Although we’re lucky enough to have delivered events around the globe from Antigua to Zagreb, there’s a lot to be said about our home turf!
Northamptonshire – or Northants for short – is an ideal UK conference destination for many and varied reasons. Its central location and easy links with the M1 makes it easily accessible by road, rail and air. It’s a compelling intersection where urban buzz and rural idyll converge. And it boasts an incredible range of venues, from classic and tradition, to contemporary and left-of-centre.
Here’s just five (of a ginormous list) of our long-time favourites and more recent newbies that we’re tipping for the top in 2023.
1) Fawsley Hall Hotel & Spa, Daventry
If majestic vaulted ceilings and cavernous fireplaces with a Game of Thrones vibe appeal, look no further this historic and luxurious country house hotel and spa. It facilitates up to 180 people across seven stunning spaces that remain true to its charming period style. Add 60 opulent bedrooms to the mix; an award-winning restaurant with four AA red stars and two Rosettes; a leading-edge health club and spa, and some of the finest remaining examples of Capability Brown’s legendary landscaped gardens. Fawsley Hall has everything under one highly impressive banner, for business and / or pleasure.
2) Saints RFC, Northampton (cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens)
The home of the Premiership Northampton Saints provides a spectacular backdrop for your delegates, with a maximum capacity for conferences and events for up to 600 people. This includes more than 40 meeting rooms with enviable pitch side views. And with 1,500 parking spaces, cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens is a stellar choice for a broad range of events, whether you’re looking to put on a Christmas fayre, host a full-scale conference, or launch a new product.
3) Sedgebrook Hall, Northampton
The magnificence of 4-star country house splendour doesn’t get more quintessential than this. And the even better news? There’s plenty to go round. A staggering 22 event spaces for up to 200 delegates. 103 lavishly appointed guest bedrooms and suites. A palatial beauty spa and leisure club. And 13 glorious acres of exquisite gardens. It’s unsurprising that Sedgebrook Hall is the first and only choice for upscale company BBQs, meetings, team building events and Christmas parties, year in, year out. It’s mid way through a complete refurb so bedrooms, main conference room and bar / restaurant are gorgeous, still a bit of work to do on toilets and syndicates but watch this space!
4) Silverstone & Whittlebury Park, Towcester
Ok, we’re technically cheating with three venues here. But we couldn’t mention the mighty Silverstone without the hotels that are key to it… The world famous F1 course is a fast track to podium worthy events, indoors, trackside outdoors, in-person or hybrid. It brings a wow factor to any meeting, seminar, festival, exhibition or conference, for up to 4,000 people. In addition, it’s adjoined by the recently launched Hilton Garden Inn, with 197 bedrooms and a rooftop terrace.
But if you’re looking for a higher end experience, Whittlebury Hall is just a short stroll away. It’s sheer perfection for teaming a racing package with sone corporate golf, a 3 AA Rosette dinner in one of the elegant private dining rooms, and a dip in the imposing 19 metre swimming pool. Plus, there’s conference and event facilities for up to 400 people if you’re mixing business with pleasure. It’s due a refurb, if we’re honest, but you can’t beat it for facilities and proximity to the circuit.
And now for something different… Playhouse is a first of its kind concept by Inventive Leisure, who are best known for Revolution Bars and Revolucion de Cuba. It’s all about interactive gaming technology, home-baked mouth-watering metre-long pizzas, creating Instagrammable moments, and sipping cocktails in waltzer-style booths. You can hire one of the spaces, or the whole venue, for high octane fun for up to 360 people. And sticking with the F1 theme, the Raceway is wildly popular, with dedicated Commentators capturing every thrill and spill of each edge-of-your-seat 10-driver race. It’s well worth a closer look for team building, reward and recognition events, and conference socials.
Other Honourable Mentions…
… because it’s SO tough to choose just five stand-out venues in Northants!
Northants Country Cricket Ground – great all round, large venue
Althorp House – beautiful Stately Home location
Staverton Park, Daventry – tonnes of meeting space and leisure, tricky location for rail access
Park Inn by Radisson Hotel, Northampton – seriously lacking in parking but great meeting space
Hellidon Lakes Golf & Leisure Hotel, Daventry – great for golf and nice meeting product, again, access tricky
Kettering Park Conference Centre – Very easy access and lots of onsite parking. Great ambience in public spaces. Conference offering is good and there’s even a really lovely outside dining area.
At Brightspace Events, we’re something of an authority on the dynamic range of event products in our local area. So, get in touch if Northants is on your radar, and tap in to our unparalleled product knowledge, for venue finding, supplier procurement or full-on event management.
