Whats Hot & Trending May 19

Bringing you the latest on new venues, venues offering something just that little bit different, others which are hitting the refurbishment trail and those that simply have a story to tell! And don’t worry, if we’re giving you the heads up on venues that aren’t available to review just yet, they soon will be!

NEW KID ON THE BLOCK

WHO – Acropolis at Caius, Cambridge

WHAT – Unique event/party space for up to 180 guests/delegates

WHY – It’s new, it’s different and offers a real event wow

The educated choice this Summer for conference and event organisers is Gonville & Caius College. The Cambridge College has just unveiled an innovative new facility for corporate entertaining, meetings and events. Acropolis at Caius is an exciting new event space located in attractive gardens in the heart of the city and available for just 15 months during the refurbishment of the College dining rooms. Named Acropolis for its intriguing architectural shape and multiple glass sides, the bespoke space can accommodate up to 140 guests on round tables for dinner or 100 cabaret/180 theatre style for conferences/events. Ideal for Summer Garden Parties, the surrounding gardens providing a perfect backdrop for drinks receptions and outdoor events. Later in the year, Acropolis at Caius will become a stunning setting for Christmas Parties – both private events and joiner party nights. And thinking of staying overnight? Good news! During student vacation periods 174 bedrooms are available in Harvey Court and The Stephen Hawking Building. The Acropolis team look forward to welcoming you!

JUST THAT LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT…

WHO – The Woodlands, Hothorpe Venues’, Leicestershire

WHAT – Mini “woodland event village” for 5-60 delegates including treehouse

WHY – Back to nature setting combining excellent meeting facilities

There’s not many venues that can boast a luxury elevated treehouse which can be used as a small meeting room or VIP bedroom! The Woodlands in Leicestershire is truly a ‘one-of-a-kind venue’, with adaptable event space, ideal for meetings, product launches, parties and team building activities. Dividing into three, the venue can change according to a clients’ event with plenary, breakout and dining areas, discretely positioned in a 12 acre country site. With an abundance of glass and sliding doors built in to the venue, delegates have excellent views over the surrounding woodland, bringing the outside in. Outside there’s lots of space for relaxing and team activities, as well as an al fresco meeting place. The Hideaway is nestled under trees and can be used for small meetings, or as a stage with up to 60 delegates seated on the wooden benches. Guest accommodation is offered in a series of 22 wooden lodges, with further bedrooms available in the old manor house just 200m away. Situated on the border of Leicestershire and Northamptonshire, and with the M1 and M6 motorways close by, The Woodlands could be your perfect centrally located venue – with a twist.

FIND OUT MORE: https://www.meetingsclub.com/venues/hothorpe-hall/

MORE THAN A LICK OF PAINT

WHO – Holiday Inn, Kensington Forum, London

WHAT – 906 bedrooms, 11 meeting rooms and excellent location

WHY – Recently refurbished, very good value & brilliant Caribbean Nights!

The Iconic Holiday Inn Kensington Forum has been a part of the fabric of the London Hotel landscape for almost 50 years serving the needs of travellers, both Business and Leisure alike. The hotel has recently undergone a multi-million pound refurbishment programme including bedrooms, the creation of the brand new Ashburn SW7 Restaurant and the implementation of the famous holiday Inn Open Lobby concept. Located in the heart of Kensington & Chelsea borough & proud to be the largest Holiday Inn hotel in Europe, the hotel offers 906 bedrooms and 11 meeting rooms (many with natural light) with a capacity of up to 400 delegates. meetingsclub were delighted to catch up with Simon McClaughlin, the newly promoted General Manager. For the past two years, Simon has been instrumental in helping deliver the fantastic refurbishment programme and is rightly proud of his teams’ achievements. In this exclusive video interview, Simon shares how this famous London hotel is going from strength to strength as news breaks of further refurbishment work to the extensive conference and banqueting space later this year.

FIND OUT MORE: https://www.meetingsclub.com/venues/holiday-inn-kensington/

STORY TO TELL

WHO – Richmond Hill Hotel, Richmond, Surrey

WHAT – Beautiful boutique Georgian Hotel with 15 meeting rooms for 5-200

WHY – Great location, the chance to be one of the first to experience

A rural retreat on London’s leafy doorstep, Richmond Hill Hotel has just undergone a £6.7m capital investment programme, re-asserting the hotel as a go to destination for conferences and events in the Greater London area. The refurbishment programme, devised by award-winning K&H Design has drawn on Richmond’s wider influences that have inspired artists and writers for hundreds of years. The independent 144 bedroom Georgian townhouse (‘sister hotel’ to the Grand in Brighton) has seen 69 bedrooms individually designed. Bedrooms feature Heal’s king-size beds with furniture commissioned to fit each individual room style and deep free-standing baths or spacious walk in showers. As part of its environmental commitment Richmond Hill has implemented a series of sustainability initiatives including energy saving key systems, dimmers and low energy lighting and the Grade II listed windows have been sympathetically restored and repurposed to retain heat. There’s also been a major remodelling of its food and beverage outlet bringing a new all-day dining destination known as 144 on the Hill. Designed by award-winning Russell Sage Studio, 144 on the Hill is a place to kick back, brunch, lunch or celebrate a milestone. And the club like feel is already proving popular with conference and event delegates using the hotel’s 15 unique meeting spaces all of which boast natural daylight and integral AV.