SAXONS, KNIGHTS AND LEADING LIGHTS: EVERY VENUE TELLS A STORY

Written by: Sue - 30^th September 2016

Impressive castles, elegant mansions and country house estates appeal as memorable events' settings whether that be a regular meeting, annual conference, an exclusive drinks reception or dinner gathering.  Peppering those over-dinner chats and post-event drinks with stories of queens, duchesses, tycoons and film stars to have swept down corridors before can only liven business up.  Our partners are full of tantalising tit-bits of history and anecdotes: here we share ten venues with a tale.

1  Fast and Famous Spirit at The Midland, Manchester (QHotels)

​Standing proud in the heart of Manchester's city centre, The Midland has welcomed kings, queens, presidents, prime ministers and rock stars over its 100 year history.  For commercial inspiration there can be few venues more appropriate; this is where motor moguls Rolls and Royce met to clinch the deal which set their formidable partnership powering on over the decades.  Many a deal continues to be thrashed out within these walls, with the 14 conference and meeting rooms offering both contemporary and traditional wood-panelled spaces.  Rolls and Royce Suites at the hotel (below) are named in celebration of the famous guests.

2  First Tango in Manchester at The Midland (QHotels)

​Entering the stage for a second performance is The Midland.  Pictured here in this image by Tobiah Tayo is the magnificent Trafford Room - said to be the setting for the first Tango ever to be danced in England.  With stately architecture, both inside and out, it is not surprising that this hotel scores higer than a "SEVEN" as the go-to location for the prestigious awards nights and lavish parties.

3  A Great and Good Revival at The Majestic Hotel, Harrogate (The Hotels Collection)

​The story goes that in Harrogate's heydey as one of the UK's most popular spa towns even the staff were treated like royalty.  If you worked at The Majestic "people took a little bow".  Prince Henry of Prussia and several Russian duchesses, however, were amongst true royalty to stay at the hotel after its formal opening in 1900 when visiting Harrogate to "take the waters".  An 8,000 square foot glass structure - The Winter Garden - on the west side of the hotel soon became acclaimed as "The Yorkshire Crystal Palace".  The more tourists flocked by train and motor, the more the entertainment industry flourished around them: actress Sarah Bernhardt, movie star Douglas Fairbanks Jnr, Sir Edward Elgar and playwright George Bernard Shaw are in the litany of illustrious guests.  Enjoy a reflection of The Majestic's grand interior in the below image.

4  Downton Drama and Elegance At Crewe Hall, Cheshire (QHotels)

​Architect E M Barry - son of Charles Barry of Highclere Castle ("Downton Abbey") and Westminster Palace fame, restored this seventeenth century Jacobean mansion following a fire in 1866.  A Downton-style drama indeed!  Crewe Hall is considered among his best works, alongside The Royal Opera House in Covent Garden.  The classic features and enchanting atmosphere of this venue are echoed in all events which can be held in The Old Hall with its stunning marble fireplace, intricate carving and stained glass or in the very distinguished library (pictured below).  Don't be fooled though; this venue has hidden secrets.  Enter through a magical door into a new age to find a state-of-the-art self-contained conference centre behind the historical hall, which brings the number of events spaces across this hotel - ancient or modern - to 17 with capacity for 364 delegates.

5   Officially Top Secret At St David's Hotel & Spa, Cardiff (PH Hotels)

​Even contemporary hotels have their own stories to tell!  This venue was chosen to host the NATO Summit 2014 - the first time a NATO gathering had been held in the UK for 24 years.  The team compiled a "NATO by Numbers" journey to reflect just what it takes to host such a landmark event.

* 5,000 cups of coffee served - 1,000 to security members alone

* 8 bedrooms cleared and transformed into security hubs

* 2 extra satelite dishes fitted to the roof in order to meet the security demand

* 2,500 additional newspapers

* fully-booked hotel for 60 days

Just a taste of these facts and figures explains why we can reassure clients that at St David's - the only five-star hotel in Cardiff - their conferences and events will be in very safe hands.

6  Royal Feathers and Phantoms At the Redworth Hall Hotel, County Durham (The Hotels Collection)

​Visitors to Redworth Hall often notice the three Prince of Wales feathers in the stained glass windows throughout the older parts of the building.  Former owner of Redworth Sir Thomas Surtees is said to have fought alongside "England's Black Prince" Edward Prince of Wales at the Battle of Crecy in 1346 when he saved his life.  By way of gratitude the prince allowed Sir Thomas and his descendents to display the feathers emblem alongside their coat of arms.  In the Great Hall (pictured below) with its original Jacobean features and open fireplace, or in more intimate suites, events both grand and exclusive are hosted here.  But don't speak to the locals - they'll tell you Redworth is haunted, not by one but two different ghosts!

7  Tallest Towers and Biggest Ballrooms At The Palace Hotel, Manchester (PH Hotels)

The imposing 217-foot (66m) clock tower at The Palace Hotel looms over Manchester as one of the city's most iconic landmarks.  This magnificent terracotta grade 2 listed building was designed in 1895 by eminent Victorian architect Alfred Waterhouse as headquarters for The Refuge Assurance Company.  The Palace showcases some of the city's most spectacular architecture  - the clock tower, of course, a cararra marble and bronze staircase, ceramic tiled walls and stained glass features.  The hotel has one more boast - its famous ballroom - probably the UKs biggest hotel event space.  Recently restored and renovated, the ballroom enjoyed attention as part of the multi-million pound refurbishment which takes in all 17 event spaces here.

8  Anglo-Saxons, Jousts and Jilted Queens At The Maids Head, Norwich (Classic British Hotels)

​Some attribute the claim of "Britain's Oldest Hotel" to the Maids Head.  The building is a quirky historical jigsaw puzzle but the claim might just be true for certain sections of the property.  Archaeological evidence in the cellars suggests a dwelling - a hostelry perhaps - stood on the site in Anglo-Saxon times.  Turning up again like a bad penny here is "The Black Prince" Edward who is known to have dined at The Murtel Fish (a previous hostelry on the site) in 1359 when he attended a joust in Norwich.  The first mention of the name The Maids Head occurs in 1472 when it is recorded as a good place for a visitor to stable his horse.  Cardinal Wolsey and Henry VIII's first wife Catherine of Aragon are noted as illustrious guests across the hotel's classical past.

9  A Mysterious Knight At Oxford Thames Hotel (PH Hotels)

​In a tranquil riverside setting in the "City of Dreaming Spires", this hotel has a fascinating history of association with the Knights Templar - the legendary medieval secretive order of crusaders which have become conspiracy theory fodder and subjects of Dan Brown novels.  Delegates and guests interweave with a history tracing all the way back to the twelfth century when it is alleged a preceptory - Knights Templar religious house - stood proudly on this site.  Today, the hotel recently completed a development of 20 new superior Henley Rooms meeting demand for high-end accommodation in Oxford's Science Vale surroundings.  Though up-to-the-minute and fresh, the new rooms are inkeeping with the environs of natural Cotswold Stone and the location's heritage - new fitting with the old, as pictured below.

10 From Old Star To Elstree Glamour At The Manor, Hertfordshire (Laura Ashley Hotels)

The old working together with the new is characterised perfectly at The Manor.  Boasting distinctive Tudor Revival architecture, this venue is on the site of a previous manor house  which dates back to 1540 and when guests open the front door they are connecting with part of the dungeons from Lewes Castle.  Yet, being close to the famous Elstree Film & TV Studios The Manor has starred as a backdrop to films such as Stanley Kubrick's "A Clockwork Orange" and as recently as 2007  "Hot Fuzz" with Simon Pegg and Nick Frost.

An event venue might serve as an engaging setting to prompt lively discussion when it could just feel like business-as-usual or its unique character could provide the very theming for a creative conference or party.  Either way, buildings with history or just a quirky tale are a compelling choice for events planners when the challenge is to create an experience which leaves a stamp on the delegate long after the occasion is over and ensures objectives linger in the mind's spotlight.