A group of ten PA Life Club members were treated to a truly memorable FAM Trip to Hampshire on January 24th by the hosmarkhotels. We started our 24-hour visit with a tour of The Winchester Hotel, located a short 10-minute walk from the station and the historic city centre. A very convenient location for us who travelled down from London, less than hour and half away by train. It’s equally easy to reach by car via the M3.
The Winchester Hotel is stylish and recently renovated property with a lot to offer besides its excellent location, for both leisure and business travellers. For starters, there is a fantastic, fully refurbished luxury spa offering a great space for relaxation in the high-quality spa suite. You’ll find a plunge-pool, steam room, sauna, hydro-pool, fitness studio and six luxury treatment rooms. They use ESPA products for holistic and beauty treatments and have highly experienced therapists at hand.
Having the use of the spa is a great option to offer to your team after a day of meetings or activities.
Our guided tour took us to see the versatile event spaces available and also to a few of the 96 bedrooms and suites – all individual, with plenty of character and charm. It was great to see this former coach station repurposed this well as a modern hotel.
Lunch was a delight at The Winchester Hotel
After our tour we were treated to a wonderful buffet lunch with plenty of nutritious and well thought out fresh options at Alfred’s Restaurant. The in-house catering team had paid great attention to every detail and the spread was as beautifully laid out as it was delicious.
Alfred’s Restaurant is a contemporary and sophisticated setting accommodating up to 50 guests that can easily be tailored to suit your event.
Next stop The Elvetham Hotel where luxury meets history
The second property on our FAM Trip itinerary was the historic and very grand The Elvetham Hotel located near Hook in Hampshire, around 45 minutes drive from Winchester. The Elvetham estate dates back over 1000 years and was once home to the powerful Seymour family. In fact that’s where Henry VIII wooed Jane Seymour and later proposed to her. An oak that was planted by Queen Elizabeth I in 1591 on her visit to Elvetham still stands strong in the garden. Shakespeare is believed to have performed there for Elizabeth I at a pageant held in her honour and his inspiration to write Midsummer Night’s Dream is believed to have been inspired by his visit that summer.
The drive through the grounds of the estate up to the hotel was impressive and set the scene for our visit. After checking into our lovely bedrooms we gathered at the hotel bar for a glass of bubbly and canapes. The bar overlooks the vast gardens and has an abundance of features to wow you, including a massive fireplace and a ceiling adorned with portraits of important residents and visitors, many of whom you’ll recognise from history books.
A much-awaited tour of the property and some of the vast grounds followed. We saw the beautiful dining rooms, some large enough to host big celebrations and events. We also visited the church – The Bell Tower –ย that is also available as an event space for more intimate dinners or receptions. It’s stripped bare providing a perfect blank canvas for you to create your event.ย You might recognise The Bell Tower and other spaces and the garden from Channel 4’s Married at First Site as one of the fabulous wedding venues they used for filming.
Cocktails and formal dinner left us impressed
The final programme on our whistle-stop tour of the two lovely Hampshire hotels was a three-course dinner at one of the private dining rooms at The Elvetham. The head chef and his team treated us to a truly sumptuous feast with mostly locally sourced ingredients such as Hampshire cured trout and meat from nearby farms, served with very well paired wine. We finished our dinner with a platter of very tasty local cheeses.
More about The Elvetham Hotel
The Elvetham Hotel is set within 35 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens and boasting 93 charming guest rooms. The gardens offer walks, croquet lawns, a tennis court and spaces ideal for outdoor events. The event team would be very happy to advise and help to organise activities for your teambuilding and away days.
The stunning hotel is a perfect blend of plenty of traditional elegance and awe-inspiring art work, both on the walls and the beautiful ceilings. The opulent bedrooms have been updated to a great standard with beautiful bathrooms and classic furnishings.
The Elvetham Hotel is a popular choice for weddings, conferences, and private events, with a variety of function rooms and outdoor spaces to accommodate different needs. Its combination of history, stunning gardens, and personalised service make it a venue for any occasion.
Whether youโre looking for a peaceful weekend getaway, a romantic setting for a wedding, or a memorable place for a corporate event, The Elvetham Hotel offers a unique blend of history, luxury, and countryside charm.
If you are not a member of PA Life Club yet, do join the free 1500 strong group of EAs and PAs, and get exclusive invitations to FAM Trips such as this. Other benefits include Partner Offers and discounted online course.
