A group of PA Life Club members were treated to an overnight stay at a beautiful country house hotel, Wotton House, in Dorking, Surrey, where an eclectic mix of Italy, Ireland, England and history are all rolled into one.
A sense of charm, fun and warmth greet you from the grand entrance, as well as the 17th century Italian gardens, the first in England. This certainly feels like a wonderful place to call home for a while!
Our hosts, Sharon Power, Director of Sales, and Luke Britton, Sales Manager, greeted us upon arrival. Their warm hospitality was exemplary, and the same can be said of the rest of the staff who made our stay perfect.
We kicked off the evening’s activities by sampling locally produced gin infused with honey, and delicious canapes. That got us in the mood for the team building activities run by James Morris from The Team Building Company. The Cube was such an in
teractive way to build relationships and was good fun too! After being divided into three teams the games were ready to begin. This was as close to the Paris Olympics as it gets! Medals were handed out to the winning teams, it was a terrific way to start the evening.
Private dining experience at the PA Life FAM Trip to Wotton House
Dinner was a private affair, hosted in a wonderful dining room overlooking the stunning landscaped gardens. The chef had prepared a wonderful feast of freshly cooked scallops for starters, followed by filet of beef as a main course and a hazelnut & orange dessert. We also enjoyed the rich selection of wines and cheeses to complete the wonderful dinner.
We played a fun after dinner game of Quizmania which proved to be a great way to round up the evening. The game was an energetic interactive session, and even saw us attempting to re-create the Eiffel Tower out of objects around us and acting out scenes from the iconic Beatles songs. One of the answers was ‘knickerbocker glory’, well that is a word that has escaped most of us since childhood.
What were the bedrooms at Wotton House like?
We retreated to our very stylish, yet homely rooms with our Wotton House goody bags we’ve been given. The bags contained a candle, chocolates, Silent Pool Gin and a keepsake gin glass, notebook, and beautiful wildflower seeds to sow at home for a lovely spring surprise.
There was also time to relax and rejuvenate in the hotel spa and leisure facilities, and it certainly made us want to stay for a long weekend. It really was a the country escape that kept on giving.
More about Wotton House
From the Grade II listed, 17th century Italian gardens and other relaxing outdoor spaces stretching for acres, to their outstanding pillared library, stained-glass windows, it is clear to see why Wotton House is popular with corporates and leisure guests alike. Fancy getting out of the city? Then escape from the hustle and bustle and brainstorm in this wonderful country estate, their outdoor areas make for perfect team building and wellness retreats. They even provide wellies should you wish to take in the fresh air and explore the Surrey Hills.
From VIP board meetings for 10 guests, right up to conference spaces for 250 delegates they can accommodate most requests. With 20 meeting rooms to choose from you wonโt be disappointed, they even have breakout rooms with table tennis and tabletop football for those with a competitive streak.
Within easy reach on central London, it can be accessed by the M25, the M3 South, the A24 East, and the A3 from London. The closest train station, Dorking Station, is just 4 miles or a 15-minute drive from the hotel. Direct links and connections from London Waterloo, London Victoria, Reading, and Gatwick Airport are available so getting to this wonderful and unforgettable venue is a breeze. And as the bonus, parking is free for guests.
With Christmas on the horizon, they have affordable packages to help you end 2024 on a high…. ‘Once upon a Wotton Christmasโฆ.’
For PAs and other business support professionals to join PA Life Club FAM Trips, such as this, all you need to do is to register to join the Club. It’s free to join, with no hidden extras, and comes with many other benefits too.
