The Secret Garden in Ashford

No problems, polite staff, excellent food and service at a competitive price

Attended a wedding. Venue was magnificent. Everything was well organised.food was excellent at the meal. Drinks good value too.

Gorgeous venue for weddings and sorties, food brilliant and staff very attentive.

From the moment we stepped into The Secret Garden for our wedding, we were met with an atmosphere of pure enchantment and elegance. The staff went above and beyond to ensure our special day was flawless, demonstrating a level of helpfulness and attentiveness that was truly remarkable. They anticipated our every need, making us feel completely at ease throughout the entire process. The venue itself was breathtakingly beautiful, presenting a perfect blend of natural beauty and sophisticated charm. Every corner of The Secret Garden was meticulously maintained, creating a magical backdrop for our ceremony and reception that our guests are still raving about. As for the food, it was nothing short of delicious. Each dish served was a testament to the venue's commitment to quality and excellence, leaving a lasting impression on everyone who had the pleasure of dining. The flavors were rich, the presentation was exquisite, and the overall dining experience was exceptional. Choosing The Secret Garden for our wedding venue was the best decision we could have made. It provided an unforgettable setting that captured the essence of our celebration perfectly. We are eternally grateful to the staff for their hard work and dedication, and we recommend The Secret Garden to any couple looking for a venue that offers beauty, elegance, and a team committed to making your wedding day as perfect as you’ve always imagined.

Lovely location, great food, and service

From start to finish - WOW. This was the first and only venue that we viewed, we just simply didn't need to look elsewhere when this place had all the boxes ticked. From the very first meeting to even post wedding, the staff have been incredible. We had Amy look after us the whole way through and she couldn't do enough for us. Through the planning process, I had some questions but with every email we sent/telephone conversation, Amy was able to put our minds at ease. All of our guests mentioned the quality of the food and service and we couldn't agree more with them. If you want a stress-free wedding then we highly recommend this place, they know what they are doing! Thank you Amy and everyone in the SG team for giving us the best day ever. We will definitely be returning in the future for pudding nights!

Wow, our wedding day, where do we start? Well it seems only right to thank the people who created a day that we could have only dreamt of that The Secret Garden team made our reality. Genuinely, thankyou! You guys are incredible! Right from the very first point of contact you guys were just amazing, you provided stability with planning, organisation, helped us with decision making when we asked for input and just over all fabulous! The planning team were quick to respond and so informative, alongside helping us get the best out of our day with our budget, keeping the special elements and not making it feel or appear more budget-like. At no point did we ever feel obliged or pushed into anything and generally, we just felt well supported throughout the process. During the process, we went to the venue on several occasions to meet with staff and discuss our plans, and primarily, their attitude was always "how can we help you? What can we do to help give you the most special day". Alongside this we always felt comfortable, it was never forced and always had a laugh. Every member of staff is just so natural at their job. Having now had our wedding building these relationships was important because essentially, they are a part of your special day; it was so well integrated and natural, we didn't know they were there, in a staff capacity - they felt as though they were a part of our guest part. On the day, we were expecting hiccups, purely because, like everyone, nothing ever goes straight forward. But to mine and Issac knowledge and feelings, everything was perfect and it really was only a day we thought we could dream of. Alisha was our point of contact throughout the most part of the day and what a fab job she did. She helped direct us in doing something neither of us knew what we are doing, helped keep us calm and kept it nice, settled and well organised. In moments that we were having couple photos, or otherwise preoccupied, they ensured the comfort of our guest and maintained such a lovely atmosphere. Every single guest approached us during and after to explain it was the best wedding the had been to, from the organisation, to the food, the staff and the destination. We feel really privileged to have had our day shared with our family friends and members ot The Secret Garden. Food - now this was important to us... Purley because we're foodies, not necessarily for fancy food, but just in general. The chef team absolutely smashed it!! We had walking canapes to start, as we are not a particularly formal family and though we are traditional in some aspects, we equally did not want a three course sit down meal. This allowed us the opportunity to interact with everyone who came to share our day with us; but also feel the hunger hole that people were beginning to feel. It was a nice touch, because I think staff had noticed that Issac and I had not managed to have any, due to talking and they had put a lovely selection on our table. So then the main, wow! INCREDIBLE!! The team catered well for allergens and intolerance and ensured that everyone was happy. Every body complemented the meal and of course the desert!! Anyway we could go on about food for ages, but just know, the food is delicious! We chose the BBQ for the evening and though Issac and I didn't have any because we were full from lunch, it went down a treat!! We provided some decorations, as well as The Secret Garden supplying some too, and they really did do it justice! They created the atmosphere and vibe that was exactly what we were after. They moved our beautiful flowers from the chapel to the main room, so that they could be admired throughout the whole day, as they were exceptionally beautiful - big shout out to Loullabells florist! The flowers were particularly special as they were a discrete part of our granddad's being present, though not physically with us, it was a resemblance of their favourite flowers. Everything was just amazing!! Moving on through the day to the evening, we used Boombox, who is recommended via the venue. Though this is not The Secret Garden's fault, we and guest were disappointed with them as DJ's. We had a poor experience with their organisation in the build up to the meeting, forgetting about scheduled meeting to attain our music choices etc, alongside this, they did not play songs that we had asked for, including genre. The quality of music felt poor and they did not mix music well. I guess from our personal experience with them, our recommendation would be for Boombox not to be part of the package, or not to suggest them. As I say the above recommendation, is not Secret Garden's fault, and by no means ruined our day, it was something we had both picked up on, as did our guests. Anyway, we want to thank the team for absolutely everything!!! Even when we went to collect everything the following day, they ensured that our Bouquets were in water to ensure preservation. The Secret Garden are amazing, the venue and staffm we cannot recommend it enough. Thankyou!!!!

Have attended about 5 of their pudding nights over the years. Always absolutely delicious puddings, a lovely main meal too and the quiz is always fun alongside. Will definitely continue to attend future pudding nights

Wedding review: The first and only place we viewed, we fell in love with it straight away. It fits our personalities our vibe and the size of our wedding. We wanted an intimate feel although we had around 60pax for our day reception, they were all important people and they loved being there. The team is the most amazing! Very accommodating, very understanding, makes everything looks easy. Never made me feel like I’m asking for something silly or too big. Very responsive even though my queries were during summer peak season as our wedding was in November. And no fault at all for everyone working on our big day and evening. All the guests keep talking about how great they have all been. Food is perfect too, for day and evening.

Attended a wedding here in November 2023. I would recommend this venue.

Thank you for making the most special day of our lives utterly perfect. My wife found Secret Garden just over a year ago, from start to finish these guys have been absolutely wonderful. Exceptionally helpful continually & a very smooth & easy booking service. The Secret Garden support you every step of the way, helping & advising you as you go. Which was super helpful for us as we were completely winging it! As a same sex couple we were worried that venues would accept us but this place was so welcoming & caring that we never felt judged or looked down upon. We only got married at the weekend but they were so amazing that I feel they deserve a review at the EARLIEST possible time. Amy our 'wedding co ordinator' (I THINK that's the correct term) was absolutely wonderful. Happy, calming, helpful & very sweet. EVERY step of the way I felt like I understood what was going on & that I was completely cared for. Mas our barman was BEYOND perfect. What a human! He chased food for us when we missed it going round, he sorted our drinks within a flash & was so lovely & kind to talk to. We opted for a twilight wedding and although it was cold outside we had THE most perfect day. Can I highly recommend not only the food but the grazing table they offer! My wife & majority of our guests were absolutely in awe. A close friends husband who is a chef was even taking videos of it as he loved it so much. Please look no further than The Secret Garden for a wedding venue, it is truly perfect. Lovely grounds, perfect place for wedding pictures, plenty of parking, fab staff, WONDERFUL food & generally the perfect location for a wedding. You cannot fault this place or their staff! They go out of their way to ensure you're looked after & that your day goes as smoothly as possible. We love you Secret Garden & we thank you for the wonderful night you gave us!

My wife and I were married here in a Twilight ceremony on Saturday just gone. The venue truly is stunning, whether you have your wedding at night like us or during the day into the night. Other than the obviousness of how beautiful this place is, with its quirky nooks and pretty scenery. The staff really are wonderful, my Wife (this still seems strange) and I agreed that to do their job you have to love what you do. That much seems to apparent, nothing was too much bother for them, Amy and Mas looked after us throughout the whole thing. I cannot thank them enough for their professionalism, enthusiasm and fun. Our guests have repeatedly complimented the food, the venue and every time the staff too. You really are a credit to what you do there and we are so happy to have had our day with you all. Thank you so much.

Food and staff were very good,but the hall was cold .And I did not think it was right to show people around the hall that book for us .

Where do I start-this is beyond perfect as a Wedding venue. Such beautiful surroundings, we couldn't have asked for more for our Daughter's wedding. Staff are superb, very attentive and nothing is too much trouble. Superb gluten free and vegan options.

Photographed a wedding here, and have a few more in 2024 absolutely beautiful and amazing staff, weddings here run smoothly and a dream for couples backdrop in their wedding photos (Photography By Lisa)

We love this magical place! Which is why we decided to get married there!! 😊

Great wedding venue for a medium sized wedding. Gardens are great.

We got married here and everything was being perfect. From pre planning to the big day, the staff were just incredible. Thank you for such a blessed day and making our wedding everything we wanted. The food was absolutely amazing and presented with such elegance. Your staff are a credit to the business

Wedding food was great, very pleasant venue.

I don't know where to start, from beginning to end our experience with The Secret Garden team has been delightful. We want to say MASSIVE thank you for making our wedding planning stress free & helping us make such special memories. We really loved how much input we could have with every detail of the wedding and how helpful the team are when you need their help. The setup was immaculate and exactly how we had envisioned it to look, we ended up with a perfect relaxed 'Garden Party' wedding we'd always wanted. My husband and I are so lucky to have found such an amazing venue to hold our wedding and would recommend The Secret Garden to anyone looking for a venue.

We were the wedding DJs at The Secret Garden for Sofia & Barry at the weekend. We absolutley love this for a wedding venue!! Great sized room for a party. All their staff were also amazing! Very friendly, professional and helpful.

What a hidden gem of a venue. Their beautiful grounds and wonderful ceremony spaces make it a fantastic choice for a unique, relaxed, picturesque Wedding. The Glass House is simply beautiful and the food and service highly recommended too. As well as working as a photographer here, my husband and I have enjoyed Afternoon Tea here. We will be returning for sure.

Attended a family wedding and was blown away by the venue. The setting is absolutely stunning. The staff were brilliant the food was amazing who ever thought of this idea are a genius.

Our wedding at the secret garden could only be described as perfect. The staff go out of their way to ensure everything runs like clockwork, and that you are well looked after throughout the day. Our coordinator, Amy, was wonderful, and we genuinely couldn’t have asked for any more. Would highly recommend the secret garden for your big day if you’re looking for a stunning venue where the staff ensure you won’t have to worry about a thing.

I recently attended a family wedding here on Friday 25th August. The day from start to finish was so lovely, an intimate gorgeous venue hidden away. The team of staff working that day were efficient polite and happy, as for the food it was just amazing and served promptly. Thank you all for your hard work

Lovely setting and friendly staff but drinks were ridiculously expensive even for a wedding event. Almost £5 for a can of sprite or glass of cola from the bottle was extortionate.

From our first visit to the Secret Garden in March 2019, I knew that’s where we were going to get married (regardless of the fact that we were not yet engaged!!) So when John finally popped the question, I booked us in for a visit straight away. Harry was so helpful and friendly from the get go, we felt so at ease and loved all the different areas that this venue has to offer. Throughout the next couple years of engagement, the whole team were so welcoming from visits trialling centrepieces to scheduling meetings with other suppliers on site, they were always at the end of an email or phone call to answer any questions we had and put our minds at rest. Dropping off our decorations and personal items the morning before, Josie was amazing and really put my mind at ease. We walked away very confident and had absolute trust in the team to make everything look beautiful… and boy, did they! When I arrived on the day, I was speechless. How the team managed to get inside my head and transform the Coach House into the exact Wedding of my dreams – I will never know! Two and a half years of envisioning how it would all look in my head and it was perfect, I could not fault a single thing. The rest of the day just went by like a breeze! Not once did we worry about a thing, the team were always one step ahead and we always had a drink in our hands! The food was incredible but that was never in doubt having sampled it at the menu tasting and also at a couple of pudding nights… Harry, Alisha, Josie and everyone else in the team – we cannot thank you enough for everything you did throughout the whole weekend that made it all so special and beyond our wildest dreams. We will forever be thankful to everyone involved for gifting us the most perfect day that we will treasure forever; I just want to do it all again... but John won’t let me! Natalie & John - June 2023

Great atmosphere, lovely interior and staff were very friendly.

Beautiful place with lots hidden gardens to seat peaceful should you wish too .

We had a smashing day! Felt totally confident in the team and they looked after us well. We were very chilled throughout wedding planning and knowing we had a good venue was one reason.

A amazing venue for your wedding of your dreams Beautiful gardens Wedding breakfast was fantastic

Stunning location visited the eclipse beauty school.

Fantastic venue Fantastic service!

Harry and team were absolutely amazing from our very first enquiry. It was the first wedding venue we saw and we immediately knew it was where we wanted to hold our special day. Harry was an amazing coordinator and was wonderful all through out offering support and guidance where we needed it and was exceptional on the day. The day ran seamlessly, my husband and I could relax and enjoy the day and night knowing that the SG team had it handled. Maz was phenomenal, always making sure we had a drink in our hand and had some time to ourselves if we wanted it. Thank you so much to everyone at the Secret Garden for the perfect day! Gemma & Chris - April 2023

Beautiful venue, the garden was lovely. Attended a wedding there, staff looked after all the guests well, the food was delicious too!

Thank you for looking after our family on my Daughter and Son In Laws wedding day. The service was wonderful and given with happiness. Your location is absolutely beautiful and we were very blessed to have such a lovely day. The day could not have been better, Thank you from The Kerrs and The Andersons ❤️

Thank you for looking after our family on my Daughter and Son In Laws wedding day. The service was wonderful and given with happiness. Your location is absolutely beautiful and we were very blessed to have such a lovely day. The day could not have been better, Thank you from The Kerrs and The Andersons ❤️

Fabulous wedding venue. Excellent staff who do a superb job.

Love this place, lovely wedding venue. Staff are really attentive and catered for our every needs. Food was excellent ,drinks reasonably priced. Recommended.

Love it here! Foods always great. We recently enquired about hiring a room and they got back to me straight away. Would 100% recommend for a wedding or a relaxed baby shower. The gardens are stunning.

If we could give you 10 stars we would. Alisha and her team smashed it, we had a perfect day that was relaxed but seamless. Every single staff member was charming, the food was incredible and from our first viewing to our big day they made us feel confident that they could pull it off (which they really did). If you're looking for a perfect wedding spot, you've found it. Thank you so so much guys!

We just had the best time playing back-to-back gigs at the Secret Garden in May 2023. Let us tell you, it's the perfect spot for your Kent wedding venue - from exceptional staff to delicious food, warm hospitality, and an ambiance that sets the perfect vibe. If you're looking for a stunning Kent wedding venue, look no further! Trust us, you won't be disappointed!

Wonderful intimate wedding venue with beautiful garden.

A fantastic wedding venue and tearoom located just outside Ashford. Weddings can be hosted inside the main tea room and they have had some in a marquee outside. The staff are very friendly and nothing is too much trouble for them. The drinks and cake are amazing, well worth a visit. It's located just off the A20 and there's plenty of parking available.

My daughter and son in law had the most wonderful wedding here . It was a beautiful and amazing day and the staff couldn't have been more helpful and friendly. Thank you to everyone .

From the main road you might pass this little gem.. a small but very nice venue. Helpful staff and a lovely garden area.

The Secret Garden is one of a number of independent trading units in a rural business centre called the Courtyard. Masses of car parking but arriving in the dark the lighting and signage could be much better. I had to drop into the en site beautician to ask the way. The Secret Garden is a smallish venue but for a small wedding or a party it would be fine. Clean and tidy with decent WCs. The meal which we needed to pre-book was very good and apparently all cooked fresh. The management and waiting staff were well trained and helpful. So no real negatives. A good venue particularly if you happen to live within easy travel distance of its East Kent location.

We couldn't have hoped for a better evening out. The food was delicious, staff were great, helpful and friendly, and the setting was cute and quirky. A real mix of people and age groups. You were given a choice of two dinners and the choice of 7 puddings. You could go back as many times as you wanted to get more pudding, choosing whatever you wanted. The quiz was fun and got everyone talking. This would make a great present.

I just wanted to say a huge thank you for making our wedding last week so special and everything we could have wished it to be and more. Harry and the team were exceptional! Nothing was too much trouble and the whole day ran so smoothly. We had the most perfect, relaxed wedding that we had dreamed of, in the most stunning gardens, thanks to you all. The beautiful drinks set up and lawn games were very popular and everyone said the food was amazing! There is nothing we would have changed. Thank you

beautiful place gardens are wonderful . the only thing that was wrong you could not stay ,if they had rooms it would be better for people

Amazing Place for my hen do and amazing food lovely staff wish I could do this day all over again I need another event so I can come back. Drinks was always offered we was never left with no drinks.stunning gardens very clean every where and a lovely atmosphere. 10/10 secret garden thanks very much for the most lovely 3 hours wish it was longer. Also a blue tooth speaker is a nice touch so could play my music. There’s also some comfy sofas in the glass house if you want to sit off the table for a few minutes x

Wonderful. 2nd visit and definitely plan to go again

Service was ok, slow to bring drinks out. Pricing of the tea bit excessive, alternative afternoon teas are available if you pre book them but no where on the website does it suggest that. Turning up to get the standard menu is a poor offer! Wrong postcode on confirmation email so ended up 4 miles out from venue

Very nice afternoon tea. Went there with my mum. Really enjoyed it. Lovely gardens too.

What a beautiful place! Lovely garden, gorgeous decor and nice tea and food. I liked being able to pick different teas for the afternoon tea as it’s often just breakfast tea. It’s not cheap but the price is worth it for the atmosphere, setting and decor

Afternoon tea here was amazing! The staff were really nice and friendly and it was an overall lovely afternoon.

Lovely afternoon tea. Very friendly service and staff.

60th birthday celebration, had lovely time and staff were very helpful and friendly.

Amazing afternoon tea! Savoury and sweet offerings were all thoroughly enjoyed. Wonderful service and atmosphere.

Got over charged.Very expensive.Lovely surroundings thou.

Lovely location with excellent service and a nice afternoon tea with good variety of sandwiches, scones, cakes etc.

Lovely place. Food good, staff friendly and accommodating.

The Secret Garden is beautiful! The food was delicious and the service outstanding, definitely a must visit.

Wasn’t the best finger sarnies tbh and scones were really dry.. had specific dietary request…. Then we had to move as the table was booked for a later guest but it was ok

Fantastic afternoon tea. Great experience. Lovely ambience.

Totally enjoyable experience. The food was beautiful, well presented. Everything was freshly prepared. Staff were very friendly and attentive, but not intrusive. A joy to sit enjoying good food leisurely without feeling hurried. Will certainly be returning.

The egg sandwiches were so salty which was a shame, maybe don't put salt in them. Also I feel the price was way too high for what you got.

Found the egg sandwiches and sausage rolls too salty. Not a very good selection of sandwiches. Cakes were mostly chocolate. Wasn't asked if we would like our tea refreshed at all.

The staff were very friendly, polite and helpful. The food was really lovely. Great atmosphere and settings.

Great afternoon tea. Helpful and friendly staff. Would recommend

Lovely surroundings and nice and airey inside Good value for money and good selection Will definately go again and sit in the garden in the Summer

We attended our friends wedding on 17th February. The venue is excellent. The food was exceedingly good. We had roast beef, which was out of this world. Staff very attentive and created a lovely ambiance.

Great location, excellent quality and wonderful staff. One of the best places for an afternoon tea in Kent.

Lovely atmosphere in a beautiful setting. Attentive staff and a tasty afternoon tea. Our personal favourite place for afternoon tea in the Ashford area. Thankyou

Food was good, brown bread slightly on the turn (must have been made 1st), overall enjoyed the experience

As always the Secret Garden food and service was fantastic, will be a shame though if they close for afternoon tea to just focus on weddings etc.

Such a lovely afternoon tea. The food was delicious and the staff we're attentive and made our time there truly wonderful. Cannot recommend enough!

Belated birthday treat from my partner. Had a lovely afternoon tea. Everything was delicious and the staff were lovely

Service wasn't great even though there were quite a few members of staff. They all walk around not looking around to see if people need anything so waited ages for a drink. We had prosecco and it was really flat. Cucumber and cream cheese sandwich was tasteless. Sausage roll meat very dry. Mini puddings on afternoon tea were nice.

took my wife for an afternoon tea. superb service. and great food. too much to eat so we get more the next day

We love their afternoon teas. I hope they keep running these, as this is the best place in Kent for then (in my opinion).

We went for afternoon tea (1 x veggie, 1 x meat eater) for a special birthday and it was the best afternoon tea I’ve had by far. Everything was freshly prepared and tasted as good as it looked. More than enough to fill you up with leftovers!!

Whilst we enjoyed our trip and enjoyed our food and aervice I felt the price was quite a lot for what we had My main issue was that it was a bit dirty, it felt that they were understaffed and couldn't keep up with clearing tables and the bathroom.

My husband and I were treated to an afternoon tea by our children and it was, quite honestly, the best afternoon tea I have had. We opted for the Gentleman's Relish selection and it was beautiful. The goat's cheese and caramelised onion scone was to die for. The scone was so light. There were also sausage rolls, quiche, mackerel pate (delicious!) as well as the usual sandwiches and sweet scones. The staff were friendly, attentive, without being intrusive and our teapot was kept replenished with fresh, hot tea. Would not hesitate in recommending a visit and we will certainly be going again.

Fantastic place! Loved the afternoon tea it was great! Staff very attentive.

Me and my guest both enjoyed our afternoon tea. The venue was very quiet but the service was good.

Invited mum for an afternoon tea. Gorgeous venue but food super underwhelming- especially the savouries. Sandwiches were so bland like for a fussy toddler, scones too hard and almost crusty. Had Earl Grey for tea, felt a bit weak. I would go there again for a stroll not food. The Prosecco we ordered separately, was very good!

A really lovely experience for my 21st birthday with the staff going above and beyond to make it even more special!

Was a lovely afternoon tea overall but was quite expensive for what the adults get but the teddy bear teas were great. Thought the scones were a bit dry and small given I’m a baker could of been double drop scones no butter with the scones and clotted cream was sparse. And sandwiches were minimal but fresh

Excellent value for money, food was lovely too (sausage rolls and cheese straws are delicious!). The kid afternoon tea is brilliant.

Really nice setting and the afternoon tea was delicious

Really yummy afternoon tea with a good variety of things! Went for my mum’s 60th birthday and they brought out a nice surprise birthday treat for her which was a lovely touch thank you 😊

Fabulous setting and surroundings, delicious variety of food and a great overall experience. We will most definitely be going back again.

Service and food was very good, maybe just a little overpriced.

Extremely lovely experience. Especially good for people with allergies. Myself and daughter are dairy free and felt very well looked after. It was a proper afternoon tea for everyone!!! Thoroughly recommended.

Excellent food and great service. All staff are very friendly a d ready to help

Our experience was outstanding. The service was very friendly and also personal. The food was well displayed and most delicious. A long way for us to go but we’ll worth it.

We've visited before, but this time took the children along too for the children's afternoon tea. The food and effort put into the children's offering was wonderful! Great service, delicious food. Thank you

A large group of us had afternoon tea as part of a baby shower celebration at The Secret Garden recently. The overall experience was excellent. The two members of staff that looked after us - Hayley & Aiden we’re faultless. Both attentive and friendly and...

Enjoyed Afternoon Tea that was absolutely fantastic. Delicious food that was beautifully presented and thoroughly enjoyed. Service was excellent, attentive but not intrusive. Ambience was warm and inviting. Would highly recommend The Secret Garden.