Five years ago, Abbots Court was a small countryside B&B with big ambitions. Today, we're celebrating being named Wedding Venue of the Year at the Dorset Tourism Awards 2026, our second Gold award and a rather special moment in our story.
On Thursday 22nd October, our team had the pleasure of attending the Dorset Tourism Awards, where we were absolutely delighted to take home Gold for Wedding Venue of the Year.
It's an incredible honour to be recognised amongst some of the best wedding venues in Dorset, particularly when we think back to where it all began.
For our directors, Simon Brooks and James Maidment, the award represents five years of hard work, ambitious renovations, plenty of lessons along the way and a shared belief in what Abbots Court could become.
And for the rest of our team, it's a lovely reminder of just how far we've come together.
It all started with a B&B and a big idea…
Back in 2021, while the world was still finding its feet following the Covid pandemic, Simon and James were busy imagining a different future for Abbots Court.
They had a beautiful old Victorian property, six acres of Dorset countryside and a vision to create somewhere couples could celebrate their wedding in a way that felt completely their own.
Not simply a venue for a few hours, but somewhere families and friends could come together, stay a little longer and make some wonderful memories.
Of course, turning that dream into reality was another matter entirely.
Over the following five years, Abbots Court underwent an extensive transformation. The Victorian house was lovingly renovated, the gardens and grounds were brought back to life, and the Stables and Wedding Pavilion were developed into the beautiful celebration spaces our couples enjoy today.
What began as a project led by just two people gradually grew into a thriving wedding venue, supported by a brilliant team who have helped shape every part of the experience.
Along the way, we've welcomed hundreds of couples, enjoyed five fully booked wedding seasons and watched Abbots Court become one of Dorset's most sought-after countryside wedding venues.
Looking back, it's quite remarkable what five years can bring.
As Simon puts it:
"When James and I started this journey during Covid, we had a B&B, a beautiful old property and a lot of ideas about what it could become. I don't think either of us could have imagined quite how far we'd come in five years.
"We've put an enormous amount of time, energy and love into Abbots Court. We've renovated buildings, transformed gardens, welcomed hundreds of couples and, most importantly, built a brilliant team of people who care about this place as much as we do.
"To now be celebrating our second Dorset Tourism Awards Gold is something we're incredibly proud of. It's lovely to see how far we've come, but the real reward is seeing couples and their families enjoying everything we've worked so hard to create."
A wedding venue that's become so much more…
One of the loveliest parts of watching Abbots Court grow has been seeing how couples have made the place their own.
Over the years, our Walled Garden has hosted countless beautiful ceremonies, our Pavilion has been filled with wedding speeches, laughter and dancing, and the Stables have provided the backdrop to some wonderfully intimate celebrations.
Our Victorian house has welcomed nervous brides and grooms getting ready for their big day, families coming together for the first time in years and newlyweds waking up to their first morning as a married couple.
It's these moments that make Abbots Court so much more than a collection of beautiful buildings and gardens.
We've always wanted to create a relaxed, welcoming wedding venue where couples can feel at home and enjoy every part of their celebrations. Somewhere they can take their time, spend a whole weekend with the people they love and make memories that go well beyond the wedding day itself.
Seeing that original vision come to life, wedding after wedding, has been incredibly rewarding.
Christina & Charlie celebrate our victory
The people who make it all happen…
While our countryside setting and historic buildings might be what first bring couples through the gates, we like to think it's our people who make the Abbots Court experience so special.
From the first enquiry and venue viewing to the final preparations on the wedding morning, there's an enormous amount of work that goes on behind the scenes.
Our wedding coordinators, hospitality team, housekeepers, gardeners, maintenance team and estate management all play their part, alongside the fantastic local wedding suppliers we're lucky enough to work with.
It's a genuine team effort, and something we're incredibly proud of.
For Christina and Charlie, who spend so much of their time getting to know our couples and helping them plan their celebrations, the award feels particularly special.
"We're absolutely over the moon to have won Gold! We all put so much love and care into every wedding, so to receive this recognition really does mean the world to us.
"One of the things we love most about what we do is getting to know our couples and being part of such a special time in their lives. From that very first conversation, when we start helping them picture their wedding at Abbots Court, to bringing all those ideas and dreams to life on the day itself, we're there every step of the way.
"The loveliest feedback we receive is when couples tell us how looked after they've felt from beginning to end. For us, there's nothing better than seeing our couples on their wedding day, completely relaxed, surrounded by the people they love and simply enjoying every moment."
And really, that sums up what we've always hoped Abbots Court would be.
A beautiful place to get married, of course, but more importantly, somewhere couples feel genuinely cared for.
Two Gold awards, five wonderful years and so much to look forward to…
Winning Wedding Venue of the Year at the Dorset Tourism Awards 2026 is a moment we'll remember for a very long time.
But as we celebrate our second Gold award, we also want to take the opportunity to thank everyone who has been part of the journey.
To our wonderful team, whose hard work and dedication make everything possible. To the brilliant local suppliers who help us create such memorable weddings. And, most importantly, to the hundreds of couples who have chosen Abbots Court to celebrate one of the biggest days of their lives.
Thank you for trusting us, for sharing your special moments with us and for helping turn that original dream into something far bigger than we could ever have imagined.
With another busy wedding season ahead, we're already looking forward to welcoming more couples through our gates and continuing to make Abbots Court a place that people love.
And to think, it all started with a little B&B and a dream.
Come and discover Abbots Court for yourself
If you're recently engaged and searching for an award-winning wedding venue in Dorset, we'd love to show you around.
From our romantic Walled Garden and beautiful Wedding Pavilion to our exclusive-use Victorian house and countryside grounds, there's plenty to fall in love with.
We're currently welcoming enquiries for 2027 and 2028 weddings, with our remaining summer dates already incredibly limited.
Explore Abbots Court and arrange your wedding viewing
We can't wait to meet you.
The Abbots Court Team x