Pelham House

Our guests are still talking about the setting, the food and the warm atmosphere. The ceiling as you enter is breathtaking, and the whole venue is stunning. We knew on our first visit that Pelham House was the right place for our wedding, and the day was everything we’d hoped for and more. Danielle was our events manager and a superstar from the beginning. She was organised, calm and clearly passionate about her work. She made us feel at ease during planning and on the day, keeping things running behind the scenes so we could relax and enjoy ourselves. Jonny, the bar manager, was also incredible, always checking in and making sure we had what we needed. His kindness and attention to detail really stood out. The team took care of every detail and made planning feel easy and stress-free. We’re so grateful to Pelham House for the memories we’ll cherish forever.

The main meal was the letdown. We agreed on a customised East Asian style dinner with the chef, but the Pad Thai, Nasi Goreng and Rojak salad were dry, bland, colourless and looked carelessly plated. We weren’t expecting full authenticity from a Thai chef, but it didn’t meet the standard Pelham advertises. The starter and side sauces, satay tofu and spring roll with raita and sambal, were very good in taste and presentation. If not for the food, this would have been five stars. We held our reception here after the ceremony at the Grange Gardens register office. The venue and gardens were very pretty, and everything was well executed on the day. Staff were excellent and well organised, and Beth made things easy for us. Johnny managed the bar well, was friendly, and the cocktails and welcome drinks were tasty. The accommodation was comfortable and spacious, and the complimentary champagne and card were a nice touch. They were accommodating about the games and Indian sweets we wanted to bring. Planning meetings were useful, and everyone was friendly and knowledgeable, though we could sometimes have been given more guidance on what to prepare. A few requests to customise the reception didn’t work out, including getting the Harvey's beer we wanted despite it being available locally, and some food suggestions we were told weren’t possible. Those limits were explained early and clearly, so that wasn’t a big problem. There was also a miscommunication about allergy requirements a week before the wedding, which should have been handled by Pelham earlier, but we met and got it sorted.

The food was amazing, especially the canapes. So many people told us it was the best wedding food they’d ever had, and the clean plates going back to the kitchen said it all. Emily was a lovely coordinator and kept the day moving perfectly. Staff also dealt with a few things behind the scenes so smoothly that we only heard about them the next day. Pelham House was the second venue we saw, and although we had a couple more viewings booked, we knew it was for us. The house and gardens are naturally beautiful throughout, not just in the main rooms. It’s an ideal spot, about an hour from London, and although it’s central in Lewes, the set-back building and gardens make it feel removed from town. The hire, food, drinks and rooms were very good value, and the bar prices were reasonable, around just outside London prices for pints. The one thing I’d change is the very overpriced six-pack of beers for the groomsmen before the wedding. I hope they reconsider that. Pelham helped us have the perfect day, and I couldn’t recommend it more.

Guests kept complimenting the wedding, with some saying it was the best they’d been to. The food was the biggest talking point and was outstanding, including thoughtful options for dietary needs that made our vegetarian guests happy. The wood-fired pizzas in the evening went down a treat too. We fell for Pelham House at our first visit. It’s stunning inside and set in a beautiful historic location. Everything is handled in house, from food and drinks to coordination and accommodation, and it’s exclusively a wedding venue. We didn’t find another venue in Sussex that could offer that. Dani and the team were responsive and friendly for the nearly three years of planning, and we never had to chase anyone. Our dream day was everything we hoped for and more. It was the best day of our lives, and we didn’t want it to end. Pelham House will always mean a lot to us. A huge thank you to Dani and the team. If you want an incredible wedding day, this is the venue.