Latest news

Sedgebrook Hall Introduces Allergen Emergency Kits

Sedgebrook Hall Launches Inclusive Christmas Party Packages with Low & No Alcohol Options

The Venues Collection Achieves Significant Milestones in Future First Charter Goals for 2024

Tips for a Successful Training Workshop

Setting clear objectives is fundamental to the success of any training workshop, as it provides a focused direction for both the organisers and participants. Clear objectives help in designing the content and structure of the workshop, ensu

The Ultimate Guide to Children’s Entertainment for Weddings

We all know that planning a wedding involves juggling a million and one individual things. Keeping our guests relaxed and enjoying themselves is central to a memorable day, and ensuring that your youngest guests are entertained can be a cru

Christmas Party packages on sale now for 2024 at Sedgebrook Hall

2024 Christmas Party packages at Sedgebrook Hall, Northamptonshire, are now on sale. The team of Christmas planners are on hand to book guests onto a shares party night or discuss private parties with anyone looking to book a unique party e

Sedgebrook Hall becomes the first UK venue to remove dairy from all dessert menus

Sedgebrook Hall, part of The Venues Collection has become the first UK venue to remove dairy from all dessert menus. This groundbreaking move is expected to save over 42 tonnes of CO2 on event menus alone in 2024.

Unforgettable Evening Entertainment for Weddings

Congratulations! You’re engaged and on the path to planning the wedding of your dreams. Your wedding reception is a celebration of love and unity, and what better way to keep the festivities alive than with unforgettable evening entertainme

Sedgebrook Hall launches ‘Meetings for Change Plus’ event packages for healthy planet, mind and body

Sedgebrook Hall has launched the ‘Meetings for Change Plus’ event packages, empowering organisers with options that are not only good for the planet but good for the mind and body too.

14 Affordable Hen Do Ideas To Wow The Bride

Hen parties are arguably one of the best parts of the whole wedding planning process: as the bride, you get to let your hair down, relax before the big day, and party like there’s no tomorrow with your nearest and dearest ladies. However, i

The Best Prom Theme Ideas Uncovered

Your prom is all about enjoying rare moments with peers and loved ones and creating beautiful memories. You will want to go for a prom theme that is unforgettable and matches your wild imagination for you and your peers.

Unique Hen Party Ideas and Themes The Bride Will Love

It’s your big night! You and your fellow hens have been looking forward to this night for a VERY long time. Yourself, your maid of honour and the bridesmaids may just be beginning to plan your bachelorette party and choosing the right hen p

8 Wedding Traditions Around the World

Wondering what types of wedding traditions there are around the world? With so many wedding customs around the world, it’s interesting to learn how different cultures celebrate marrying the love of their life! We delve into the most interes

Training and Development for Employees: The Key to Success

In the fast-paced world of business, one of the most valuable assets any company can possess is a skilled and motivated workforce. Investing in the development and training of your employees is not just essential for employee engagement and

Sedgebrook Hall Installs Solar-Powered EV Charging

Sedgebrook Hall has become the first property from The Venues Collection to install solar-powered EV (electric vehicle) charging points. This initiative is part of the Group’s commitment to reducing its carbon footprint and promoting sustai

Asian Wedding Ideas for the Perfect Wedding

Your wedding day is one of the most important in your lives so it’s important to get it right. Finding a venue that can cater for your dreams and your guest list, with the right theme is vital for your Asian wedding so we’ve compiled a list

Prom Planning Made Easy: Prom Planning Checklist

A prom is a memorable night to remember that comes once a year. It’s a time you and your friends can reflect on your school years and make memories that will last a lifetime. Before you experience a great night to remember you may be thinki

20 Fundraising Ideas to Help Raise Money for Your Charity Event

Fundraising can be a creative and engaging way to raise money for various causes, organisations, or projects. If you’re in need of inspiration to generate funds for your cause, we’ve compiled a selection of some of our favourite fundraising

9 Conference Activities for a Successful Event

Conferences play a vital role in facilitating networking, knowledge sharing, and building business relationships. However, the extensive sessions and information overload can sometimes leave attendees feeling demotivated.

The Venues Collection achieve Green Tourism ‘Green Meetings’ Standard

The Venues Collection can announce that all their UK conference & training venues have achieved the ‘silver’ level in the Green Tourism ‘Green Meetings’ Standard – the world’s largest sustainable certification programme.

11 Tips for Organising a Corporate Summer BBQ

Summer is almost here, and it’s the perfect time to host a corporate summer BBQ to celebrate your team’s achievements and boost employee morale. However, organising a successful corporate BBQ can be challenging, especially if it’s your firs

5 Fun Company Team Building Activities

Visit Silverstone Circuit | Complete Travel Guide

Located in the heart of the UK, Silverstone , home of British Motor Racing is easy to reach by road and public transport. Widely acclaimed for hosting electrifying Formula 1 world championship motor racing events, Silverstone provides an ex

COP27 and Sedgebrook Hall – Delivering for Planet and People

Delivering for Plant and People

9 Unmatched Alternatives to a Corporate Christmas Party

When it comes to planning your corporate Christmas party we can all agree that some traditions are best left in the past. Whether it’s the typical work Christmas party or office buffet, there is always room for new ideas to excite your team

Exciting 2022 Refurbishment Project Completed

Update: bedrooms, bar and lounge now fully refurbished! Pictures coming soon.

5 Best Corporate Team Building Events

Team building events are a great way of enhancing the bonds between your colleagues and reducing employee stress by providing the opportunity for individuals to learn about each other. If you have noticed that office life has become slightl

The Importance of Sustainability in the Hospitality Industry

Sedgebrook Hall and The Venues Collection are proud to announce our commitment to sustainability in the hospitality industry. We recognise the critical importance of sustainability in addressing issues like increased pollution, over-consump

Alternatives to Celebration of Life Services

There are no rules when it comes to planning the funeral of a loved one, so the options are endless to ensure you give the best possible send-off when planning a celebration of life service.

How to Arrange a Memorial Service

We’re sorry for your loss during this difficult time, we hope our guide can help to run your family through what to consider when arranging a memorial service.

5 Things To Look For in A Prom Venue

Your school prom should be a glamorous night where everyone has the chance to let their hair down so it’s important to make sure everything is planned perfectly. Choosing a prom venue is the one decision that will have the largest impact on

The Venues Collection Executive Chef selected for Aspirational Culinary Apprenticeship Programme

The Venues Collection’s Executive Chef Sam Morgan has been selected to take part in a groundbreaking culinary programme in collaboration with esteemed chef Marcus Wareing.

Sam Morgan: Why Buying British Matters

Sam Morgan is Executive Chef at The Venues Collection

Five Food Trends

Kerry Pearce, Head Chef at The Venues Collection’s Kents Hill Park shares the five food trends influencing what and how we will be eating over the next year:

The Venues Collection Launches Apprenticeship Charter

The Venues Collection, a nationwide provider of training and conference facilities, has launched an Apprenticeship Charter to help and reassure businesses when selecting appropriate accommodation for their apprentices whilst completing thei

The Venue Collection launches Future First Charter

The Venues Collection has launched its Future First Charter, a framework to shape and deliver the Group’s social purpose initiatives and targets. The Charter is built around three key pillars; People Pledge, Food Focus and Enriching Environ

Graduation Party Themes | The Ultimate List

It’s been a long few years, but you did it! It might have been quite a journey, filled with laughter, sweat, and tears, but you’ve graduated! And if that’s not something to celebrate, we don’t know what is. But with so many graduation party

8 Outdoor Party Ideas for Adults – Garden Party Ideas

If you’re struggling to decide on the perfect plan for your birthday party, fret not! We’re here to help with our list of the best outdoor party ideas for adults! We understand that as a “grown-up,” making choices can often be daunting. The

Strawberries, Seasonal Ingredient for July

Summer means Wimbledon and therefore strawberries! This delicious recipe is easy to make and is the perfect dessert to share with family and friends.

Offsite Meetings – Why Every Business Needs to Utilise Them

This article aims to discuss the benefits of offsite meetings and how businesses can utilise them to their advantage. No matter what kind of job you have, chances are you are involved in meetings. Offsite meetings are a great opportunity fo

8 Unique Birthday Party Themes For Adults That Are Totally Instagrammable

What better way to celebrate a milestone birthday than with the ultimate party with your nearest and dearest? Themed parties are a great way to laugh and have fun but you’re going to want something totally unique if you want your guests to

8 Inexpensive Work Summer Party Ideas

So, you’ve been tasked with arranging your corporate summer party? Event planning can be tough, especially when you have to stick to your companies’ budget. Trying to come up with work summer office party ideas that everyone will love, whil

What Is The Best Month To Get Married?

Of course, every couple wants their wedding to be the best it can be. It’s totally understandable! And for many newly engaged couples, deciding when it’s time to get married is the first step in making sure you two get hitched without a… we

Dog Walks in Northampton | 14 of the Best Dog Walks in Northamptonshire

Dog walkers in Northampton are always looking for new and exciting routes to take! In this article, we will be discussing the 14 best dog walks in Northampton, so you can discover a new trail.

Cherries, Seasonal Ingredient for June

Cherry season in the UK is short but one worth looking out for. This recipe is great to match with dark chocolate and hazelnuts for some indulgence. If you have a bumper crop of cherries, why not freeze them or infuse them into some alcohol

Asparagus, Seasonal Ingredient for May

Asparagus makes a great accompaniment to lots of dishes and cooks up in minutes! Try our delicious warm asparagus salad recipe from the comfort of your own at home.

As Seen In Conference News: Outdoor Events

Recently published in Aprils addition of Conference News , Jo Austin, Sales Director for The Venues Collection discusses the importance of outdoor events:

Sedgebrook Hall: Back to Business, A Case Study

Sedgebrook Hall contains all the modern amenities necessary to hold parties, conferences, weddings, events, meetings and many other functions including 22 flexible event spaces, Wi-Fi, incredible catering, accommodation and parking. The ven

Post Lockdown Party Planning Checklist

With the ending of lockdown in the UK on the horizon, there’s never been a better time to start getting together your post lockdown party planning checklist! However, lockdown or not, when it comes to planning a party there are a few things

5 Team Building Activities for Conference Calls You Need To Try Out

Let’s face it, there’s only so many times you can play Two Truths and One Lie before you and your new-found conference call buddies suffer from boredom, stage-fright, or straight up second-hand embarrassment. We’re not shy, so we would actu

Rhubarb, Seasonal Ingredient for April

Did you know rhubarb is botanically a vegetable but is treated as a fruit despite its sour taste? Try our delicious rhubarb recipe from the comfort of your own at home.

Celeriac, Seasonal Ingredient for March

Celeriac can often be overlooked because of its knobbly, odd-shape but its subtle celery-like flavour with nutty overtones is delicious. Try our celeriac recipes from the comfort of your own at home.

Kale, Seasonal Ingredient for February

Kale contains a wide range of nutrients that can help prevent various health conditions, it tastes great too! We’ve put together two of our favourite kale recipes, a Caesar salad and a versatile pesto , for you to create in the comfort of y

7 Utterly Charming Outdoor Winter Wedding Ideas

A winter wedding is the ultimate dream for a lot of couples, especially those who hold the festive season close to their hearts. However, outdoor winter wedding ideas can be few and far to come by, and settling on a theme can be a tricky de

How to Plan a Small Wedding: Epic Micro-Wedding Ideas

Bigger doesn’t always equate to better. We think that a more intimate guest list to any event can make it even more special. A ‘micro-wedding’ defines any ceremony under 20 people, and this has been a big buzzword in the industry as brides

Virtual Events by The Venues Collection

Lime Venue Portfolio and The Venues Collection are partnering to offer customers a virtual and hybrid event concept available through selected venues within their portfolios. ‘Your Virtual Events’ launches today and will provide specialist

How to Run a Team Meeting | Tips to Keep Delegates Engaged

If you work in an office, chances are you attend or run regular team meetings. Meetings themselves can be really effective and engaging, but over the years they’ve gained a bad reputation. Most workers have been subjected to an unstructured

#IAM TVC – Bringing people together safely

The Venues Collection is a brand where our people feel valued, respected, supported, cared for and happy. Our people and our culture are what defines us, what delivers great experiences, what continually improves what we do and what sets us

Find the perfect wedding dress style for body type

One of the most exciting things to prepare in the lead up to your wedding day is your wedding dress . Everything from wedding dress shopping with loved ones to walking down the aisle wearing your dress is a special moment which you’ll remem

Christmas centrepiece ideas for your festive table

One of the best parts about Christmas is the decoration and in today’s blog, we will be exploring Christmas centrepiece ideas. Turn your home into a Winter Wonderland with beautiful fir trees laden with sparkling baubles and lights strung e

The Ultimate Maid of Honor Duties Timeline | Checklist

Being the maid of honor at your BFF’s wedding is ultimate friendship goals and you’ll want to execute things perfectly. A maid of honor is essentially the lead bridesmaid and is responsible for the bachelorette party, bridal shower and anyt

The Mash Sessions Interview Joanne Barratt MD of TVC

Leading psychologists have predicted that working from home will not end anytime soon and the ‘traditional office’ will soon die out. However, with the need to still meet face-to-face, either weekly, fortnightly or monthly, can businesses s

30th Birthday Surprise Ideas She’ll Love

If you’re looking for 30th birthday surprise ideas then you have landed on the right post! We are here to give you our very best surprise 30th birthday ideas for her!

Funny Hen Party Surprises for the Bride-to-Be

If you have been set with the task of planning a hen party or hen weekend, chances are you are both nervous and excited. The hen party is a pinnacle point in the lead up to the wedding day and is a chance for the hen and her loved ones to d

Stop Food Waste Day 2020

We are committed to fighting food waste, even at home. Slight changes to our habits can significantly reduce food waste and by using every aspect of each ingredient we can all do our bit. This vegan pesto recipe has been created by our Exec

After Prom Ideas to Finish School in Style

Prom event season is a really great time. With the high school year ending and new beginnings on the horizon, it’s a chance for teens to celebrate the completion of exams and prepare for the next chapter in life. As many people go off to di

Icebreakers for Meetings & Training Seminars

Within any workplace, meetings are commonplace, whether they are a large scale gathering of the department or quick team catch-ups. All employees can benefit from having a strong sense of team within the workplace but when everyone is worki

Yarnfield Park sets up Market Stall to sell fruit and veg to community

Yarnfield Park Training and Conference Centre , part of The Venues Collection, set up a pop up market stall to sell their surplus fruit and vegetables to the community. Staff set up the stall in the conference centre’s foyer and invited mem

8 highly-effective training techniques

Training is a vital part of keeping a business operating at its peak performance. Richard Branson once said ‘Train people well enough so they can leave, treat them well enough so they don’t want to.’ This statement applies to organisations

Unusual Wedding Gift Ideas

Watching a loved one get married is a really exciting experience. Whether it’s a friend or family member, it’s such a joyous day that you will always cherish. Opening wedding gifts is a special moment for the couple, as they can remember th

The ultimate event planning template to reduce stress

It goes without saying, but planning an event can be a daunting task. With so much to think about it may be easy to become overwhelmed if you don’t have a good strategy. With plenty of event planning experience, at Sedgebrook Hall we can he

Top tips for keeping employees engaged during a work meeting

Meetings are fantastic for getting feedback and exchanging new ideas, as long as employee engagement is high. To maintain a high level of engagement, it’s important to spend a little time properly planning your meeting and the environment.

12 Top Tips on How To Plan An Outdoor Wedding UK

Your Wedding Day holds immense significance being one of the most special days of your life and choosing a natural setting for it is truly unparalleled. The expansive fields, breathtaking views, and abundant greenery serve as catalysts for

4 tips for perfect conference planning

Every year, thousands of people in the UK flock to various conferences with the intent to network, learn and inform. They leave with new knowledge, new connections and a “swag bag” full of conference goodies and the organisers are left with

Christmas Party Planning Tips for your Christmas Do

With Christmas just around the corner, it’s time to relax and celebrate with loved ones. If you’re having a Christmas do, you want it to go off with a bang. Whether you’re planning a work Christmas party or one for family and friends, these

Unusual Christmas cakes

As we welcome the festive season and the inevitability of all the delicious food we’ll be consuming, it’s common to take delish treats into work for everyone to pick at. Mince pies, figgy pudding and of course, the classic Christmas cake. B

Environmentally friendly Christmas crackers

With Christmas just around the corner, it’s time to start focusing on festivities. With the ever-growing problem of single-use plastic, especially around this season, it’s vital that we all make some little changes into our lives to reduce

Funny Secret Santa Gifts and Ideas for Work

It’s that time of year again. There’s frost on the grass and excitement in the air as the lead-up to Christmas begins. There are so many festive traditions during the latter part of the year, one of them being Secret Santa. Ideal for a work

5 things you shouldn’t do during a corporate presentation

How to Be the Best Conference Guest: Tips for an Engaging Guest

Attending a meeting or conference is a common occurrence in the business world. However, there’s a significant difference between merely attending a conference and actively engaging with the material presented. While it’s essential to be a

How to be the best bridesmaid

Being asked to be a bridesmaid is an amazing honour, but it’s also a lot of responsibility. Your bride is relying on you to be there for you, so here’s our guide on becoming the best bridesmaid.

Common Mistakes Event Planners Make (and How to Avoid Them)

Planning an event can be a daunting task, but with proper organisation and attention to detail, it can lead to a truly rewarding experience. In this article, we’ll highlight some common event planning mistakes and provide tips on how to avo

Reasons Why Your Venue Isn’t Working

So, you’ve picked a venue, got a hardworking team behind you and the plans for a fantastic event. But somehow it just isn’t working. This is a frustrating situation but can sometimes have a quick fix. We’ve put together a guide on reasons w

What theme could I choose for my event

Having an event for a theme can make it much more special. Whether it’s a birthday, wedding or you just feel like celebrating, having a focal point is a great place to start working around. Decorating also becomes easier when you have a par

How to decorate your event space on a budget

The venue of an event is always a big decision. It needs to be big enough, in a good area and have the right aesthetic. But once you’ve picked the venue, the next stage is decorating it. Having great décor for an event sets it up and provid

Why timekeeping is so important for conferences and event planning

There are certain things that you can take at a leisurely pace, but running a conference or event isn’t one of them. Impeccable timekeeping ensures an event goes smoothly and to plan. Whether you are working as part of a team or alone, keep

How to Decorate Your Wedding Venue

Updated: September 2023

Who should you invite to your wedding?

This is a complicated question that most brides and grooms will ponder over but at the end of the day it is down to personal preference. To help you through this complex issue, we’ve come up with a list of handy pointers that should help yo

The Importance of In-Person Meetings: Advantages of Face-to-Face Communication

In today’s fast-paced digital world, we’re spoiled for choice when it comes to communication methods. While email, phone calls, and video conferencing have their merits, there’s a compelling case for the continued importance of in-person me

How to ensure your meeting makes an impact

A valuable meeting may be remembered for a long time, or it may be quickly forgotten yet be one that shapes future work in a company or professional group. The work done to prepare for a meeting can have a huge impact on whether the meeting

How to plan a stress-free wedding

Even an intimate wedding is a significant event with guests (who may or may not get on), travel arrangements, meals, special clothes, and other moving parts that can easily make the planning and the day itself stressful. While it’s normal t