Talk to an Inntel expert
Inntel’s ESG Executive, Ellen Mutimer, attended the miaConnect Summer Edition at Down Hall Hotel, Spa & Estate in Essex for a day of networking followed by an immersive dining experience outdoors. Here, she shares her highlights and explains why sustainable event design matters more than ever.
As ESG Executive at Inntel, I’m always interested in venues that combine sustainability, creativity and exceptional guest experiences. After a full day at the Meeting Industry Association’s miaConnect event, an evening at Down Hall’s Kitchen Garden felt like a breath of fresh air, literally and creatively.
Nestled within the estate’s 110 acres, this beautifully designed two-acre garden is far more than an outdoor dining space. Every element feels intentional: fire-cooked dishes, rustic long tables crafted from fallen estate trees and seating areas that invite both reflection and connection. It’s immersive, thoughtful and utterly memorable.
Every dish is prepared over open flames, letting the garden’s seasonal ingredients speak for themselves. For example, freshly picked vegetables and smoked trout infused with estate herbs. Plus, creative dishes like ‘trimchi’, made from vegetable trimmings that might otherwise go to waste, demonstrating how sustainability and gastronomy can align beautifully. The tomatoes alone, bursting with natural sweetness, felt like summer in a bowl.
Even the drinks reflect this ethos. Down Hall’s Garden Gin and estate-distilled vodka are served with herbs snipped just moments before, ensuring every sip is as fresh and flavourful as the garden itself.
Speaking with the team I learned that menus are planned around what’s at its peak in the garden. For instance, tender broad beans in spring, vibrant tomatoes and courgettes in summer, or earthy root vegetables and kale in autumn. To ensure ingredients are at their best, the menu is only finalised about 10 days before each event. This approach keeps the offerings fresh, creative and seasonally inspired.
The Kitchen Garden is as much about atmosphere as it is about food. Woodchip paths, ambient lighting and handcrafted furniture give the space character and comfort. Whether you’re winding down after a conference or sparking new ideas with colleagues, it’s a setting that encourages connection with nature, with people and with purpose.
The team at Down Hall deliver this experience with enthusiasm and attention to detail, adding to the buzz of a space already alive with energy. Guests leave feeling refreshed, inspired and connected, not just to the estate and its beautiful surroundings, but to the principles of sustainability and community that define it.
The Kitchen Garden proves that dining can be more than a meal. It can be an experience that celebrates place, purpose, and people. It’s a perfect example of how thoughtful event design and sustainable practices create moments that truly stay with you.