A husband and wife celebrated 30 years at their pub by hosting a party with 30 couples who have married there.

Janet and Philippe Sorak have organised hundreds of weddings at The Barn in Lonsdale Gardens, Tunbridge Wells, since they joined as general managers in 1992.

The couple celebrated 30 years at their Shepherd Neame pub in style by inviting couples who have married there over the years, including several brides in their wedding dresses.

The award-winning venue is licensed for civil ceremonies and has hosted up to 60 weddings a year since it was first used as a venue in 2011.

The guests, who also included people who have helped the pair over the years including photographer Helen England and toastmaster Jim Cattermole, enjoyed a sit-down meal and disco.

Janet said: “It was an absolutely amazing night. Some of the couples were really emotional about it, and they are talking about doing an annual reunion now, they enjoyed it so much.

“We couldn’t get over how they all made friends and were on the dancefloor together late into the night – it was just so lovely.

"You get thank you cards and messages but to hear people say how happy they’ve been was so nice for us – it was the best way to celebrate.”

One of the brides attending the party in her original wedding dress was 28-year-old Chloe Hinson from Tunbridge Wells, accompanied by husband Andrew, 30.

The pair married at The Barn just eight weeks ago.

Andrew said the service for their big day was "faultless", and Chloe added: "Janet and Philippe were so amazing. It is a nice, intimate venue and they looked after every detail perfectly.”

Ashleigh Boxshall, 36, also attended in her wedding dress with husband Jon, 29, after marrying there last August.

She said: "We wanted something really relaxed and informal. We’d been together 13 years so we didn’t want a really big, formal wedding. We wouldn’t have changed a thing about it, it was perfect.”

Chalk couple Bev and John Smith married there in June last year, having had to postpone their big day twice due to the pandemic.

While Bev did not wear her wedding dress to the party, she opted to wear a necklace she wore on her wedding day.

She said: “We looked at quite a few venues but we loved this one because it was more intimate and personal. Philippe was amazing from day one.”

John added: “The amount of effort they put in for you is amazing. The awards they have received are well deserved.”

Janet and Philippe rarely have a free weekend, with the venue now fully booked for weddings on Sundays throughout 2023.