Launching an old Kent barn into an award-winning wedding venue.
The Old Kent Barn is nestled in beautiful Kent countryside between Folkestone and Canterbury in the village of Swingfield.
The Old Barn is over 250 years old. During its history at Smersole Farm, the old barn was mainly agricultural, used to house cattle and hay until the early 1990’s.
In it’s original construction the barn’s numerous oak beams were taken from old sailing ships, the bowed, aged beams adding a wonderful character to the building.
After falling in love with the Old Barn, it was bought by the Simmons Family in 1996.
After renovations, they ran their graphic design business from the barn until 2004. The design business moved to a new site the following year and the family turned the Old Barn into a three-bedroom Bed & Breakfast.
In 2005, following the wedding reception of the daughter Claire and son-in-law Will in the grounds of the old barn, the family collectively came up with the idea to launch The Old Kent Barn Weddings.
Together the family created the formal parterres, established planting and pathways, and laid the paved ceremony area before their first wedding in 2006.
For the first four years wedding receptions were held in a luxury marquee in the grounds, The Old Barn now used for onsite accomodation for couples following their wedding.
Wishing to host weddings year-round, the family decided to have a purpose-built tithe barn constructed.
In the closing days of the tender, local timber specialists Norton Timber tendered and submitted plans in only 7 days. The partners unanimously agreed on the design we have today.
Building began in late 2010, no expense was spared in the design and creation, with a deadline of only 6 months to complete for upcoming Spring weddings. The New Barn officially launched and hosted its first wedding in April 2011.
Daughter Claire, and husband Will became sole owners of The Old Kent Barn in 2015 after the Simmons retirement.
As the company and team grew, The Old Kent Barn celebrated their 1000th wedding in September 2019 and re-branded with a new look logo
All in the same year memorably winning their first national wedding award.
