Meetings, conferences, team days and weddings for up to 130 guests take place at Wadhurst Castle, a nineteenth-century castellated mansion on a 140-acre private estate just west of the village of Wadhurst, on the border of East Sussex and Kent.
Seminars and company events
Corporate hire covers the castle rooms, the Carriage Barn and the gardens. The four rooms all have daylight, Wi-Fi and audiovisual equipment, and the castle rooms connect to one another or can be divided, so a plenary in the barn can run alongside breakouts in the house. Formats range from room hire for a meeting to day delegate packages and corporate hospitality. The grounds are used for team building, with archery, falconry, wine tasting, treasure hunts, cocktail masterclasses, dance classes, axe throwing, lawn games and a wellness program, and a barbecue on the South Lawn can close a summer day.
Weddings and receptions
Wadhurst Castle is licensed for civil ceremonies in several places: the Winter Garden, the Drawing Room, the Carriage Barn and, in summer, the Walled Garden and the South Lawn. From May to November the castle rooms, the barn and the gardens are reserved for one wedding. From January to April the Carriage Barn, the gardens and the Well Courtyard can be booked on their own, on an exclusive basis, for daytime ceremonies, celebrations and small weddings. A midweek package for up to 30 guests runs Monday to Wednesday. The venue also hosts private celebrations, memorial gatherings, and film and photo shoots.
Rooms and capacities
The Drawing Room measures 8.65 by 6.95 meters and holds 60. The Moncrieff Room, 8.60 by 5.80 meters, and the Victorian Winter Garden, 10.65 by 4.45 meters and opening onto the South Lawn, each hold 30. The Carriage Barn, 14.40 by 6.20 meters, stands in its own courtyard next to the castle, on one level with a gentle ramp, and takes up to 104 guests in banquet or theatre layout. Across the castle, barn and gardens the venue welcomes up to 130 people.
Accommodation
The website does not mention bedrooms in the castle. A three-bedroom cottage and a woodland lodge on the estate can be booked separately.
Catering
Food is supplied by outside partners. Couples choose from a panel of four recommended caterers, and corporate clients can use partner caterers or have a menu written for the event. The castle's own wine cellar supplies drinks on an off-licence basis, and clients who bring their own drinks pay no corkage. Furniture for ceremonies and receptions is included.
History and setting
The present house dates from the nineteenth century and stands on the site of a much older dwelling mentioned in fourteenth-century records. From its raised position it looks south and west over the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The gardens include the South Lawn, Phoenix Lake, a fountain garden, rose gardens, an azalea walk and a walled garden, and the park and garden are listed at Grade II.
Getting there
The address is Wadhurst Castle, Wadhurst, TN5 6DA. Wadhurst has a railway station on the line between London and Hastings, and Gatwick is the nearest major airport.
