FAQs

If you've got a frequently asked question about Solton Manor? We've got the answer

All Accommodation Wedding Catering Payments Popular questions Your Wedding Ceremony Your Wedding Reception
  • Accommodation
    • How many guests can Solton Manor accommodation for overnight?

      At Solton Manor, we are delighted to sleep 24 in the Grade II listed Manor House and 4 in the Dovecote.

      The 1000-year-old Manor House includes

      • Ten bedrooms, which includes a honeymoon suite with a four-poster bed
      • Modern self-catering kitchen and five bathrooms
      • Kitchen, sitting room and dining room
      • Games room (or prep room) and hot tub
      • Bed linen, towels and table linen included

      The Dovecote includes

      • Two bedrooms
      • Kitchen
      • Hot tub

      On request, we can include:

      • Cots and highchairs
      • Private chef
      • Drinks packages.The 1000 year old Solton Manor near Dover, Kent

       

       

  • Wedding Catering
    • Do you offer a wine tasting?

      Do you offer a wine tasting?
      Yes, we usually hold your wine tasting on the same evening as your food tasting, making it a fun and relaxed way to plan your perfect pairings.

    • What food is included in our wedding package?

      Festival wedding food being taken out to the wedding guests at Solton Manor

      At Solton Manor, we understand exceptional food is a key element in creating a memorable wedding experience. The right menu enhances your celebration and reflects your taste and style, leaving a lasting impression on your guests. Whether you envision a gourmet feast or a more relaxed dining atmosphere, we work with expert caterers Invita Food Design to ensure every dish is perfectly crafted. Depending on your wedding package, we offer mouthwatering canapés to exquisite main courses; we are dedicated to providing a culinary experience that complements the beauty and significance of your special day.

      You can choose from Invita Food Design various menus for your day and evening according to your budget and style. For more information, please see our Food & Drink page.

    • Do you offer a tasting for the wedding menu?

      A menu stands on a beautifully laid table within Salton Manor near Dover

      At Solton Manor, we believe a food tasting is essential when planning your wedding. We are therefore delighted to say that Invicta Food Design offers a group food-tasting event in the Dutch Barn. Once you book your wedding, you and the couple will be invited to the food tasting.

      Are additional guests charged to attend the food tasting?

      The food-tasting invitation is for you, the couple; however, you can bring additional guests, but Invicta Food will charge you.

      What happens at the Food Tasting Event?

      Couples typically arrive at 6:30

      On arrival, you will be met with a glass of bubbles and canapes

      You will seated on dressed tables and served your food choices

      You will be given a form to complete to provide feedback to the caterers, and the chefs will be on hand to speak to you

      You will try the house wines, and the bar will be open

      The tasting usually finishes at 9:30 pm.

    • Is there a charge to cut our wedding cake?

      Vintage Lambeth wedding cake

      Cutting your wedding cake is free if you book the evening buffet. However, Invicta Food Design does charge if you don’t include a buffet for your evening guests.

      What’s included within your wedding package:

      We offer a round wooden cake stand or a round silver colour cake stand

       

  • Payments
    • What is included in your price?

      This very much depends on the package you’ve chosen, but as standard, our hire at Solton Manor typically includes:
      – Exclusive use of the venue
      – Indoor and outdoor tables and chairs
      – Linen (tablecloths and napkins)
      – Glassware, cutlery, and crockery for your wedding breakfast

      Some packages may also include drinks packages, styling, and accommodation.  Our team will always provide a clear breakdown so you know exactly what’s included in your quote

    • Do you provide tables and chairs?

      A picture of the Dutch Barn set up for a traditional wedding breakfast at Solton Manor, Dover

      We provide all the equipment you need for your traditional wedding breakfast.

      Our furniture includes:

      • 6ft round tables, we recommend eight guests per table with a maximum of nine
      • 5th round tables. we recommend five guests per table with a maximum of six
      • 4ft round tables for your cake table
      • A cake table, traditional round cake stand and knife
      • Tresels for your top table and your buffet
      • Charivari chairs up to 15o
      • Outdoor folding chairs up to 150
      • A choice of either white or ivory table linen and napkins
      • Glasses for bubbles and a wine glass
      • Crockery and cutlery
      • Salt and Pepper pots
      • A disco ball and fairy lights
      • Brass LOVE Letters
      • A seating corner – sofa and an armchair
      • A personalised post box
    • What deposit do you require to book our wedding at Solton Manor?

      A couple stand under the arch in Godric's Garden at Solton Manor in Dover, Kent

      We require a 30% deposit to secure your wedding. This is followed by a 35% interim payment due six months before your special day. 

      Around six weeks before your wedding, we recommend attending, calling, or scheduling a virtual call to finalise your most important details, like your timeline, wedding suppliers and guest numbers. Following this one-to-one, when you finalise your guest numbers (don’t forget to include yourself in the count), your final payment is due one month before your celebration.

      You can also take advantage of our monthly instalment payment system, which makes it easier to spread the cost of your wedding.

    • What is your cancellation policy?

      Before deciding to cancel your wedding, we encourage you to explore all your options and carefully consider whether the challenges are related to budget or other concerns.

      If financial worries are a factor, one option is to reimagine your celebration as a smaller, more intimate wedding at Solton Manor. This can help reduce costs while creating a beautiful and memorable day.  Just ask us about our Intimate Wedding Package.

      If you want to cancel your wedding, we will be sorry to lose you.

      ALL cancellations must be in writing to Solton Manor, Solton Lane, East Langdon, Dover, CT15 5JB or by email to [email protected] and please copy in Kent County Council Wedding Team [email protected] at the same time.  The email must include both of your emails.

      Please note the following:

      • If a written cancellation is received more than 6 calendar months before your event, please note that you will forfeit only the retainer.
      • You will forfeit all payments if a written cancellation is received less than 6 calendar months before the event.
      • If you are paying monthly instalments, you shall forfeit all money paid.

      You are advised to take out wedding insurance to cover cancellation and other contingencies preventing the wedding from taking place.

    • Does your venue hire include registrar fees?

      Solton Manor is licensed for Civil Marriages and Partnerships.

      As an Approved Wedding Venue between Dover and Deal in Kent, we are delighted to host your wedding outside in Godric’s Garden or inside Solton Manor or within the Dutch Barn for a maximum of 150 people. However, our venue hire does not include your licence-to-marry fees but does include the fee Kent County Council (KCC) charges us to be an Approved Premise.

      To understand KCC fees, please follow this link.

      At what time can we get married?

      Civil marriages and partnerships may occur between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. on any day of the week, including weekends and bank holidays. The latest start time for a ceremony is 5 p.m.  For a spring, summer, autumn or winter wedding, we recommend getting married at 1:00 pm. However, we can be flexible.

      What is the process once you book Solton Manor?

      Once you book Solton Manor for your wedding, thank you. We will reserve the date and time of your ceremony with KCC. Please note that this will require us to share your data.

      We will share the booking reference number with you once the date and time have been reserved with KCC.  The KCC team will then contact you to pay for their services; this may take up to two weeks.  If after 14 days you haven’t heard anything, please email [email protected] 

       

  • Your Wedding Ceremony
    • How far in advance should we book our wedding date?
      A couple stand with their wedding certificate after getting married in Godric's Garden, Outdoor licenced ceremony area at Solton Manor, near Whitstable, Kent, England
      Image caption: Dover Media Group

      At Solton Manor, we welcome both last-minute and longer-term wedding bookings.

      For couples looking to plan a last-minute wedding celebration, we require a minimum of 32 days’ notice, as this is the time required by Kent County Council to give official notice of your marriage.

      For those planning further ahead, most couples typically book 18 to 24 months in advance to secure their preferred date and take full advantage of our stunning venue and comprehensive planning support.

      No matter when you book your wedding, we are here to make your dream wedding a reality.

    • Can we use confetti?

      A confetti and drop kiss at Solton Manor, near Whitstable, Kent, England

      Absolutely, we love a joyful confetti moment! We simply ask that any confetti used on the grounds is biodegradable, such as real petals or dried flowers, to help us care for our beautiful surroundings.

    • Does your venue hire include registrar fees?

      Solton Manor is licensed for Civil Marriages and Partnerships.

      As an Approved Wedding Venue between Dover and Deal in Kent, we are delighted to host your wedding outside in Godric’s Garden or inside Solton Manor or within the Dutch Barn for a maximum of 150 people. However, our venue hire does not include your licence-to-marry fees but does include the fee Kent County Council (KCC) charges us to be an Approved Premise.

      To understand KCC fees, please follow this link.

      At what time can we get married?

      Civil marriages and partnerships may occur between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. on any day of the week, including weekends and bank holidays. The latest start time for a ceremony is 5 p.m.  For a spring, summer, autumn or winter wedding, we recommend getting married at 1:00 pm. However, we can be flexible.

      What is the process once you book Solton Manor?

      Once you book Solton Manor for your wedding, thank you. We will reserve the date and time of your ceremony with KCC. Please note that this will require us to share your data.

      We will share the booking reference number with you once the date and time have been reserved with KCC.  The KCC team will then contact you to pay for their services; this may take up to two weeks.  If after 14 days you haven’t heard anything, please email [email protected] 

       

    • Can we have a church ceremony?

      There are a number of historic churches within a few miles of the estate so a church wedding is an option. The beautiful, ancient church of St Augustines in East Langdon is just ½ a mile down the road and can seat 80 people. The nearest Catholic Church is St Paul’s in Dover just 3 miles away and can hold over 200 people.

  • Your Wedding Reception
    • Are children welcome at Solton Manor weddings?
      A young wedding guest has been given a colouring book during a wedding reception at Solton Manor, Near Canterbury, Kent, England
      Image credit: Olegs Samsonovs Photography

      Are children welcome at Solton Manor weddings?

      Absolutely! We’re proud to be a family-friendly venue where little guests can have big adventures. From our on-site accommodation to Solton Fort play area we’ve thought of everything to help parents relax and children feel at home.  There is large meadow where you can organise rounders, cricket, crazy golf etc, However we always ask that children are supervised as there is water on site.

      We also provide feeding and changing facilities, and are happy to recommend trusted childcare and entertainment partners to help keep the youngest members of your guest list happy all day long.

    • When can we start decorating the Dutch Barn wedding venue?

      If we don’t have a wedding the day before, you are welcome to dress the barn then. If we have a wedding the day before your wedding date, we will provide help to set up the Dutch Barn from as early as 7am. Dovecote Cottage will also be available from 7am for the bridal party to start getting ready.

       

    • Do you provide tables and chairs?

      A picture of the Dutch Barn set up for a traditional wedding breakfast at Solton Manor, Dover

      We provide all the equipment you need for your traditional wedding breakfast.

      Our furniture includes:

      • 6ft round tables, we recommend eight guests per table with a maximum of nine
      • 5th round tables. we recommend five guests per table with a maximum of six
      • 4ft round tables for your cake table
      • A cake table, traditional round cake stand and knife
      • Tresels for your top table and your buffet
      • Charivari chairs up to 15o
      • Outdoor folding chairs up to 150
      • A choice of either white or ivory table linen and napkins
      • Glasses for bubbles and a wine glass
      • Crockery and cutlery
      • Salt and Pepper pots
      • A disco ball and fairy lights
      • Brass LOVE Letters
      • A seating corner – sofa and an armchair
      • A personalised post box

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