Leven Is Strijd

There is a sense of timeless beauty along the peaceful waterways of Kent, where The Leven is Strijd, a historic Dutch barge, lies quietly moored. Surrounded by reed-fringed banks, migrating birds, and wide open skies, the setting draws you in, inviting you to slow down and simply be.

Tucked between two quiet villages and resting on five acres of countryside, this riverside venue sits along the ancient Saxon Shore Way on the banks of the River Medway. The natural, untouched surroundings offer a sense of space and stillness that feels far from everyday life.

From mid-April to late September, The Leven is Strijd hosts 24 exclusive Friday weddings-each one unique, with careful attention to every detail. For those drawn to the warmth of winter celebrations, four festive dates are offered in December: three Saturdays leading up to Christmas and one close to New Year’s Eve.

This is a place for weddings that are small in size but rich in meaning, where every couple is given the time and space they deserve.

Your ceremony begins at 4 pm beneath a Bedouin-style stretch tent, where vows are exchanged in an atmosphere that balances quiet elegance with relaxed charm. The ceremony space, open to the beauty of the outdoors yet softly sheltered, sets the tone for the rest of the day.

After the formalities, this same space becomes the setting for drinks and canapés, as conversation flows and the first moments of married life unfold.

Evening brings a gentle shift in pace. The Leven is Strijd becomes the heart of the celebration-a warm and intimate space for dining and toasting. With soft lighting and timeless interiors, the barge offers a setting that is both welcoming and understated, allowing the people and the moment to shine.

Dinner gives way to heartfelt speeches and shared laughter, with guests free to linger over drinks, whether gathered around the table or back beneath the open stretch tent beneath the night sky.

There is the freedom to shape your dining experience aboard the Leven. Couples are invited to select caterers from a trusted list of preferred suppliers-teams who understand the barge, its space, and how to deliver an exceptional service within it. Should you have something particular in mind, alternative catering options can be discussed. The venue remains flexible, allowing you to create the day you’ve imagined.

The Leven is Strijd is more than its setting. This is a place where sustainability is quietly woven into every detail. A lovingly restored Dutch barge, it reflects a thoughtful approach-repurposed, solar-powered in part, and designed using reclaimed and natural materials.

A light environmental footprint guides every choice. Couples are encouraged to make low-impact decisions, from selecting seasonal catering options to using eco-friendly materials and practising responsible water use. The result is a wedding that treads gently without compromise.

The surrounding area holds quiet charm. Set near the village of Upchurch and close to the Medway Estuary, the venue offers glimpses of Kent’s maritime past and its rural character. For those discovering this part of Kent for the first time, it is a place of stillness, beauty, and space to simply be.

Though the venue feels a world apart, it remains easily reached. Rainham (Kent) Station, with its high-speed trains to London, lies just ten minutes away. For those arriving by road, the M2, M20, and A2 are all within close proximity, making travel straightforward for guests from anywhere.