The home of The Buttery & Glasshouse

A bright red bull hangs above the beautiful white façade of the coaching inn dating back to 1385. The whole village of Wrotham and The Bull Hotel in particular were a restful stop over for pilgrims travelling to Canterbury from Winchester.

Since first licensed by Henry VIII in 1500, the Bull has catered to the needs of passing travellers and locals alike for over six hundred years. It has appealed to those in search of rest, fortification and good company, providing a quiet, tranquil respite from the troubles of many an age.

Just off the M26 en route to Sevenoaks, The Bull Hotel is as charming as it is easy to find. 

One of the most wonderful things about having a wedding in a hotel is that you can have everything in the one place – eat, drink, celebrate, sleep.

Modern tradition

Keen to continue the tradition, current owner since 2008, Martin Deadman has embarked on painstaking journey not only to restore the building and showcase its beautiful original features but also to add yet more to this inn’s already impressive roster of 11 recently refurbished cosy en-suite bedrooms and a relaxed and attractive wedding package.

At the heart of all things at The Bull is an unwavering commitment and unparallel passion for flavour, quality and friendly service. This underpins not just the welcoming bar that boasts a great selection of craft and artisan ales, wines and spirits, but the acclaimed restaurant too with its inspired smokehouse menu. 

Weddings at The Bull

Couples have been choosing The Bull for their weddings over several decades. Recently a couple told us that they got married at The Bull 24 years ago, and another client recounts that her parents had their wedding reception at The Bull 36 years ago!

Even before receiving our first license to hold civil ceremonies in 2015, Martin himself organised wedding breakfasts and receptions in the restaurant as The Buttery function room hadn’t been redecorated to accommodate wedding receptions.

Our journey since then has been a wonderful one. Hosting weddings is a special and joyous occasion, and it has been source of great satisfaction for all of us.

Timeless appeal

Initially our wedding venue was The Buttery, first licensed in 2015. Originally, the 16^th century oak-beamed barn was used as a large pantry to stock food, butts of beer and wine for the hotel.

The Buttery has its own charm which effortlessly delights every couple. With a captivating barn-style feel and historic appeal and has been holding memorable wedding ceremonies.

The renovation in 2022

With a view to expand the capacity to 100 day-guests and to offer a spectacular weather-proof space, the whole courtyard was renovated to create an innovative and unique wedding venue, a hidden surprise you wouldn’t expect behind the splendid 14th century Grade II-listed Bull Hotel. Expanding the capacity to 100 guests, the merging between the new contemporary Glasshouse, the traditional Buttery and the picturesque Veranda transformed the whole wedding experience at The Bull courtyard.

The structural contrast between The Glasshouse, The Buttery and The Veranda dramatically highlights and enhances the difference in style, era and materials used in each building.

This gorgeous courtyard offers a variety of blank canvas spaces and an abundance of natural light where couples can showcase the elegance and the freshness of something new and unique to achieve their wow factor wedding day when the wedding theme will take centre stage.

Home from home

We strive to offer the very best service and quality food at a beautiful venue with helpful and attentive staff with everything under the same roof. Our on-site catering has been recognised with two AA rosettes and a listing in the Michelin Guide. There’s the stunning bridal suite, 11 ensuite bedrooms for your guests who want to check in and a fully stocked bar with an incredible cocktail and craft beer list.

We want to give you that ‘home from home’ environment while still maintaining the highest level of professionalism.

Open door policy

Couples are always welcome to come and visit anytime. Many couples visit the Bull Hotel on a number of occasions before their wedding day. This in turn, helps them feel confident and secure in their surroundings before their big day. They get to know the team further and the team gets to know them, building up a fabulous relationship.

Being a freehouse, it gives you the opportunity to do this. Whether it's for a drink, food or just a quick catch up. The in-house events team is always on hand with a warm welcome and to answer any questions you might have.

Real story

'We fell in love with The Buttery & Glasshouse as soon as we visited. Our wedding was amazing. The venue is beautiful, and you really can customise it to fit your theme. The indoor and outdoor space is great. The events team there is amazing, very responsive to queries and they were really supportive. The food is fantastic. We went for the smokehouse option as we had a fairly informal wedding, and we had so many compliments about the food!'

Laura & Nicholas

Drink

Being a freehouse, we like to do things a bit differently and hopefully a bit more interesting. The range of drinks is adventurous, dynamic and diverse, focusing on quality and value.

Whether you fancy a beer, an ale, an artisan Bourbon, The Bull is stocked with a plethora of interesting tipples to explore with a rotating selection of beers made using traditional methods from independent producers

The contemporary cocktail menu, craft beer selection and award winning 180-bottle wine list have been boldly curated to delight and inspire your guests.

Food & smokehouse feast

The winning combination of wholesome and quality ingredients with the best British produce plus the modern cooking techniques that we use here at The Bull is producing hearty delicious dishes.

A true foodie paradise: crafted canapés, artisan pizzas, cheese and charcuterie spreads, grazing tables, smokehouse feasts, wholesome desserts, three-course wedding breakfasts, festival food stalls… all prepared using local suppliers, family run farms and artisan producers.

Whether it’s an intimate petite ceremony or large wedding, the chefs at The Bull will cater for guests with allergies and dietary requirements.

Our specialist Ole Hickory Pits wood-burning smoker cooks the meat low and slow for hours using a secret combination of carefully selected woods, deepening the meat’s flavour, leaving it moist and butter soft. Inspiration from the USA meets the English passion for smokehouse. Sure to tantalise tastebuds, the signature smokehouse option for the wedding feast will wow your guests.

Bedrooms

All eleven rooms have en-suite facilities, central heating, TV, free Wi-Fi and tea and coffee facilities. There are four-poster, king size, double and one family room and our excellent cooked to order breakfast is served everyday.

Each of the 11 bespoke interiors has been individually designed by Martin with heritage paints balanced with rich and lavish Laura Ashley wallpaper and soft furnishings.

Hotel capacity 20 adults plus the newly-wed couple.

All our wedding packages include all bedrooms. You will be able to allocate your family and guests to the rooms for the night of the wedding day and a full English breakfast will be served for all guests at 9am the morning after your wedding.

The Team

Co-ordinators

Dedicating every single hour of their work life to make sure a couple and their guests have the most beautiful and happiest day of their lives, the team won ‘Events Team of the Year’ at the Kent Wedding Awards 2023/2024.



In-house team

Led by Leigh Anne, Emma and Catherine, the events team is composed of permanent members of staff who know every part of the business and every corner of the venue. Chefs, housekeepers, front of house, waiting staff, bar staff, cleaners and breakfast chef.

Suppliers

A well-sourced list of our friendly local suppliers is available to all couples. Their dedication will ensure your wedding will be delivered as you planned.

Location

Nestled in a Kentish area of natural outstanding beauty at the foot of the North Downs, a stone’s throw from The Pilgrims' Way.

Near Sevenaoks and Maidstone, Wrotham village is delightfully tucked away, despite being within easy reach of the M20 and M25 motorways as well as main train lines into London Victoria (40min from London).

Enjoy your stay with beautiful country and village walks, 13 National Trust sites nearby and fantastic golf courses.

Four in a bed

"We won series 13 of Four in a Bed! It was such an awesome experience, very intense and stressful but most importantly, rewarding."

Scored as the perfect stay and the best breakfast of the competition, The Bull Hotel won Four in a Bed, the reality TV show that has been airing on Channel 4.

“We loved it, it was absolutely nerve wracking, but we loved it!” says The Bull owner Lygia Fontanella and Mary Murray, the breakfast chef who became the star of series 13 of Four in a Bed. Mary is still being stopped on the way home, at the supermarket, in Kings Lynn and even in a restaurant in Norfolk.

Guests travel from all parts of the UK just to stay in one of the boutique bedrooms at The Bull and try Mary’s fresh, cooked-to-order English breakfast which became famous during show. Also, more and more wedding couples seems to want ‘TV star’ Mary to cook their wedding breakfast.



Tour the venue

Throughout the year we host open days when the whole venue is set up for a wedding, recommended suppliers that we love work with can showcase their services and our full team of coordinators, front of house and housekeepers is available to take couples to a tour to the whole inn including the hotel rooms.

You are most welcome to arrange a viewing with the coordinators at any time. They will love to show you around and discuss your ideas and plans for your wedding and, if you wish, we will prepare a bespoke quote and payment plan to suit your needs. Do contact us on weddings@theglasshousekent.co.uk or fill in the form below.

We hope to hear from you soon!

Awards

We are immensely proud to have received a Kent Wedding Award for 4 years in a row, twice as Boutique Venue of the Year, once for the Wedding Wow Factor Award, and most recently the Events Team of The Year (2023/2024). The Buttery & Glasshouse also received twice the Hitched Wedding Awards, in 2022 and 2023 and was on the top three finalist of The Muddy Stilettos Best Kent Wedding Venue in 2023.

Grateful and humbled

It is hugely satisfying for all of us at The Bull to receive these awards but it is the feedback and comments from couples and guests which are the great source of motivation. Reading these heartfelt messages are incredibly rewarding and a testament to the quality of our weddings and the memorable experiences we provide to couples, their families and friends.