A wedding and events venue in Minster has been named as the Hospitality and Events Start Up of the Year at the StartUp Awards South East finals.
Chapel House Estate is a luxury, family-run wedding and events venue based at a 732-year-old chapel and surrounded by 35 acres of land.
The site opened at the end of July 2022 and has fast become a popular destination for couples to wed.
Built by owner Darren Ellis, Chapel House Estate is in a lovingly converted old malt granary with a sympathetically restored 13th century chapel which now boasts five-bedrooms of accommodation.
The onsite No 9 Restaurant has a changing locally sourced menu which provides catering for weddings and events, and there’s nine hideaway lodges, enabling up to 34 people to stay at the estate.
The awards, which took place on June 1, recognised Chapel House Estate for its transformation.
Darren (pictured) said: “I’m so proud of everything my team and I have achieved in such a short space of time. This award goes to everyone involved in the project from contractors to front and back of house staff.
“I feel very proud to open such a beautiful venue and to become a custodian of such a charming, precious and ancient Grade II listed flint and stone-built building now made available with some serious investment for weddings, events and stays.
“We can’t wait to welcome you to our now award-winning best wedding and events venue in Thanet.”
Chapel House Estate has gardens and a wild apple orchard for outdoor licenced ceremonies where couples can choose to marry outside. They can also opt for the converted Old Malt Granary and then party in the Thorne Barn which has capacity for up to 150 seated guests or 200 standing.
Professor Dylan Jones-Evans OBE, creator of the awards said: “In the second year of the South East StartUp Awards, we have seen yet again the incredible contribution of new businesses to job creation, innovation, and prosperity across the whole of this entrepreneurial nation.
“It’s been an honour and a pleasure to read the stories of those individuals from across the South East who have spotted the opportunity and taken the risk to launch their own venture, especially at a time when the economy is still fragile after the Covid pandemic.”
Find out more at: https://chapelhouseestate.co.uk/
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Would this be Mr Ellis of the building company Ellis the builders who has/had a £1m home on Westgate Sea Front. ?
thats him !
The online restaurant reviews are pretty lousy (Bisto gravy!). Otherwise, I’d be tempted.
I’m not sure what reviews you have been reading but on Google all 53 reviews are 5.0 which is extremely unusual. I’m certainly going to give it a try for breakfast one morning…
https://www.opentable.co.uk/r/no-9-restaurant-chapel-drive
OK, 4.5 stars average, but that food doesn’t look particularly appetising (who puts boiled vegetables on top of roast potatoes?!).
I wonder if DJ Ellis Construction built it.