A historic venue exudes charm, character, and a sense of timeless elegance that modern venues just can’t offer. These venues offer a backstory and heritage which can help inspire your attending delegates. You can even consider incorporating the venue’s history into your event, making it more engaging and educational for attendees. This storytelling factor can add depth and intrigue to your event’s theme or purpose.
A historic venue can also add a sense of prestige and significance to your event. It can elevate the importance of your event and should impress attendees, sponsors, and stakeholders alike.
From a 900-year-old castle to a World War II Fort, there are a plethora of historic venues available to hire for all kinds of corporate events.
Many of the UK’s most spectacular events venues are historic buildings and heritage sites. These have only become more popular with time.
For corporate events and conferences a historic venue will exude your event with additional significance and authority. What’s more, many of these historic venues have been sensitively restored to boast state-of-the-art technology. Hence additional renovated facilities can support the most ambitious event plans.
Opting for a venue with an historical background can do a lot of the work for you. Here are some reasons why:
Immediate impact – a venue steeped in history can often exude a sense of grandeur, charm and character. The architecture, art and overall ambience can create an instant memorable atmosphere for your conference attendees.
Combines the old with the new – Many historical venues have been adapted to modern conference needs without sacrificing their historical charm. This means you and your delegates will benefit from the aesthetic appeal of the venue while still having the necessary, up-to-date facilities in order to host a successful event.
Instagrammable Spaces – historical venues offer picturesque settings, providing excellent photo opportunities. This can be particularly appealing for marketing the conference, as well as creating a positive impression on attendees.
Memorability – Unique venues, such as described below, can provide a memorable backdrop to encourage discussions & networking. Participants are likely to remember corporate events and networking opportunities made in an historic setting.
Unique Selling Point – A venue carrying so much history can attract lots of attention from the media and potential attendees or client prospects. This will enhance your event and help contribute to its overall success.
Cultural and Educational Opportunities – Choosing a historic venue can immerse your delegates into the local culture and heritage (especially advantageous if international delegates are attending). Quite often there will be the opportunity to arrange private tours or talks from an expert which adds an additional enhancement to any event.
By hiring any historic venue for your corporate events, you will be helping preserve and maintain the site and collections for future generations. The rental fees and costs will go towards supporting the ongoing upkeep of these significant sites.
Whilst these venues can offer an amazing backdrop, careful planning and consideration will be essential to ensure your event runs smoothly.
There may be certain restrictions, due to the venues age, space, noise, décor and technology. These practical aspects will need to be investigated meticulously in order to have a clear understanding of the limitations in place and ensure the venue meets the specific needs of your event.
If you want your next event to be memorable and go down in history, we hope you can draw inspiration from our top picks, below:
Roman Baths – Bath, Somerset
Set in the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage site of Bath, this ancient monument and only natural hot spring in England offers an atmospheric location for all kinds of events.
With a history spanning over 200 years, it can accommodate events up to 320 guests.
The Great Bath, itself, is available to hire out of public opening hours and offers a great space for drinks receptions serving canapes or bowl food. Private tours can also be arranged, on request.
The venue offers 2 smaller meeting spaces, available throughout the day, the Kingston and Drawing Room. Accommodating up to 40 people theatre style in each room, with natural daylight and presentation equipment available to hire.
The impressive Grade I Listed Pump Room is an elegant, Georgian space suited for dinner dances and reception up to 120 guests. There is ample space for a dance floor and a stage for live music.
The Victorian Terrace has a vantage point overlooking the Great Bath, an intimate setting for dinners up to 80 guests. The adjacent Reception Hall boasts a domed ceiling with a central oval ticketing desk lending itself well to be transformed as a fully stocked bar. This backdrop provides an exquisite atmosphere for all corporate events and parties.
Hever Castle – Kent
Once the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, this spectacular Castle is an award-winning historic venue offering stately grandeur, stunning gardens and luxurious five-star accommodation.
There’s a championship golf course, an outdoor swimming pool and tennis court. There’s a beautiful lawn for marquee events, a 38-acre lake, woodland and fields for outdoor pursuits and team building activities.
There are predominantly three event spaces on the Hever Castle estate. These spaces can be hired together or individually subject to requirements. The Estate also offers marquee opportunities.
The Astor Wing – is a Tudor style extension, built onto the castle by William Waldorf Astor in 1903 and this can be booked as an exclusive use space.
The largest room is the Tudor Suite which can accommodation up to 60 delegates. Guests are then allowed to dine in the castle in the evening and stay overnight in one of the 27, 5-star bedrooms.
The Castle – The Castle Inner Hall can accommodate drinks reception for 40 – 60 guests. This space has a beautiful gallery inspired by the Kings College Chapel, Cambridge.
After drinks, guests can be led through to the Castle Dining Hall when they can dine at Elizabethan oak tables overlooking an ornately carved stone fireplace and 16th century wall tapestry.
Private tours can be arranged if required.
The Guthrie Pavilion – Located in the Italian Garden, this versatile, contemporary space can accommodate up to 180 delegates. This space offers the flexibility of being used for conferences as well as corporate dinners.
The Loggia – This is also located in the Italian Garden and is a stone structure flanked by pillared colonnades, a classical stone fountain and a lake side piazza. It can be hired for outdoor drinks and summer parties. It is a covered structure so guests will be protected from the good old British weather!
The Winter Garden Lawn has great views of the Castle and is a great space for marquee events such as corporate fun days, Summer & Christmas parties for up to 600 guests.
Hever Castle is also a great for teambuilding event. Combine some great activities with a meeting or you can have a full day of outdoor pursuits within the 600 acres of Kent countryside.
Hever Castle may have the stately aesthetics of a bygone age, but the conference facilities are as modern as they come.
Dundas Castle – Scotland
Whether you require a venue for an important board meeting, conference, gala dinner or a day of team building, Dundas Castle is booked on an exclusive use basis.
Dundas Castle is located within 12 miles of Edinburgh city centre and 5 miles of the airport. It is situated within 400 acres of a private estate and can offer a variety of activities on site including a 9-hole golf course, clay pigeon shooting and a 4 x 4 driving course.
The castle offers 10 double and 7 twin-bedded rooms with a selection of unique event spaces to host all types of company events.
The Library or Drawing Room are ideal for reception drinks from 15 – 30 guests.
The Great Hall is a flexible space with vaulted ceilings and ancient stonework, suitable for all types of events (accessible by a spiral staircase only). The room can accommodate up to around 80 delegates theatre style.
For larger events, the Pavilion (marquee) in the grounds can host banquets for 200 people.
The more unusual, Stag Chamber, features wall-mounted stag and elk heads, is a great space for dinners of 26 guests.
Portsmouth Historic Dockyards – Hampshire
From the HMS Warrior to Action Stations at the Portsmouth Historic Dockyards you can choose which historic venue to hire for your next corporate event.
Whether you are looking to impress guests with a unique corporate dinner experience, or a networking event, or a reception, there is a venue to suit all requirements.
The venues are located within the Portsmouth Naval Base on the South coast. Easily accessible by road and public transport.
HMS Victory is one of the most iconic and historic ships in naval history. Hold your dinner at the table where Vice Admiral Lord Nelson dined in the Great Cabin or get a taste of history by hosting a reception on the Upper or Lower Gun Decks for up to 100 guests.
Please note, this venue can only be booked during the months of March – October.
HMS Warrior was once the pride of Queen Victoria’s fleet, and today stands as the world’s first iron-hulled warship. This historic ship is ideal for dinners and drinks receptions.
There are 4 event spaces you can hire – ranging from 240 for a dinner in the Gun Deck to hosting a sophisticated dinner for 12 in the Captain’s Cabin
Action Stations is a large Victorian Boathouse which has been restored to a modern and versatile space offering a wide range of facilities. With an auditorium to seat 275 people, the 1st floor Horizon Suite which is a blank canvas ready to be transformed to suite your conference needs, or added team building activities on site including laser quest and a 27ft climbing wall to enhance any event.
OUR VIEW
Choosing a venue for any corporate event entails lots of different aspects and can feel extremely overwhelming. This is where we can help!
By hiring any historic venue for your corporate events, you will be helping preserve and maintain the site and collections for future generations. The rental fees and costs will go towards supporting the ongoing upkeep of these significant sites.
Whilst these venues can offer an amazing backdrop, careful planning and consideration will be essential to ensure your event runs smoothly. There may be certain restrictions, due to the venues age, space, noise, décor and technology. These practical aspects will need to be investigated meticulously in order to have a clear understanding of the limitations in place and ensure the venue meets the specific needs of your event.
