Four Unique UK Hotspots for a Luxurious Corporate Retreat

The privilege of exclusive occupancy is a necessity for any luxurious corporate retreat – but sometimes finding awe-inspiring venues in luscious locations with the right modern amenities to match is a little harder to come by. To help, we’ve sourced some of the best luxury venues now available for exclusive hire across the UK that are all perfect for your next corporate getaway…

1. England: Leeds Castle, Kent

Just 1 hour’s drive from London, this 900-year-old Castle feels a million miles away from the country’s capital. Surrounded by 500 acres of parkland and formal gardens, the Castle is ideal for big meetings, blowout celebrations and intimate retreats. Although most famously owned by Henry VIII, the property was also privately owned by Anglo-American Olive, Lady Baillie in the early-twentieth century, when it became a party palace for the rich and famous. The Kennedys, Charlie Chaplin and Sir Winston Churchill (to name a few) were some of the Castle’s frequent guests during this period.

Today, this unique venue has all the modern amenities needed for high-scale meetings or events, but its real USP surely has to be its impressive setting. Your first glimpse of the Castle is enough to take your breath away – set on two islands, the Castle rises from a vast, majestic moat, and its parkland and 9-hole golf course is perfect for team building activities, including unforgettable free-flying falconry experiences.

Guests can book the entire Castle Island, with flexible use of the Maiden’s Tower, Castle State rooms, drawing rooms, boardroom, dining room, banqueting hall and luxury four-poster bedrooms. For more intimate retreats, the Castle has also recently restored and opened a 14^th century country manor on the edge of the estate. This property, named Battel Hall, offers equally beautiful break-out rooms, an oak-paneled dining room, individually designed bedrooms and lush private gardens for summer soirees. It’s a destination that if you’re privileged enough to visit, your guests will talk about it for many more years to come.

For more information visit www.leeds-castle.co.uk

Leeds Castle, Maidstone, Kent ME17 1PL

2. Scotland: Glenmorangie House

As well as enjoying use of the entire House, meeting and seminar rooms, this Scottish venue can also arrange for the likes of shooting parties, a round of golf, private Distillery tours and helicopter flights over the Black Isle.

Corporate guests at Glenmorangie can also enjoy dining on local cuisine in a traditional Highland house and sample the Glenmorangie single malt whisky with some expert tutoring. It’s the perfect venue for those looking to experience Scotland, the Highlands and everything it has to offer.  The highlands are as remote and romantic as you’d imagine, with scenery that is truly breathtaking. Less than half an hour away from Glenmorangie is also the Royal Dornoch golf course – one of the best courses in the country. A stay at Glenmorangie is ideal for corporate groups looking to book active team building activities, including mountaineering, biking and rambling. You can also take a boat to Loch Ness, or head out to sea to spot bottlenose dolphins. Accommodation at Glenmorangie is first class, with Master Bedrooms, Main House rooms and cosy cottages available to book for all groups large and small.

For more information visit www.theglenmorangiehouse.com

Glenmorangie House, Fearn by Tain, Tain, IV20 1XP

3. Wales: Buckland Hall, Brecon Beacons

Buckland Hall is a Victorian country mansion set in 62 acres of grounds, overlooking the River Usk and the peaks of the Brecon Beacons National Park. The building itself is built on the site of a much older mansion, and today appears to be Tudor-Elizabethan style with gables, mullioned windows, fireplaces and a spectacular grand hallway. The extensive mansion facilities include a range of conference, activity and social rooms to suit the needs of small and large groups. With big rooms overlooking the valley, they are perfect for meetings and team workshops. The Monmouth Library also serves as a great breakout room, and the 60 acres of gardens and parkland along the River Usk make it a dream location for corporate teams to unwind and roam through the Welsh countryside. The venue can also accommodate conferences for up to 180 people sitting in a single space, in their ‘Grand Lounge’.

But what else is there to see or do in the Brecon Beacons? Well, the nearby Black Mountains also form an area now designated as an ‘International Dark Sky Reserve’ – meaning very little light pollution and some late-night star gazing for party revelers. In addition, the mountains and winding rivers are just a stone’s throw away from Buckland Hall, making it ideal for smaller corporate groups looking for a kayaking or climbing activities in Wales.

For more information visit www.bucklandhall.co.uk

Buckland Hall, Bwlch, Breocn, LC3 7JJ

4. Northern Ireland: Galgorm Spa & Golf Resort

This premier Hotel & Spa is situated just 30 minutes from Belfast. Set within 163 acres of lush parkland, with the spectacular River Maine flowing through the estate, it’s the perfect base from which to explore Northern Ireland’s main attractions. There are a number of venues available for exclusive hire, including the magnificent bespoke glass Conservatory. This beautiful venue perfectly frames the stunning setting of the cascading River Maine and the lush parkland in the Resort, and is also home to the Galgorm Gin Club – the largest collection of fine local and international gins in Northern Ireland. The venue is ideal for pre-dinner drinks in conjunction with one of the large event spaces, or as a stand-alone meeting space or party with gin tasting and foraging in the grounds. But it wouldn’t be a retreat without accommodation, and luckily Galgorm have luxury hotel suites or riverside cabins and cottages available to book alongside your event.  Warm tones and rich hues epitomize the comfort and style of the Superior guest rooms, whilst the cottages and cabins offer more seclusion and privacy, situated on the banks of the river.

For more information visit www.galgorm.com

Galgorm Resort and Spa, Galgorm, BT42 1EA