Discovering Hartwell House
Part of my role as a venue finder consists of site visits and familiarisation trips where invites are sent on behalf of the hotel/venue to agents such as myself to experience the property firsthand. In this case, one of the first invites after COVID came from Pride of Britain Hotels for one of their ‘Meet The Hotelier Dinners’ to be held at the stunning Hartwell House in Aylesbury… which I was more than delighted to accept!
About Pride of Britain Hotels
Pride of Britain Hotels are a consortium set up to offer customers some of the most luxurious country house/boutique hotels in the UK. Located on the edge of the Chilterns in an area of outstanding beauty is where you’ll find Hartwell House, a National Trust hotel which is also a great option for social and corporate event hire. As one of 10 agents and 10 hoteliers invited for an evening dinner and overnight stay, this was an ideal opportunity for me to learn more about what the property can offer and to discuss any potential events that I felt would be suited to the group.
First Impressions and Welcome
First impressions definitely hit the mark; on arrival, I was taken to my room by a very knowledgeable porter who really knew the history of the property and clearly loved his job – so much so that due to my obvious interest he popped back with an information booklet about the hotel before I’d had chance to take my coat off. It’s these kind of people that make our industry what it is and why I love it so much; their enthusiasm is so infectious and they really know how to make their customers feel so welcome!
Dining and Networking
After a quick change, it was down to a wonderful champagne drinks reception held in their beautiful library before being called for dinner. The event started with each hotelier giving a short introduction to their property with the aim of educating the agents in what each hotel can offer to the conference, event, meetings and groups market. With the introductions complete, an amazing starter, fish course, main course, dessert, coffee and aperitifs were then served, with each course paired with a suitable wine. Service at dinner was impeccable – anticipating the needs of us all while remaining unobtrusive is such a skill! It was a super relaxing evening, the conversation flowed freely with us all discussing the last few years; the highs, the lows as well as having the time to catch up about the properties in more detail.
A Comprehensive Property Tour
Following a wonderful night’s sleep, I was up and ready for the full property tour. After checking a few emails (great wifi by the way!) it was time to head to breakfast and yes, I was first down… I was that eager beaver! A delicious breakfast of pastries, yogurt, juices, toast and varying cooked options was available and fully enjoyed before our guided tour. Having had reception drinks, dinner and breakfast in the main mansion house, we were shown the conference space in the coaching house and introduced to their event staff who were able to answer any event specific queries that we had.
Conference and Event Facilities
I was really impressed by their meeting and conference facilities – the Hartwell Rooms are a number of flexible meeting rooms in a self- contained 18th century coach house, located 100 yards from the main house that can accommodate up to 90 theatre style. The Old Rectory is another part of the property that can also accommodate meetings for up to 10 delegates as well as housing 4 bedrooms – a perfect option for a smaller event offering an element of luxury alongside some privacy! The Rectory also has two acres of beautiful gardens plus a swimming pool that can be enjoyed when the sun has his hat on (we didn’t partake sadly on this occasion!)
Exclusive Booking Opportunities
For larger events and the wow factor, there’s also the option to book the whole of Hartwell House exclusively which includes the use of their stunning 90 acres of landscaped gardens, lawns and parkland, 32 bedrooms and suites in the main house (up to 61 guests), 16 bedrooms and suites in Hartwell Court (up to 32 guests), three dining rooms seating up to 120 guests, four magnificent drawing rooms plus the Hartwell Rooms and use of Hartwell Spa.
Closing Remarks: A Venue Worth Recommending
As they say themselves, ‘a warm welcome awaits you at Hartwell House when you visit to relax and enjoy the magnificent surroundings at this historic house’ and I have to agree…..what a truly wonderful venue! Drop me a line to get in touch and perhaps I can get Hartwell House or a similar style venue contracted for your next event.
Lyndsey Taylor, Director
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07737 945651
Instagram: @parklaneevents
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