Couples can now celebrate their big day in a grand Victorian Billiards Room.
The Grade II-listed building at Kearsney Abbey in Temple Ewell, near Dover, was previously granted a licence to host wedding ceremonies for up to 40 people.
And now it has been licenced to offer receptions, including an evening bar and entertainment, until 10pm.
The proposal came from Dover District Council, which previously explained that the town of Dover only has three other venues for civil (non-religious) weddings, two of which are hotels.
Cllr Charlotte Zosseder, DDC’s cabinet member for corporate property, said: “Kearsney Abbey and Russell Gardens are loved by residents and visitors alike so we’re delighted to offer this historic space, with the stunning parkland as the backdrop, for a couple’s special day.
“The beautiful building has been brought back to life following the completion of our Lottery-funded project, which has enhanced the Kearsney Parks offering.”
Kearsney Abbey is one of three parks in the Alkham valley, part of the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. A second, Russell Gardens, sits across the road.
Both offer great walking trails, picnic spots and play areas for children.
The restored Billiards Room at Kearsney Abbey, which dates back to the 1870s, can also be used for small meetings, celebrations, art exhibitions and wakes.
It underwent major restoration as part of a £3.1m National Lottery project, which included a modern cafe extension and visitor facilities.
The unique building is the only remaining part of a Gothic-style manor house, built around 1821 as a grand country estate for John Minet Fector, who was part of one of Dover’s wealthiest families.
It was a later owner, Francis Lyon Barrington, who added the room when he modernised the mansion in the 1870s.
The space has floor-to-ceiling oak panelling, period features and views across the picturesque parkland and lake.
Before it was granted permission to host weddings, a number of residents raised fears over the impact the application could have on parking.
They pointed out that the site’s car park is often full, with visitors leaving their vehicles along residential streets nearby. They said the arrival of dozens more people for a wedding will make the issue worse.
One wrote on the planning portal: “Kearsney Parks continues to market itself, through social media posts and other advertising channels, trying its best to attract more and more visitors.
“Kearsney Parks would now like to branch out into large events such as weddings and conferences, to attract an entirely different sector of visitor.
“With Kearsney’s car parks at full capacity and residential roads acting as overflow car parks, where are these people going to park?”
