Author: Katharine Jordan

IHG opened Holiday Inn Express Middlesbrough in August.  It  is located in Centre Square, a five minute walk from Middlesbrough Train Station.  There are two meeting rooms both of which hold 15 people in theatre-style and 138 bedrooms

Canterbury City Council has approved plans for a new 130-bed hotel on St Margaret’s Street. This will replace the derelict Slatters Hotel, which will be demolished for the new 5-storey building.  It is rumoured that an internationally recognised brand will manage the hotel.  A local restauranteur will operate a restaurant on the top floor which will have outside terrace space and views of the cathedral.  It will also feature glass apertures in the foyer floor allowing visitors to gaze on the remains of a Roman theatre below.

The hotel will have conference facilities, but the number and sizes of meeting rooms are not available yet.

You get a real sense of arrival this stately home, which was owned by Astor family.  It really is an exceptional experience and a really special place.There are wonderful views of the countryside and Thames, especially from a 1st floor terrace which can be hired privately.  

In 2014 it was closed for a period of refurbishment and reopened in January 2015.  In 2016 the largest meeting room will be converted into four spa bedrooms, making the total number of bedrooms 44 and a replacement meeting room is going to be built in a courtyard.

There are several meeting rooms for up to 40 people, but the hotel works best for small high-end groups, for example board meetings.   Hidden away downstairs there is a very interesting brick wine cellar with a vaulted room which can be used for a dinner for 12 people.  The hotel can include a Butler’s talk about the history of the estate.  

Cliveden has two boats on the Thames, one for 10 people and one for four and these can be used for a cruise with picnic, drinks etc.  There is a spa in the grounds, next to the outdoor swimming pool.  Team building is available on site or there is more space next door at Hedsor House for motorised events.

Considerations

Cliveden is looking for residential meetings of 20-25 Monday-Thursday, as well as smaller groups.

The property is owned by the National Trust and NT visitors can use the grounds, but not the hotel.  The hotel cannot use the terrace at the back of the building in the day time, but can have access in the evening when NT visitors have gone home

The approach to this hotel was through a beautiful wildflower meadow and there were numerous staff on the door with photos of guests to welcome them.  This is a contemporary hotel in a Georgian mansion, which opened in 2010.  It aims for the ultra-luxury market and has a ratio of 4 staff to each guest.  There are 30 bedrooms in the mansion and 39 bedrooms in the stables and is always full at the weekends with leisure guests. A feature of the bedrooms is a free-standing copper bath.   There are two polo pitches which are managed by the Guards Club, so that attracts leisure bookings when there are matches between April-September.  Mondays-Thursdays are best for residential groups and any booking for 6+ rooms attracts a group rate.  The property can be hired exclusively, except for the spa which has a local membership.

Coworth has four meeting rooms.  The two largest rooms are in the main building and are always used together, both are the same size (100 theatre-style), but the one is needed for catering.  They are white/neutral in style and have access to the garden so there is lots of natural daylight.  The Oak Room is smaller and can be used for meetings or private dining as it has access to the restaurant.

Restaurant Coworth Park serves contemporary British food and there is a conservatory which can be used for private dining for 20 people.  There is a second restaurant, the Barn, which is more casual in style and has a mezzanine floor which can be used for groups.

Team building includes a polo masterclass, riding, dressage and show jumping in the hotel’s 240 acres.  There is a spa and pool located away from the main house.

Considerations

39 bedrooms are converted from stables, four rooms to each mini block.  It is only a couple of minutes from the main house and there is a buggy service, as well as umbrellas everywhere.

Crowne Plaza has reopened the Bellhouse Hotel, Beaconsfield following refurbishment.  It is a 4-star hotel with 7 meeting rooms and 138 bedrooms, spa, gym and pool.

The nearest railway station is Gerrards Cross and the nearest underground is at Uxbridge.

Signature Living has opened the first phase of its latest property in Liverpool, The Shankly Hotel, an 83-bed themed hotel in honour of former Liverpool FC manager, Bill Shankly.  It is located in the city centre a few minutes walk from Lime Stree Station.  

In 2016 the hotel will open the Eden Meeting & Conference Centre, which will have capacity for up to 350 delegates. The meeting rooms will be flexible so that they can be split into different sizes.  Delegates will also have the option of dining in 2 restaurants and bars and there will be a roof top garden with panoramic views of the city.

The Laslett, a 51-bed boutique hotel in Notting Hill, London has opened following the refurbishment of the Hillgate Hotel, which previously operated as serviced apartments.  It is built in five Victorian mansions, contemporary in style, with furniture from British designers.  There aren’t any formal conference rooms, but the ground floor has a Library area nad the Henderson Bar and Coffee Shop can be used for informal meetings.  

Millennium & Copthorne Hotels has purchased the Beatles themed Hard Day’s Night Hotel, Liverpool.  It is a four star boutique property, situated in the city centre, close to many of the city’s attractions, and adjacent to the Cavern Club.  The hotel opened in 2008 in a restored Grade II listed building, dating back to 1884 and has specially commissioned Beatles-inspired artwork.  The hotel’s restaurant, Blakes  is named after pop artist Sir Peter Blake and Bar Four offers speciality cocktails. The hotel also has an inner courtyard on the first floor, named Peace Garden, which is dedicated to John Lennon.

There are three meeing rooms: the Two of Us Suite for 50 people theatre-style, the Zygmant Suite for 150 theatre-stye and the Hard Days Night Suite for 70  theatre-style.  The hotel has 110 bedrooms.