On the 2nd night we had a private dinner back in the Towers followed by a disco and karaoke (which I steered clear of, as I didn’t want to show everyone up!).  The meal was a plated set meal which was excellent as indeed was the service and the staff all very friendly.
The venue has a contemporary conference centre Horsley Court and Horsley Management Centre and the more traditional Horsley Towers which is a grand Victorian mansion. All properties are on the same site and just a short distance from each other. The decor in the traditional house is in keeping with the period whilst the conference centre is more modern in decor.
There's something to suit all tastes at Horsley. Between the venues they offer 52 meeting spaces and 180 en-suite bedrooms.  The venue is set within 70 acres of parkland so plenty of scope for team activities.

Befa goes West

After a very warm welcome at the Mercure Holland House, Cardiff, I was met with amazing views of Cardiff City/Cardiff Bay from my bedroom on the 12th floor. The Hotel has superb meeting facilities for up to 600 delegates, all with natural daylight. The Balmoral Suite, which is the largest room, is self-contained with its own entrance from the street.

The Balmoral lobby and bar area is ideal for arrival drinks receptions, registration and exhibitions complementing the amazing space available in The Balmoral Suite which is one of the largest spaces available in Cardiff other than the stadiums.
St Davids Hall is a short walk form the hotel, with a huge choice of performances. My guilty pleasure - ABBA - but what a great night and just one of the many attractions to take advantage of close to the hotel.
If shopping is your thing, then look no further than the end of the road!! You will never get another experience quite like it! Once you are all shopped out, a short 5 minute stroll back to the hotel for a relaxing spa treatment or a well deserved drink in the bar before fabulous food in Hodge's restaurant with service to match.
What a lovely weekend in Cardiff and with the Mercure team at Holland House - that's the way to do it!!!!
Befa Bear

Me again, Befa!
Now I was down in Cardiff the other day and had a lovely stop over at The St David’s Hotel and Spa, reportedly the best 5* property in Wales.

The hotel has 132 bedrooms and another 20 suites in addition so plenty of room for the small to medium sized groups. All of the bedrooms are contemporary in design and have private balconies overlooking the bay.
When it comes to meetings there are two main suites each with their own pre-function area for breaks and catering . There are also a further 8 smaller rooms which can also act as breakout rooms.
The Marine Spa alongside the hotel is supposed to be the best in Wales with a huge infinity swimming pool looking out over the bay, plus sauna and steam room as well as an extensive treatment area.
The hotel is close to the Mermaid’s Quay with its range of bars, restaurants and entertainment and from my room I could also see the mighty edifice of the Millennium Stadium, already the scene of many epic battles for the rugby crown.

In the wonderful Yorkshire town of Harrogate I found myself staying at The Majestic Hotel. It is an impressive Victorian hotel nestling in the centre of the town and adjacent to the Harrogate International Centre. Set in 12 acres of award-winning landscaped gardens, the Barcelo Harrogate Majestic Hotel offers a traditional setting for a relaxed stay.

There are 170 en suite rooms including some premium rooms, which I was lucky enough to stay in. All the  bedrooms are comfortable and very spacious and many have lovely views over the gardens and town and the whole building has a wonderful feel of grandeur.
I used the health and leisure club and after that I relaxed with a wonderful treatment in the Elemis beauty salon. There are ten meeting rooms and conference suites with the wonderful Carriage suite taking 500 in theatre style.
There are many authentic and impressive wooden features throughout the building retaining its feel of history but still incorporating all the modern requirements for today’s delegates

Befa at The Lyrath Estate and Kilkenny River Court Hotel

As I stepped off of the plane at Dublin airport I was so excited to be on my way to The Lyrath Estate in Kilkenny.
After a pleasant hour and 20 minutes drive I arrived at the venue. As I made my way up the drive through 170 acres of mature parkland I was met by an amazing 17th century house and a heartfelt Irish welcome.

I checked in and met my belongings in my room.  It was just perfect.  Simple luxury and elegance in a contemporary style.  All 137 bedrooms are designed , decorated and furnished at the same standard so no matter what your number is you will share the same experience!
As you can imagine I was ready to eat after my journey so found a few friends in their Thai restaurant ‘Yindees’.  We had a truly fantastic meal with exceptional service and finished the night relaxing with a drink in the X Bar before hitting the sack for a perfect night’s sleep.

The Lyrath Estate houses the Convention Centre which can accommodate delegate numbers from 2 – 1,500 and with 170 acres of parkland on your doorstep the range of team building activities is endless.
A short distance from The Lyrath Estate nestled in a private courtyard in centre of Kilkenny is their sister property The Kilkenny River Court Hotel.  Again a charming venue with 6 conference suites accommodating 2 – 260 delegates and 90 elegant bedrooms.
What more to end my stay in Ireland than an exquisite BBQ on the banks of the river Nore with the 12th Century Medieval Kilkenny Castle as my backdrop!

Both venues really do show off the charm of the Irish!!!

Hello me again!
I have just returned from the grade II listed Victorian Mansion  Tortworth Court Four Pillars Hotel, in South Gloucestershire.
This is a very elegant hotel, with a choice of two restaurants, The Orangery or Moreton's, there is also a choice of bars to relax in, The Atrium bar which is one of Tortworth Court’s finest original rooms and Brunels Bar which has beautiful period features and ornate ceiling.

The hotel has its own private grounds overlooking a lake perfect for team building activities, it also  has an arboretum of over 300 rare and protected trees.
In addition to their 16 conference rooms, during the summer months they have a permanent marquee, which can be used for conferences or events.

Befa at Chewton Glen
I went down to Chewton Glen in Hampshire recently. Chewton Glen is on the edge of the New Forest and has it’s own little path through the woods down to the sea which even I managed to walk within a few minutes.
It’s a really cool place to be and your first glimpse is of this majestic building standing at the top of the sloping lawns as you drive through the winding, tree-lined access road. That’s providing you chose to come by car, of course – you may want to make use of their helicopter pad, as many of their guests do.

There are 58 bedrooms or suites at Chewton, each of which has its own distinct style and flavour and most have their own terrace or balcony or garden. Something there for everyone.
There are also several meeting rooms at Chewton Glen ranging from large conferences for 140 down to intimate gatherings for just a handful. A wing of the bedrooms can also be linked in to some of the meeting rooms and a lounge effectively giving you exclusive use for a Board Strategy retreat.
If all that work saps your strength, they have a fabulous spa where you can simply go for a swim, alternatively you might opt to use the hydrotherapy pool with its different areas, or take a sauna or a steam bath! They also have lots of different treatments to be administered by their charming therapists – just the thing for a tired teddy!
Finally, you must visit the restaurant where head chef, Luke Matthews, serves up his fabulous fare to be assisted down with superb wines from their excellent cellars.
I met a new friend whilst I was there; here I am pictured with Chewton’s very own New Forest Pony – we’re still sending each other emails.

Have you tried Chewton Glen? What did you think?

Hi there!
I found myself at The Belfry recently and had a great time. Now, many of you will know The Belfry because of its golf association having hosted the Ryder Cup on four occasions as well as many other prestigious golfing events. And it’s true that the golf courses are stunning as well as the comprehensive golfing academy where you can hone your skills. Even I managed to hit the ball 200 yards after a bit of tuition!