The Lanternhouse - Ulverston
Lanternhouse is not your usual venue – don’t expect the experience to be that of a hotel or conference centre. As such, it is an exciting place to consider for many types of event. Its main function is that of a Creation Centre: a place where artists and creators come together to explore ideas and develop new work. The creative staff team work hard to enable other individuals and organisations to make use of the spaces too, especially where an event can fit harmoniously into the ongoing rhythm of the building with its changing body of resident and visiting artists, and ongoing programme of participatory arts projects.
The Lanternhouse is in Cumbria on the fringe of the Lake District National Park. Easily accessible by road (30 minutes from M6) its other advantage is a direct rail link from the main West Coast line through Lancaster (35 minute journey and along one of the most scenic routes in the county). Manchester International Airport is just 1.5 hours away by direct train link.
Lanternhouse has its own artist designed accommodation with distinctive rooms for resident artists, which sleep up to 8. Also 2 kitchens, a library and roof terrace.
The Barn is an inspirational space 10 x 20 metres with lighting rig, audio and projection and blackout, leading to garden area with brook. Also available is aluminium rostra staging and 3-phase power.
The Lanternhouse also has a 10 x 9 metre Harlequin Tempo dance floor which can be used.
Music room with limited recording facilities, piano, percussion and some brass.
DTP room: Dedicated server and network with external internet access, also possible use of a Mac Pro 2.66 GB quad processor with 20 inch TFT screen, dual DVI graphics card, Final Cut Express HD, Microsoft Office for Mac and iLife.
AV meeting room: Motorised screen, projector. Full DVD/PC access, television on mobile stand DVD and VCR.
Café, 2 additional free offices, 1 large garden studio with sink and power, WiFi and Ethernet net access through most of the building.
Lanternhouse International’s spacious, inviting and open reception area is a natural gallery and is also an imaginative gateway/starting point for other projects and activities being staged at the Creation Centre.
For larger performance works, street shows and festival productions, the Creation Centre also has its own dedicated warehouse/workshop and natural, grass amphitheatre just one mile away from the Lanternhouse. The total site is approx 2 acres and the purpose-built, fully-equipped warehouse has internal/external 3-phase power.
Agents review:
“The Lanternhouse is a fantastic venue for any kind of event. I was lucky enough to be able to use it to host a charity night for our local hospice, and I think that being able to hold the event in such a wonderful place made the evening. It really was the perfect choice!
It is located right along the main road into Ulverston and is easily recognised by its tall blue tower, peeking out over the other buildings around. Parking is limited but there is a large car park a short distance away.
The staff were really friendly and helpful. Because of the timings of the event some of them gave up an evening of their own time to help and didn’t mind in the slightest.
I was given a guided tour of the whole place, and was shocked at the incredible facilities available. The Barn was my favourite room and the gorgeous exposed beams gave it loads of character. The lighting rig was really easy to use, even though I am a complete technophobe I even managed to position a couple of lights.
If you’re looking for somewhere for a productive event/meeting this is the perfect venue, it’s calm, innovative, and in a brilliant location. I would definitely use the Lanternhouse again and would recommend it to anyone who wants to hold an event in the Lake District.”
The Balmoral Hotel - Edinburgh
The Balmoral Hotel, with its famous clock tower, is one of the most luxurious hotels in Edinburgh. It is located on Princes Street, right next to Waverley Train Station, with all the leading department stores within easy reach. It has 188 bedrooms in total, many with some amazing views of the city. The Balmoral Spa was recently voted one of the UK’s best Urban Day Spas by readers of Conde Nast Traveller.
The Balmoral has also won “Best In-House Banqueting Team” at the inaugural Scottish Event Awards September 2008, and have a fantastic range of 10 function rooms for all your event needs:
Ground Floor:
Princes Suite: This room can take up to 60 theatre style or 70 for a banquet. It has some lovely views out onto Princes Street.
Sir Walter Scott Suite: This room is the biggest that the Balmoral has to offer and can take up to 350 theatre style or 320 for a banquet. It has some magnificent views of Edinburgh Castle.
Holyrood Suite: This room can take up to 120 theatre style or 130 for a banquet. It has lots of natural daylight with views out over the town.
Waverley Suite: This room can take up to 60 theatre style or 50 for a banquet. It has views out over the Old Town.
Second Floor:
Annan Suite: This room can take up to 40 theatre style and for a banquet. It has great views out onto both Edinburgh Castle and the Old Town. It also has two fireplaces within the room, for those cold December meetings!
Esk Suite & Beauly Suite: These rooms also have two fireplaces and can take up to 60 theatre style and for a banquet each. They both have views out over Edinburgh Castle.
Don Suite & Carron Suite: These rooms can both take up to 30 theatre style and 20 for a banquet each. They both have views out over Edinburgh Castle.
Forth Suite: This room can take up to 40 theatre style and for a banquet. It has two fireplaces and also some magnificent views out over both Edinburgh Castle and Princes Street.
Agents review:
“I had an amazing time at the Balmoral. It has the most fantastic location and some of the best views in Edinburgh. I was bowled over by how nice and friendly all the staff were, and how well looked after I was from arrival to departure.
My bedroom had the most comfortable bed and the biggest bath I have ever seen! The mini bar was well stocked and had a fantastic range of goodies.
Unfortunately I arrived too late to eat in the restaurant but room service was quick and the food was fantastic. I did have breakfast in Hadrian’s Brassiere and that was really good!
The Balmoral Spa was incredible, with it’s conservatory like feel it almost seemed as if I had been transported out of the city and into a retreat somewhere in the mountains. Finding the Spa was an adventure though: wrapped up in my Rocco Forte branded dressing gown and slippers I padded my way down a winding corridor to a private lift, which took me down the Spa – thank goodness it was a quiet afternoon and no one saw me looking like a fluffy marshmallow!
The function rooms were exactly what you would expect from a Rocco Forte Property: - classic, timely and gorgeous. All of the rooms have great views and most had fireplaces and chandeliers to add to the character of the hotel.
If you are looking for something with a little luxury and have a few extra pennies then I would definitely recommend the Balmoral.”
The Chesterfield Mayfair Hotel – London
The Chesterfield is located on Charles Street in Mayfair. It is a beautiful, stylish and traditional hotel, where staff instantly put you at ease. Everyone is brilliantly helpful and all guests are treated as the most important people that have ever passed through those glass doors. It blends old-fashioned values and traditions with 21st century comfort and technology.
On the meeting front there is a choice of 7 lovely function rooms:
The Boardroom is a very traditional room, located on the lower ground floor and can hold up to 8 for a meeting or dinner.
The Salon is a wonderful hexagonal shaped room. It has really comfortable leather chairs and three floor to ceiling windows. It is ideal for 8 people boardroom or for a private dinner.
The Library is a beautiful oak-panelled room and has a separate seating area for refreshment breaks or to set up a small working buffet. It has a maximum capacity of 18 boardroom or 30 theatre style.
The Royal Suite is fantastic for your larger meetings as it can hold up to 100 people for a meeting or a dinner. It has elegant and tasteful décor with lots of natural daylight. It also breaks down into two smaller meeting rooms; The Queen Suite and The Charles Suite:
The Charles Suite is the biggest out of the two and can take a maximum of 50 for a banquet or meeting.
The Queen Suite is slightly smaller with room for 30 banquet or theatre.
The Conservatory is the other larger room. It is situated on the ground floor next to the Terrace Bar and Butlers Restaurant. It is a very light room with marble floors that always gives the impression of a room that was once used for afternoon tea! It can hold up to 45 theatre and 40 for dinner.
Agents review:
“It’s really easy to find and I am not the best at navigating myself to places! As soon as I approached the front of the hotel the smartly dressed doormen seemed to know straight away who I was (and after a day of roaming through the jungle that is London, I’m not 100% convinced I was recognizable as the smartly dressed girl who had left home that morning!).
Even though this was my fourth visit I was still amazed at how smart and welcoming it is. The staff were, as ever, helpful, friendly and charming. I never once had to worry about anything as I knew that everything I had asked for would be taken care of.
The food was absolutely scrumptious; the beds were the comfiest I have ever slept in. If you are looking for an elegant and charming hotel or meeting venue in London, I would highly recommend The Chesterfield. ”
