Hensol Castle in the grounds of The Vale Resort in South Wales is to benefit from a £10million investment. The first phase will be the development of new conference facilities. These include the  purpose-built Courtyard Hall accommodating up to 320 delegates theatre-style plus five smaller meeting rooms in the castle itself which will accommodate between ten and 100 delegates. These will be available from April 2015.

Phase two of the investment at the 400-year-old castle will include up to 30 new bedrooms and a restaurant with 120 covers. These additions are not expected to open before late 2016.

Dating back to the 17th century, the Grade 1-listed Hensol Castle had been closed for almost a decade until 2014, when it was opened for weddings for the first time. Until then it had only been used as a stage set for the television series Doctor Who, Sherlock Holmes and Torchwood.

The Vale Resort is situated six miles from Cardiff city centre and is three minutes off junction 34 of the M4.
 
Details:  www.vale-hotel.com

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Published: 10 February 2015

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Refurbishment and redevelopment projects totalling over £20million are to take place across York’s hotels and venues in 2015.

Hotel developments include a £3 million transformation of the Best Western Monkbar Hotel, which will upgrade this York city centre hotel status from three star to four star plus. The work includes a new function suite and conference space. Located on the ground floor, the conference space will accommodate up to 250 delegates and will subdivide into four individual rooms.

Middlethorpe Hall has refurbished its conference facilities, including the self-contained Barlow Room adjacent to the 17th century William and Mary country house. The meeting space is designed for small conferences and events.

Goddard’s (pictured)  is the Grade I-listed former home to Noel Goddard Terry (of chocolate making fame). It is now open for the corporate booker for the first time. The Arts and Crafts style house is set in four acres of gardens. It features meeting space for up to 40 delegates as well as private dining options.
Both Middlethorpe Hall and Goddards are National Trust properties.

An £8 million redevelopment of York Art Gallery will see the gallery space increase by 60%, with the addition of three new galleries. York Art Gallery reopens summer 2015 and will be available for corporate events.

York Racecourse is adding a sixth restaurant. The new Parade Ring Restaurant will open on 13 May 2015, the first day of the flat-racing season. The restaurant adjacent to the parade ring with views across the course includes a private balcony. It is available for corporate hospitality on race days and for hire as a meeting room on non-race days.

Finally, the National Railway Museum launched a new carriage last month; the Countess of York.  This is a refurbished railway carriage, located in the courtyard of the museum which is available for private hire for fine-dining.

Details:  www.visityork.org

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Published: 06 February 2015

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Baden-Powell House in London has unveiled expansion plans that will see their lower ground floor car park transformed into new conference and event space. Five new modern rooms will be created;   varying in size they will accommodate from eight to 30 delegates boardroom style. The rooms will open up to create two large spaces suitable for mid-size conferences and lectures. Each room will be fully equipped with the latest audio visual equipment and wi-fi access. The new spaces will also include a relaxation area with seating plus a tea and coffee station.

Work is expected to be complete by August 2015.

Baden-Powell House is owned and run by The Scout Association with any income generated through the conference centres going directly back into Scouting. Facilities at Baden-Powell House include meeting rooms for between two and 60 delegates plus a main hall for up to 300 delegates. Accommodation is available at their partner company, Meininger Hotel.

Meininger Hotel London Hyde Park has 48 bedrooms each equipped with a television, a shower, a toilet, air conditioning and wi-fi access throughout. It too is planning a refurbishment with the first floor breakfast room undergoing a complete facelift with new flooring, furniture and buffet station - being installed by February 2015. All existing bathroom ‘pods’ are to be replaced in the bedrooms followed by a room redecoration. Work will be completed by the latter half of the year.

Baden-Powell House and Meininger Hotel are located in Queen’s Gate, South Kensington, a five minute walk from South Kensington and Gloucester Road tube stations (District/Circle/Piccadilly Lines)

Details: www.towntocountry.co.uk

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Published: 09 February 2015

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Construction work has started on completely revamping the Queens Hotel in Keswick, Cumbria. The hotel which originally opened back in the 18th century is now closed and plans to re-open 30th April 2015.

Every part of the hotel is being refurbished, including all 34 bedrooms, corridors, lounges, bar, reception, restaurant, kitchen and service areas. A new heating/water system with new boilers is being installed as well as a new lift.

The new-look Queens Hotel will have a first floor meeting room accommodating up to 50 delegates with free wi-fi.

Queens Hotel is located in the centre of Keswick in the Lake District. It is around 20 miles, via the A66, from Penrith and the M6 motorway at junction 40. Penrith is the nearest mainline station.

Details: www.queenshotel.co.uk

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Published: 26 January 2015

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