One of Britain’s most important maritime sites, The Commissioner’s House at The Historic Dockyard Chatham is set to reopen this July following a remarkable £3.5 million restoration, unveiling a refined heritage destination for corporate events and celebrations. EAs and PAs, plus other business support professionals have a unique chance to visit this historic events venue in Kent on a PA Life Club’s FAM Trip on June 9th…
A grand mansion built in 1704 for the Commissioner of the Royal Dockyard, the house is the oldest intact naval example of its kind in Great Britain. The extensive renovation has sensitively transformed the property into a flexible, design-led venue. The property seamlessly blends original architectural details with modern event functionality whilst maintaining its elegance and charm across both indoor and outdoor spaces.
The Commissioner’s House lends itself well to become a distinctive Kent meetings venue
The venue now offers 12 distinctive indoor event rooms alongside an expansive garden with private terrace, accommodating everything from small private meetings to team building, conferences and receptions for up to 120 delegates, with outdoor capacity reaching 200 attendees.
At the heart of the redevelopment is the splendid new Orangery, a light-filled, contemporary space designed to host larger gatherings. Positioned within the Commissioner’s House grounds, it connects seamlessly to the terrace increasing overall event capacity and enhancing the flow of the venue, making it ideal for breakout sessions, networking and summer receptions.
The restoration has also unlocked the previously unused second floor, introducing four additional meeting spaces. These include three boardrooms equipped with the latest AV facilities including Samsung QET professional displays and Yealink integrated video conferencing technology, alongside an informal lounge-style room designed for more private discussions.
Plenty of catering choices to fuel your event
Catering has been reimagined and is delivered in-house under the direction of Head Chef Dan Austin. Menus focus on seasonal, local Kent produce and cater for daytime or evening event formats from working lunches and conference dining to banquets and outdoor BBQ experiences. The menus have been designed to re-establish The Commissioner’s House as one of the region’s most distinctive and sought-after hospitality venues for considered events.
Olivia Horner, director of commercial and operations at Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust, said:
“The Commissioner’s House has been transformed into a unique venue for gathering, in keeping with its 322-year tradition of being a place where guests are welcomed, decisions are made and stories are shared.
“Throughout the renovation, several remarkable historical features were uncovered, offering a deeper glimpse into the building’s past and helping to shape how it has been thoughtfully restored today.
“We have carefully preserved its character and charm alongside the introduction of contemporary capabilities to create a menu of impressive meeting spaces where connection and shared experiences take centre stage, just as they always have done.”
Venue hire of The Commissioner’s House alone, or include spaces within The Historic Dockyard Chatham
Set within the wider landscape of The Historic Dockyard Chatham, The Commissioner’s House can stand alone as a private venue. It can also be combined with the Dockyard’s many event spaces to create truly bespoke experiences rooted in heritage and brought to life with modern hospitality.
For more information on booking The Commissioner’s House for your corporate event, please contact ch-events@chdt.org.uk.
More about Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust and The Commissioner’s House
The Historic Dockyard Chatham is one of Britain’s leading maritime heritage destinations, spanning 80 acres and home to more than 100 historic buildings, including 48 Scheduled Ancient Monuments. At its heart stands The Commissioner’s House, a grand Georgian residence built in 1704 and the oldest surviving intact naval residence of its kind in Britain.
Following a £3.5 million restoration, this self-contained venue now offers elegant spaces for weddings, celebrations and corporate events and can also be seamlessly integrated with other historic spaces across the Dockyard to create truly bespoke experiences.
The Dockyard is in the stewardship of the independent charity, Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust (Registered Charity No. 292101) which preserves, protects and brings the Dockyard’s extraordinary history to life for future generations.
👉Join PA Life Club and register to attend the FAM Trip to explore the meetings and event options at The Historic Dockyard Chatham on 9 June. The Club is free for EAs, PAS, VAs, Office Managers and other business support professionals to join.
