The De Vere East Midlands Conference Centre (EMCC) on the University Park campus at the University of Nottingham has announced a major refurbishment to begin at the end of January.  More than £2million is being invested to reinvigorate the conference facility, which will be unveiled at the end of Spring 2020. The project, which is […]

Just one hour’s drive from London, “the loveliest castle in the world” is an ideal location for conferences, teambuilding activities and retreats. Set in the Kent countryside within 500 acres of parkland, Leeds Castle has been a Norman stronghold; the private property of six of England’s medieval queens; a palace used by Henry VIII and […]

Preen by Thornton Bregazzi presented their seasonal ready-to-wear collection in the dome-shaped Assembly Hall of Church House Westminster on Day 3 of London Fashion Week. Founded in 1996 by husband and wife team Justin Thornton and Thea Bregazzi, fans of Preen by Thornton Bregazzi include the Duchess of Cambridge and Michelle Obama.  Designs are an […]

This year celebrates the 15th year of one of London’s most unique venues: the famous ICE BAR. Inside 30 tonnes of ice have been carved and sculptured into dramatic icons of Norse mythology to create the current installation, Valhalla Calling.  On entry guests are provided with faux-fur hooded capes and thermal gloves that keep out […]

Take your wellness and wellbeing up a notch this year with a FREE trip to the celebrated Cottonmill Spa at Sopwell House in Hertfordshire. Following a £14 million investment, the state-of-the-art Cottonmill Spa is the UK’s first private members’ spa, combining the serenity of a spa with the exclusivity of a club.  And, thanks to […]

A good venue team will act as memory makers – providing far more than just space to host an event, writes Mandy Jennings (pictured), Executive Director of Venues of Excellence… Once upon a time, if you were tasked with booking a venue you’d do just that – hire the space and tick the boxes when […]

Representing the next generation of Hilton hotels, Hilton London Bankside is the perfect venue for an event, whether it’s for 8 people or 700 people. This design-led hotel has won multiple awards for its 11 flexible meeting spaces, five star customer service and diverse menu packages. The Mersive Wireless Presentation System used throughout allows presenters […]

British restaurateur and events caterer Searcys has posted a successful 2019, hosting over 15,000 commercial events across its portfolio and over 380,000 guests across the restaurants and bars. Those numbers have led to a reported revenue increase of 17.5% from 2018, with like-for-like contributing 6.7% of the total revenue growth. In turn, this has led to […]

Travelodge has been around for 35 years, making it a well established brand BUT not one that many people REALLY know. It’s grown and changed almost unrecognisably since it became Britain’s first budget hotel chain in 1985 – we bet it’s not the Travelodge you think you know… 572 hotels in the UK  Over 43,000 rooms of which […]

Searcys at the Gherkin has reported on an impressive year of events business, with the venue hosting over 1,400 events and 22,614 guests across the top four floors of the landmark building. It says more than 15% of all the events held in 2019 took place over breakfast, reflecting an increase from 4% last year. This shift away from […]

Whether it’s the school run, breakfast, bath time, homework… caring for children never stops, and when you team this with a busy nine-to-five, it’s safe to say that you deserve a holiday where you can switch off and enjoy a little ‘me’ time – even if it’s only for half an hour!   We get it, […]

Hotel and Conference Centre Whittlebury Park in Northamptonshire has invested £1m into transforming its event and meeting spaces giving clients an entirely new experience for 2020. The new rooms will have bespoke lighting, stylish furniture and a brand new informal meeting space, the ‘Inside, Outside’ room. Whittlebury’s team have designed their new inspiring spaces following feedback from clients and […]

The Barbican’s strategy to use Cinemas 2 and 3 as conference venues as well as cinemas has helped Barbican Business Events achieve its 2019/20 financial target in just nine months.  The new spaces, which have been particularly popular with last minute bookers each have a capacity of 150, the latest AV equipment and private registration, […]

Starwood Capital Group has confirmed that The Grand Hotel will open its doors again this summer following a restoration project to return the city centre landmark to its former glory.  The luxury hotel, a Grade II listed building, will be home to 185 rooms and suites, retaining the building’s mix of French Renaissance, Victorian and […]

British restaurateur and events caterer Searcys has announced a new sommelier training initiative for 2020, focusing on non-alcoholic pairings to match with lunch and dinner menus. The company cites research suggests that more consumers are drinking no and low ABV drinks, seeing a £22.4 million growth with a reported 20.4% of consumers now opting for […]

The first ODEON Luxe & Dine has opened in Islington Square in north London, offering guests a premium experience and the ability to order gourmet food and drink directly to their seat. An evolution of the existing Luxe experience and designed for grown ups, guests at the cinema can choose from a carefully created menu, […]

Gloucester Rugby saw 58% increase in bookings for Christmas parties across its 2019 winter season, with 80% coming from new clients. The club says this was a direct result of changes in Gloucester Rugby’s sales strategy and positioning of the Conference & Events business.  Over the last year, Gloucester Rugby has focused on increasing the […]

The England Rugby squad are heading to Twickenham Stadium on 14 February for the Official England Rugby Dinner in aid of Injured Players Foundation. This rugby filled evening will include a number of Q&As with the players, offering an insight into what it’s like to be a part of the squad. Taking place just days […]