Flimwell Park

I booked Flimwell Park for a once-in-a-lifetime celebration: my friends 50th birthday. From the very first conversation, I was upfront that we would have 150 guests. The venue’s events team told me multiple times that they had hosted events of this size before and that it would not be an issue. Over several visits, we discussed and clarified every detail — from catering, drinks, and suppliers to noise policies, cleaning rules, and timings. Every point was agreed upon, we signed the contract, and I returned it in good faith. At that stage, I was simply waiting for the payment link to pay the deposit and secure the date. By then, I had already contacted decorators, booked suppliers, and committed money based on the assurance that our booking was secure. Nothing about my event or guest numbers had changed. Then, completely out of the blue, I received an email saying management had “decided not to proceed” because they were “not currently taking events of this scale.” This explanation is baffling the event scale was exactly the same as the one we discussed on day one, and they had repeatedly confirmed it was fine. This sudden reversal has left me confused, distressed, and questioning whether the decision was truly about the event size or whether other factors, including race, may have influenced it. I would like to believe otherwise, but without a clear, credible explanation, it is hard not to wonder. What should have been a joyful and exciting planning process has turned into a stressful scramble to find another venue at short notice. This has cost me time, money, and peace of mind. Flimwell Park is a beautiful venue but in my experience, beauty means nothing without integrity. If you are booking here, especially for a large celebration or as a person of colour, get everything in writing, be prepared for sudden changes, and understand that even a signed contract may not protect your booking.