Step into history at The Rose and Crown Hotel, a stunning 14th century wedding venue in Colchester. With centuries of romance in every oak beam, your wedding will be set in one of the most unique and enchanting locations you could imagine.
Just behind the hotel you’ll also find our beautiful ‘secret garden’ – a hidden gem that’s perfect for outdoor wedding ceremonies, your wedding photographs, and those quiet, unforgettable moments.
Join us on Sunday 1st February 2026 to see our stunning 14th century hotel set up for a wedding, while enjoying a complimentary glass of bubbles and canapés.
From your first visit through to your big day, we’ll make the planning process as stress-free as possible, so you can relax and enjoy every moment.
You’ll be in the safe hands of our expert wedding team, who have worked on over 500 weddings in the last 10 years alone.
Learn about our wedding packages
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The staff were all so lovely and it was clear they went above and beyond to ensure our day was as perfect as it could be.
Emma & Darren
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Say ‘I do’ in our romantic Oak Room, which accommodates up to 100 guests. With its original beams, character details, and centuries of history, your ceremony will be set in a space that makes every photograph unforgettable.
As a licensed wedding venue in Colchester since 1996, you have the option of holding your marriage ceremony and reception in the same wedding venue.
If you’ve always dreamed of an outdoor wedding, our beautiful ‘secret garden’ offers the perfect setting, and can accommodate outdoor wedding ceremonies for up to 80 guests.
Tucked away behind the hotel, it’s an idyllic spot for you to exchange vows, with the convenience of the hotel just a few steps away. And we’ll always reserve our indoor ceremony room ready as a wet weather option for you.
We’ve put together our most popular decorations into one simple and stress-free package, to give your wedding ceremony the wow factor.
Our package includes:
Your wedding breakfast will be held in our Rose Suite, which seats up to 80 guests and can cater for up to 100 guests in the evening. With its own entrance, toilets and dance floor, it’s completely self-contained for your celebration.
Need more space for your special day? We can open the partition doors into the Oak Room, creating one large suite for up to 160 guests for both your wedding breakfast and evening reception.
Tucked away behind the hotel is the ‘secret garden’ – your peaceful escape where you can enjoy a quiet moment together, let guests enjoy the surroundings or capture timeless photographs with all your loved-ones.
It’s a wonderful space that adds charm and calm to your wedding celebrations.
We can host up to 160 guests for your wedding breakfast, giving you plenty of space to celebrate with all your loved ones.
Your menu will be prepared by our talented team of chefs, who are passionate about creating delicious dishes that are beautifully presented, using the finest and freshest ingredients.
Before your big day, we’ll invite you for a tasting to make sure that any special requests are all taken care of.
And our menus are just a starting point; if there’s something that you’d like for your wedding breakfast then we’re always happy to adapt to suit your tastes.
Request our brochure if you’d like to see our wedding menus.
Your evening reception is all about relaxing and enjoying the company of your favourite people. It’s the perfect way to round off your wedding day in style.
Dance the night away with your guests, enjoy freshly prepared evening food and chill out in our ‘secret garden’.
With space for up to 160 guests, your evening reception will be the perfect ending to a truly magical day.
As our gift to you, you’ll enjoy a complimentary stay on your first night as a married couple, with the option to upgrade to one of our stunning four poster bedrooms.
Your guests can also stay the night in one of our 39 unique bedrooms, offered at a special discounted rate.
The celebrations can continue into the morning with a delicious cooked breakfast before you all head home.
Our three wedding packages (and two evening options) have everything you need for your special day. And of course, if you have any specific requirements, please speak to our friendly wedding team as we can tailor any of our packages to suit your individual needs. It’s your wedding day after all.
Venue hire – Wedding breakfast & reception room hire*
Welcome drink – Buck’s Fizz or orange juice
Wedding breakfast – Three course wedding breakfast
Wine with meal – A glass of wine for each guest
Toast drink – A glass of sparkling wine for each guest
Evening reception – Bacon & mushroom baps
| Sunday – Thursday |
Friday | Saturday (and Bank Holiday Sunday) |
|||||||
| 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | |
| May-Oct | £3,550 | £3,900 | £4,250 | £3,890 | 4,240 | £4,590 | £4,290 | £4,640 | £4,990 |
| Nov-Apr | £3,250 | £3,600 | £3,950 | £3,590 | £3,940 | £4,290 | £3,990 | £4,340 | £4,690 |
* Ceremony room hire is £500.
Upgrade your evening food to a six item finger buffet for £16.50pp (£18.50 from 2027 and £20.50 from 2028).
£50pp for additional wedding breakfast guests (up to 100 guests). £55 from 2027 & £60 from 2028.
£11pp for additional evening guests (up to 160 guests). £13 from 2027 & £15 from 2028.
Add a DJ for £350
Venue hire – Ceremony, wedding breakfast & reception room hire
Welcome drink – A glass of prosecco or aperol spritz per guest
Wedding breakfast – Four course wedding breakfast
Wine with meal – Two glasses of wine per guest
Toast drink – A glass of prosecco per guest
Evening reception – Six item finger buffet
| Sunday – Thursday |
Friday | Saturday (and Bank Holiday Sunday) |
|||||||
| 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | |
| May-Oct | £6,320 | £6,780 | £7,240 | £6,720 | £7,180 | £7,640 | £7,120 | £7,580 | £8,040 |
| Nov-Apr | £6,020 | £6,480 | £6,940 | £6,420 | £6,880 | £7,340 | £6,820 | £7,280 | £7,740 |
£75pp for additional wedding breakfast guests (up to 100 guests). £80 from 2027 & £85 from 2028.
£27pp for additional evening guests (up to 160 guests). £30 from 2027 & £33 from 2028.
Children’s package available for £26 per child up to 10 years old. £28 per child from 2027 & £30 from 2028.
Venue hire – Ceremony, wedding breakfast & reception room hire
Welcome drink – Unlimited drinks station for 90 minutes with prosecco
Wedding breakfast – Four course wedding breakfast
Wine with meal – Three glasses of wine per guest
Toast drink – A glass of champagne per guest
Evening reception – Six item finger buffet
| Sunday – Thursday |
Friday | Saturday (and Bank Holiday Sunday) |
|||||||
| 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | |
| May-Oct | £10,330 | £10,790 | £11,250 | £10,730 | £11,190 | £11,650 | £11,130 | £11,590 | £12,050 |
| Nov-Apr | £10,030 | £10,490 | £10,950 | £10,430 | £10,890 | £11,350 | £10,830 | £11,290 | £11,750 |
£130pp for additional wedding breakfast guests (up to 100 guests). £135 from 2027 & £140 from 2028.
£27pp for additional evening guests (up to 160 guests). £30 from 2027 & £33 from 2028.
Children’s package available for £26 per child up to 10 years old. £28 per child from 2027 & £30 from 2028.
Perfect for a late afternoon ceremony, followed by relaxed dining and an evening party.
Venue hire – Ceremony & reception room hire from 3pm
Welcome drink – A glass of prosecco or orange juice per guest
Canapés – Four canapés per guest
Evening reception – Six item finger buffet
Toast drink – A glass of prosecco per guest
| Sunday – Thursday |
Friday | Saturday (and Bank Holiday Sunday) |
||||||
| 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 |
| £4,550 | £4,850 | £5,150 | £4,950 | £5,250 | £5,550 | £5,350 | £5,650 | £5,950 |
Our Twilight Wedding Package requires a minimum of 50 guests.
£60pp for additional guests (up to 160 guests). £65 from 2027 & £70 from 2028.
Perfect if you’re getting married elsewhere and want to join us later to celebrate with food, drinks and dancing.
Venue hire – Evening room hire from 5pm
Welcome drink – A Buck’s Fizz or orange juice per guest
Evening reception – Six item finger buffet
| Sunday – Thursday |
Friday – Saturday (and Bank Holiday Sunday) | ||
| 2026 | 2027 | 2026 | 2027 |
| £3,239 | £3,445 | £3,489 | £3,695 |
Sunday to Thursday dates can be booked up to 12 months in advance
Friday and Saturday dates can be booked up to 6 months in advance
Our Evening Only Wedding Package requires a minimum of 50 guests
£42pp for additional guests (up to 160 guests), £47 from 2027
Choose any weekend date in the next 12 months and enjoy weekday prices! Your dream wedding is now closer than ever! We have availability in the following months, get in touch to request a full list of dates.
| SILVER | GOLD | DIAMOND | |
| Jan 2026 | £3,250 (usually £3,990) |
£6,020 (usually £6,820) |
£10,030 (usually £10,830) |
| Feb 2026 | £3,250 (usually £3,990) |
£6,020 (usually £6,820) |
£10,030 (usually £10,830) |
| Mar 2026 | £3,250 (usually £3,990) |
£6,020 (usually £6,820) |
£10,030 (usually £10,830) |
| Apr 2026 | £3,250 (usually £3,990) |
£6,020 (usually £6,820) |
£10,030 (usually £10,830) |
| May 2026 | £3,550 (usually £4,290) |
£6,320 (usually £7,120) |
£10,330 (usually £11,130) |
| Jun 2026 | £3,550 (usually £4,290) |
£6,320 (usually £7,120) |
£10,330 (usually £11,130) |
| Jul 2026 | £3,550 (usually £4,290) |
£6,320 (usually £7,120) |
£10,330 (usually £11,130) |
| Aug 2026 | £3,550 (usually £4,290) |
£6,320 (usually £7,120) |
£10,330 (usually £11,130) |
| Sep 2026 | £3,550 (usually £4,290) |
£6,320 (usually £7,120) |
£10,330 (usually £11,130) |
| Oct 2026 | £3,550 (usually £4,290) |
£6,320 (usually £7,120) |
£10,330 (usually £11,130) |
| Nov 2026 | £3,250 (usually £3,990) |
£6,020 (usually £6,820) |
£10,030 (usually £10,830) |
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We couldn’t have been happier! We are so happy that we chose this venue for our special day and couldn’t recommend it enough! Secret little gem in Colchester.
Hannah & Gavin
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Come and see why we keep getting voted as one of the best wedding venues Colchester has to offer.
Simply choose a day and time from the calendar below to book a guided tour with our wedding team. Come and enjoy a complimentary glass of fizz and start planning your perfect day.
Thank you. Your wedding brochure will be with you shortly.
If you don't receive an email, please check your spam/junk folder (and mark as 'not spam').
We could not have been happier with the team and the venue. Food was fabulous everyone commented too. Venue rooms were beautiful. staff were excellent Kay and her team for the reception went the extra mile to make the day and evening go so well. Tatiana and the reception team were so accommodating and made sure everyone was taken care of. Mario and the bar staff couldn't do enough for us and if you're interested for a wedding there Sue just makes it all happen. With such a historic building it has its quirks but that is part of its charm. Definitely will return for the food!!!
Wonderful wedding
We had the most wonderful wedding day at this lovely venue. The team were marvellous. The food was delicious and we would not hesitate to recommend the Rose and Crown to anybody searching for the perfect venue.
Jan Garrett & Vince Plumb
We had our Wedding at this hotel. Absolutely brilliant location and the staff were unbelievable, made us feel special on our big day. A massive thanks to Lisa who helped us for nearly 2 years of preparation.
Chris & Abby Porter
Gary and I are most grateful to the Rose and Crown for hosting our wedding. We had a brilliant day and have only praise to offer the Rose and Crown in the run up to and during our wedding.
Natalie & Gary Ward
Thank you for such a wonderful day; everyone did an amazing job helping us out. It went so smoothly and every single person, to the waiting and bar staff were brilliant!
Nikita & Chris Cooper
Celebrated our wedding at the Rose & Crown and couldn't have picked a better venue. The wedding organiser was wonderful, the food was amazing and nothing was too much trouble.
Sue Fisher
If you’re looking for an award-winning wedding venue in Colchester, with an award-winning wedding team, The Rose and Crown Hotel is the perfect choice. We’re here to help you create your dream wedding.
Best Western The Rose and Crown Hotel
East Street, Colchester,
Essex, CO1 2TZ
We’re located just outside Colchester city centre, five miles from Colchester Zoo and a 15 minute walk from Colchester Castle.
Do we have to pay any room hire for our wedding?
If you book a wedding package at The Rose and Crown Hotel Colchester, the room hire is included. Otherwise the cost depends on the day of week and time of year.
Do you ever hold more than one wedding per day?
No. You are guaranteed to be our only wedding on the day and can expect our full attention on your special day.
Do you allow outside caterers?
The Rose and Crown Hotel Colchester will only allow catering provided by its own chef and cannot allow any outside catering either from professional caterers or family members.
Can we bring our own wine and champagne to the wedding breakfast or reception?
No
What time does the wedding reception have to finish?
All wedding parties will finish at 12am latest. However, any wedding guests staying in the hotel will be able to purchase drinks from our bar after this time.
Can we provide our own entertainment?
Yes. We’d be happy to recommend some excellent entertainment options for you who we’ve worked with previously. If you choose your own, you’ll need to complete relevant health and safety forms and provide PAT testing/insurance documentation.
Can wedding parties be on different board basis?
Wedding guests would usually all be staying bed & breakfast.
Can we bring our own recorded music? if yes, which devices can be used?
Yes, we can accommodate various devices such as CDs, iPod, phones etc. Please speak to us in advance so that we can check and confirm.
Are dogs or other pets allowed to be part of my wedding?
Unfortunately we only allow guide dogs in our hotel.
When do you need to know final wedding guest numbers?
Please confirm this with us at least one month before your wedding day.
When does the deposit need to be paid?
To confirm your booking, we will require a non-refundable deposit of £750. Six months prior to your wedding day we will require 50% of your total price. Full payment must be made 30 days before your wedding.
When does the full balance need to be paid?
The full balance for your wedding needs to be paid 30 days before your wedding day.
What days can I get married at the hotel?
You can hold your wedding at The Rose and Crown Colchester on any day of the week.
How many people can you sit in the marriage ceremony?
Our wedding ceremonies can accommodate up to 100 guests.
What time can you have the marriage ceremony?
Your wedding ceremony can take place at any time.
I want to supply my own chair covers and table decorations, is this possible?
Yes
Am I allowed to bring in additional services such as sweet cart, photo booth, casino tables for the evening etc?
Yes. You’ll need to complete relevant health and safety forms and provide insurance documentation.
Can my photographer visit the venue prior to the wedding day?
Yes, this is a great idea so that they can become familiar with the hotel if they’ve not photographed here before. Please ask them to contact us in advance so that we can give them the time and attention they need for their visit.
Are there any discounts for my guests staying at the hotel?
Yes, we offer a preferential room rate for all your wedding guests. Please get in touch for more details.
When can my guests book their accommodation?
Your wedding guests can book as soon as your wedding day is booked.
Can we hire out the whole hotel exclusively?
Yes, more or less. The only area of the hotel that can’t be booked exclusively is the Tudor Bar Brasserie, as this is always open to the public.
Is there parking for my guests?
We have 35 parking spaces in our hotel which are first come first served. You’ll find FREE on-street parking from 6pm-8am in the surrounding area. The nearest public car park is Priory Street Car Park, which is a 13 minute walk from our hotel. You’ll also enjoy great public transport links as we’re close to Colchester town centre. Feel free to ask us about this, we’ll be happy to give you some recommendations.
Does the venue allow confetti to be thrown?
Yes
Are lit candles allowed in the venue?
Yes, candles are fine to use at your wedding.
Do you have access for disabled guests?
Yes
Can we set up the day before?
We always try to accommodate this request, but you’ll need to check closer to your wedding date as we may have another function the day before.
Learn about our packages and prices. Plus, you'll receive our '30 questions to ask your venue' guide.
Request digital brochure