The Lancaster Smokehouse

At the Lancaster Smokehouse, a wedding comes with warm hospitality, slow smoked barbecue and the stories of a building that has welcomed people for nearly two centuries.

The building began life in the 1840s as the Lancaster Hotel, serving travellers on the rail line through the old village of Bridgeport, near what is now Kitchener. It stayed a local gathering place through generations of owners and even through Prohibition.

Since 2011 it has been home to a family run smokehouse, started by a couple who spent years cooking on the competition barbecue circuit across Canada and the United States.

Upstairs, the Lanc Loft is a private event space that hosts weddings for up to 100 guests, with its own full bar, catering and separate washrooms. Because of the age of the building, the loft is not wheelchair accessible.

The kitchen smokes its meats in house over hickory wood, and the menu leans into Southern style barbecue with homemade sides and desserts, sourced from Ontario farms where possible. Vegetarian dishes are on offer too.

The team can also cater at another location, and a full service food truck is available for outdoor celebrations in the warmer months.

For couples who picture a relaxed, joyful party in a historic tavern, with good food and a loft full of family and friends, the Lancaster Smokehouse offers a wedding with real local roots.