty soul destroying. However, the team at The Gallivant were amazing at recreating our vision and went above and beyond to make sure all the little details we'd already planned could still be incorporated into the day.
We wanted a laidback, slightly less conventional wedding, with an intimate breakfast for family and then a big party with plenty of locally-sourced food and drink for everyone afterwards. A special mention to head chef Jamie, who as well as creating a stunning menu, also sourced and shucked local oysters, which is something not usually on the menu but we were keen to include for our guests in the afternoon.
They say things happen for a reason and, while the day wasn't the original we had planned, The Gallivant was the absolutely perfect venue for us and the day surpassed all our (and our guests') expectations.
Becky and Sam
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The Gallivant TN31 7RB Camber (East Sussex)