Category: Venue Finding

The Brooklands Hotel has been open for five years and is contemporary in style.  It is really easy to find as there are brown signs to Mercedes Benz World on all the roads in the area and the hotel is on the approach road.  It is contemporary in style and reflects the motor racing history of Brooklands in the artwork and there is a marker on the floor of the foyer where the racetrack used to be.  This venue is ideal to use either on its own or in conjunction with Mercedes Benz World.  It is also possible to organise a dining experience in a hangar at the Brooklands Museum.

All the meeting space is on the ground floor to the left of reception.  There is space for a private check-in area in the reception foyer, or the meeting space has a separate entrance, foyer and bar.  There are five meeting rooms, the largest holds 80 in cabaret style, but they are flexible and apart from one set boardroom the other four can be divided into smaller sections.  There is a semi-circular room at the end of the building for 50 people, but would be better used for private dining as there is a pillar in the centre.  All rooms have TVs which are hidden by sliding wall to floor screens.  Conference organisers are given a tablet with an app, so they can contact the hotel staff immediately with requests, changes to the schedule etc.

The Brooklands Hotel has 131 bedrooms, which are larger than average and all with large beds and rain showers.  There is a spa.  The restaurant has two AA rosettes and can take a group of 25 and has a set round table for 12.

Considerations

The ideal residential conference for this hotel is up to 60 people and they love weekend events.

The hotel has no outside space for groups, apart from some seating outside the restaurant next to car parking.  However, there is a park at the end of the road (2 mins walk) which can be hired from the council for £200 and used for outside activities.

Hotel du Vin, Tunbridge Wells (pictured)

This hotel is in an old building in the centre of Tunbridge Wells and is suited to small groups.   There are three meeting rooms: one for up to 100 people, but it is long and thin and would be better for 40-50 with coffee breaks served in the room; one for 24 people and one for 12 people.  All meeting rooms are at the back of the hotel, so a quiet and have access to their own area of the garden and you can wander in to the rest of the garden from each secluded area.  There is a cigar cabin in the garden, with heating, which could be used for an informal break out.  In addition the lounge can be privatised for a break out, drinks or a coffee break.  All the meeting rooms can also be used for private dining.  There isn’t any a\v, but 50” TVs can be put in the two smaller rooms.  All of the bedrooms will be refurbished by the middle of September 2015, the bar has just been completed and the dining room will be done by the end of 2015.  

The hotel has 34 bedrooms and it can be privatised, although they have regular clients and are busy with leisure guests at the weekends. 

As well as being shown around the hotel, I attended a ‘screen and cuisine’ event.  There was a buffet dinner and in conjunction with Pinewood Studios the hotel had put a large screen in the garden to show a film.  This was being tested at Tunbridge Wells for three evenings and if it is successful then they will hold these events at other Hotel du Vin hotels next year.  Some of their local corporate clients attended and it was a good evening.  All the staff were friendly and helpful and knew their regular clients.

• Considerations

This hotel is right in the centre of Tunbridge Wells, so parking is limited.  There is a large public car park opposite, which costs around £5 a day, but is also used by people working and shopping in the town, so does get busy.  It is a 5 minute walk from the station – uphill – so not to be undertaken with a suitcase.

Hotel du Vin, Henley

This hotel is right in the centre of Henley and was converted from a brewery.  It feels a bit industrial and reception area, bar, bistro and meeting room foyer are in line, so you walk through them to get from room to room.  Otherwise access is from an internal courtyard.  There are three meeting rooms: the Canata for up to 28 people and has stairs with a mezzanine floor;  the Henley for 38 people; the Ruinart is the largest and holds 56 people, but has two metal pillars, so for meetings only the central section can be used.

The ideal residential group for this hotel is 20-25 people.

There are 44 bedrooms, all different shapes and sizes.  The Riverview Suite is really unusual, with a bedroom downstairs and sitting area and bathroom in the same space upstairs.  There is a balcony with a roll-top bath (outside) overlooking the river.

• Considerations

There is no parking at the hotel, but the hotel has secure valet parking nearby which is chargeable.

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.