Pub managers who have hosted more than 1,000 weddings at their venue throw a huge party to celebrate 30 years in charge – with former brides turning up in GOWNS
- Janet and Philippe Sorak, from Tunbridge Wells, Kent, manage The Barn pub
- The couple recently celebrated 30 years in bus with a lavish party in the bar
- However 30 former brides and grooms who had married there turned up too
A husband and wife who have managed the same pub for 30 years held a party to celebrate threw an enormous bash to celebrate their milestone – and invited 30 couples who celebrated their wedding days at the boozer.
Some former brides even turned up to The Barn in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, in their wedding dresses to celebrate three decades of Janet and Philippe Sorak’s management.
The couple have run the venue for so long that they have seen a total of eight prime ministers move into Number 10 – and they’ve weathered the storm through several financial crises since they became general managers in 1992.
But they kept business alive when they began hosting weddings at the venue in 2011 and have now helped thousands of couples celebrate their nuptials.
Janet and Philippe Sorak, from Tunbridge Wells, Kent, who have managed the same pub for 30 years held a party to celebrate
On Sunday night, 30 of their former brides and grooms joined them as well as photographer Helen England and toastmaster Jim Cattermole for a party.
Chloe Hinson, 28, from Tunbridge Wells, was one of the brides who came in her dress, accompanied by husband Andrew, 30. The pair married at The Barn just eight weeks ago.
During the celebrations 30 former brides and grooms who had married in the pub turned up as well, and some even wore their wedding dresses
Chloe Hinson, 28, from Tunbridge Wells, was one of the brides who came in her dress, accompanied by husband Andrew, 30. The pair married at The Barn just eight weeks ago
Bev and John Smith were also present, having married there in June last year, after two postponements due to the pandemic
Ashleigh Boxshall, 36, attended in her wedding dress, with husband Jon, 39, 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.’
And Bev and John Smith were also present, having married there in June last year, after two postponements due to the pandemic.
The venue is already booked on Sundays for weddings throughout 2023.
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 dance floor 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.’