Four reasons why you should consider a historic setting for your next event
According to the AMEX 12th annual Global Meetings & Events Forecast, 2023 is set to be a lucrative year for venues as marketers assign bigger budgets to in-person events and meetings. It can be difficult to know where to allocate spend to achieve the best ROI when there are so many venue options available. Here, Gareth Warnock, Group Sales Director at De Vere, makes the case for historic buildings as the perfect setting for any event.
Unmatched versatility
The versatility of a historic venue sometimes can be overlooked. These impressive buildings were often built for the gentry of yesteryears who were used to spacious mansions, large numbers of staff and plenty of space to entertain. As a result, historic venues often have numerous event spaces of varying sizes – from Grand Halls to snug lounges – and fine décor to impress. If delegates are staying for a little longer, the historic features of bedrooms, luxurious suites and restaurants also help to add a sense of occasion to events.
This is true of De Vere Tortworth Court, located in the South Cotswolds. The Grade II listed Mansion House Hotel has a fascinating history spanning over 1200 years. Recorded in the Domesday Book, the property was the ancestral seat of the Ducie family for over 350 years and was once used by the British Navy before becoming home to American serviceman in 1942. The hotel’s beautiful Victorian arboretum was created by the 3rd Earl of Ducie in 1853 – a keen horticulturalist – and remains one of the finest arboretums in the British Isles. Sitting amongst the gardens is the standalone Victorian Orangery, which provides a memorable location for an event for up to 100 guests.
Take your event outdoors
Many of De Vere’s collection of Mansion House hotels were built so that their original owners could enjoying country living without a neighbour in sight, so expect an abundance of outside space, ideal for team building, outside dining or even a yoga class, and at De Vere, we’ve installed superfast Wi-Fi in our outdoor spaces so you can stay connected whilst you wander.
Located near Reading, De Vere Wokefield Estate is set in over 250 acres of Berkshire parkland and features an 18-hole PGA-standard golf course and outdoor activity course in the grounds, perfect for corporate away days.
In Surrey, at De Vere Horsley Estate, the former home of Lord Byron’s daughter and computer pioneer Ada Lovelace, if delegates are feeling adventurous they can book a survival experience in the Bear Grylls pit, or choose to play a round of frisbee golf. If you want to keep the event outdoors but just want a contingency plan for bad weather, then De Vere Horsley Estate has a large marquee space, which can host up to 500 guests.
Unbeatable wow moments
One of the main selling points for a historic venue are the wow moments it inspires. From the instant you turn into the winding driveway our properties, such as De Vere Latimer Estate, impress.
Set in the heart of Buckinghamshire De Vere Latimer Estate was recently crowned ‘Britain’s Most Secret Home’. During WWII, the property played an integral part in British history as it housed German Prisoners of War, captured German U-boat submarine crews and Luftwaffe pilots, who were inadvertently revealing secrets of great military importance whilst being held in the stately home. Latimer is considered on a par with Bletchley in the role it played in helping the British win the war. The history of the property and the artefacts dotted around its rooms can stimulate guests visually, provide an ideal backdrop for photographs, and also offer built-in talking points.
Inspired mix of old meeting new
There is something magical in new technology and pioneering ideas set amongst historic heritage and architecture. Different to blank canvas conference rooms, these spaces work wonderfully for inspiring creativity.
At the heart of De Vere Beaumont Estate in Old Windsor, sits an 18th-century mansion, a stunning chapel, 75 event spaces and the Georgian White House in 40-acres of parkland. The original house was built for Lord Weymouth, but it was its time as a public school, from 1854 - 1967, that saw most of the estate’s architectural developments.
The Chapel, built in the 19th-century, and the grandest of the event spaces at the estate, has recently completed a grand transformation. Its painted, vaulted ceilings and stained-glass windows create a unique setting, which is perfectly enhanced with modern technology, colourful, mood-setting lighting, and a state-of-the-art sound system. The space can host a range of event types for up to 700 delegates and provides an impressively versatile setting which changes drastically from day to night, giving the impression of a new space should your event span several hours.
