We have added three more visited and vetted venues to our handy guide this month – and they’re all located just north of London, in the county of Hertfordshire.
Pendley Manor
Location
TRING
First impressions
A striking Grade II listed building that oozes character set in 35 acres of landscaped and wooded parkland
Best features
- Picturesque setting – far from the madding crowds
- Use of the many leisure facilities (including a spa bath and swimming pool) during your stay
- 72 rooms to meet a range of needs and budgets
Ideal for
Plenty of scope – from small team meetings and training events to conferences with up to 250 delegates
Innsider info
Charm, character and peacocks!
Pendley Manor is a quirky venue for any meeting or event and very conveniently located, just over an hour from central London and close to the M1 and M25.
There are seven purpose-built meeting rooms available in the Harcourt Conference Centre, with a maximum capacity of 250 in a theatre style arrangement or 120 cabaret style. There is also a dedicated ‘organisers’ office within the complex that is equipped with a dedicated fax line, printer, photocopier and more to help with the administration of your larger events.
Champneys Tring
Location
WIGGINGTON
First impressions
Romantic stately home set in 170 acres of parkland – pure tranquillity
Best features
- Spa facilities and 100+ treatments
- Relaxing environment – you’ll start to unwind from the minute you arrive
- Fine dining that manages to make you feel healthier after eating
Ideal for
An executive retreat, hospitality days with clients, a reward for your hard-working team, or brain storming sessions with regular time out to relax
Innsider info
Mix business with pleasure
If you’re familiar with the Champneys name you’ll know it’s synonymous with ‘luxury health kick’. Not the most obvious place for your business meetings, maybe, but certainly one of the most relaxing. You can hold your meetings away from the mansion in the New Court facility, or in the elegant Stanley Lief and Crystal rooms overlooking the stunning gardens, with a maximum group size of 60 seated in a theatre style layout or 30 ‘cabaret’ style around individual tables. All delegates are given full use of the facilities after their meetings, so it’s the perfect place to mix business with pleasure.
Sopwell House
Location
St ALBANS
First impressions
Stunning Georgian country-house style with beautiful grounds – like walking onto a film set
Best features
- 128 attractive guest rooms including 10 mews apartments
- 20 minutes from St Pancras International station
- Signature ‘Lord Mountbatten’ cocktail (Sopwell was the Mountbatten family’s country residence from 1901 until it was converted into a hotel in 1969)
Ideal for
Small board meetings right up to large corporate conferences
Innsider info
Flexible and accommodating
The hotel’s meeting and conference facilities are located on the ground floor of Sopwell House and open onto a picturesque terrace. There are 19 different size function suites and open-air meeting areas in total, making this venue one to consider for all manner of events, from team meetings to very large conferences. The St Albans room is the largest of the meeting spaces and can accommodate 380 in a theatre style arrangement or up to 700 for a cocktail reception.
Outside, the Walled Garden area is a popular choice for team building events, and you can book any of a long list of open-air activities to make it extra special, including segway riding and laser shooting.