June 15, 2024
UNIQUE CORPORATE RETREAT LOCATIONS IN THE UK
I read an article recently that said, “change the location, change the conversation,” and I think this perfectly reflects what a corporate retreat is all about. In this article, I’ve collated my top 5 locations where you can host your next unique corporate retreat, ensuring an experience that is both luxurious and inspiring.
In this Post:
What is a Corporate Retreat?
Corporate retreats are such worthwhile investments for a company, offering an opportunity for colleagues to forge meaningful connections with their peers, slow down and unplug from their day-to-day environment, and come away with renewed enthusiasm. Simply put, they are off-site gatherings of company employees, typically held at scenic or inspiring locations. These retreats are designed to bring people together to reward team members for their hard work, provide training and development, encourage team building, or work collectively on blue-sky thinking, developing objectives and setting goals.
Best Corporate Retreat Locations in the UK
When planning a corporate retreat, determining the retreat’s objectives is crucial before choosing a location. Fortunately, the UK offers diverse landscapes and venues that cater to any business objective. From the serene landscapes of Scotland to the charming Cotswolds and the vibrant heart of London, there’s a perfect spot for every team’s needs.
It’s crucial to select a location that fits the purpose of the retreat and aligns with its goals, while also making sure it’s a place where guests can enjoy themselves, with opportunities to switch off and socialise with their peers. And that’s where we come in! Here are our team favourites for the best corporate retreat locations in the UK.
Top 5 Luxury and Unique Locations for Corporate Retreats
BORELAND, SCOTLAND
In the depths of Perthshire, you will find Boreland – “think wilderness, spectacular views, epic WiFi, unforgettable activities and the freedom to let your team truly connect”.
Less than 2 hours from both Glasgow and Edinburgh, Boreland offers a slightly more remote and off-grid experience than some of our other favourites, which is its charm. With accommodation up to 70 guests across various properties on the estate, sleeping between 8 to 18 guests, Boreland provides unique, individual styles, offering a relaxing space to unwind and rest outside of the retreat itinerary.
Boreland offers various spaces for meetings, events, dining and activities, catering to groups ranging from 2 to 200 guests. The smallest space is The Outpost, a cosy coworking space perfect for a private call or breakout meeting. The Cowshed, their most informal space, is ideal for groups to gather around the fire at the end of the day, sipping on a local dram and enjoying a delicious meal. The Barn is their largest space, accommodating up to 200 guests. Naturally, you can use this for larger events such as a gala dinner, but you can also run multiple activities or sessions within the same space for a smaller group.
Staying at Boreland gives guests access to Perthshire’s garden, with activities to suit those who wish to relax, and those who wish to burn off some steam. The team can facilitate quad biking, river rafting, Highland ‘safari’ drives, local whisky and chocolate tastings, Highland walking, wild swimming in Loch Tay, yoga and meditation.
THYME, COTSWOLDS
“Entertaining has always been at the heart of Thyme” and this is what makes it such a lovely spot for a corporate retreat. With a quaint backdrop of greenery and landscaped gardens, there is arguably no better place for a team to get together and seek inspiration and motivation from their surroundings.
Located in the heart of the Cotswolds, Thyme is a 2-hour drive from London or a 20-minute drive from Charlbury and Swindon train stations, both offering direct trains to London Paddington. Described as a village within a village, Thyme focuses on sustainability, seasonal beauty, and a deep connection to the land, visible at every turn.
Thyme offers a charming collection of accommodations, meeting spaces, activities, and private dining options, making it a perfect choice for a corporate retreat.
Their botanically inspired accommodation includes 31 individually styled bedrooms, each with its own charm. Depending on your group’s size, dining options range from a table in their restaurant to more special experiences like a Chef’s Table in the Ox Barn or a private table hidden within the Olive Garden. Their dedicated event space, the Tithe Barn, suits groups from 16 to 60 guests, perfect for a beautiful dinner, celebrating the locally grown produce or team-building sessions.
Activities include a range of delightful classes, including cookery, floristry and painting. Each cookery class starts in the kitchen garden, teaching participants “field-to-plate” techniques in either a 2 or 4-hour course. Floristry classes also start in the garden, celebrating the florals, foliage and herbs grown on-site, from their formal cutting garden and wild meadows. There are also more informal activities available, such as local walking and bicycle routes, as well as tennis, boules and badminton, for those who fancy a little competition!
The Meadow Spa at Thyme is a haven for restoration and calm, offering a range of treatments such as facials and massages, as well as their signature ritual treatments at the Botanical Bothy. All treatments utilise their own Bertoli range of products, which aim to “harness the healing power of breath and scent to nourish the mind, body and planet”.
CASTLE INDIA, CORNWALL
Another beauty, perfect for a smaller group, is Castle India. Set on the banks of the River Tamar in Cornwall, this venue is a little off the beaten track, where you “Enter through the gates and into a world of pure imagination!”
Castle India is located just 1 mile outside of Saltash, accessible by a direct train from London Paddington in 3.5 hours. Torquay and Exeter airports are about an hour away, and for the ultimate jet-setter arrival, you can land a helicopter on the grounds.
The main property is set within 9 acres of sub-tropical gardens and orchards, with a natural pool and ancient Indian pool house, making it a truly unique destination. It sleeps up to 18 people across 9 bedrooms, featuring interiors that are certainly not for the faint-hearted, celebrating the castle’s history and drawing inspiration from the tropical gardens, all captured through bold colours and bright House of Hackney wallpapers.
Castle India offers a home-away-from-home experience, with its charm lying in the absence of formal meeting rooms or event spaces. However, there are many rooms within the house, such as the Library, Drawing Room and Music Room, which can be used for the retreat sessions and activities. There are some lovely low-key activities on site, such as croquet, swimming, sauna and table tennis, with other local options including foraging, cold water therapy, surfing and spa treatments.
You can access a list of preferred suppliers and arrange full catering, offering everything from a hilltop picnic to firepit feasting and fine dining tasting menus, allowing you to craft a one-off culinary experience for your group.
42 ACRES, SOMERSET
42 Acres was founded by sibling duo Lara and Seth, who created the site as a home for personal, social and environmental change. At its core, 42 Acres “invites people to reconnect with nature, self and others through well-being and nature-based experiences, regenerative farming and abundant nature reserve”.
The 173-acre estate is nestled in the Somerset countryside. Local train stations Gillingham and Frome offer direct trains to London Waterloo in approximately 1.5 hours, or it’s a 2.5-hour drive by car. Their eco-friendly accommodations sleep up to 41 people across 30 bedrooms, with additional bell tents available for adventurous guests. The interiors at 42 Acres reflect timeless simplicity and understated luxury, while outside, nature flourishes with a focus on agri-wilding.
“A place to retreat, restore and reconnect”, the team here have created a ‘soil-to-gut’ menu, showcasing a way of eating that continues old traditions, whilst shaping the future. They have also curated an amazing range of activities that can form part of your retreat. Highlights include an edible safari of their walled garden, a guided beaver walk, paddleboarding, a medicinal mushroom experience, foraging, meditation, and even a silent woodland disco!
LONDON
We may be a little biased, as London is home to ByChenai HQ, but it is undoubtedly one of the best places to host a corporate retreat. Even for those who live in the capital, there are endless options for experiences and accommodations to suit all group sizes, offering guests a truly unique retreat.
Some of our absolute favourite experiences in London include a private dinner in the White Tower at the Tower of London, followed by attending the Ceremony of the Keys — the oldest military enactment, whereby the main gates are locked. While there are long wait lists to attend, special access can be arranged for private events. Most people have heard of London Dry Gin, so a private tour and tasting at the Beefeater distillery or the ‘Ginstitute’ experience at Portobello Gin, where you make your own gin, are absolute musts.
You can’t come to London and not experience afternoon tea. Our personal favourites include the Ritz for those who like classic/old school, Prêt-à-Portea at The Berkeley Hotel for those who appreciate fashion, or The Petersham, where blooms take pride of place.
The capital is also home to some amazing hotels and venues which can become a home away from home for get-togethers, meetings, and all-important R&R. Each hotel and venue has a unique offering, meaning, there really is something for everyone!
>> Our top 8 corporate event venues in London
Planning a Corporate Retreat or a Team Off-site Day?
At ByChenai Experiences, we believe in the transformative power of corporate retreats. While we’ve shared some of our top picks, we have many more locations and retreat ideas that we’d be happy to explore for your next corporate off-site. With a bespoke approach to corporate and brand events, we tailor our venue search and itineraries to each event, ensuring a perfect fit for your unique needs and objectives.
Ready to start planning your corporate retreat or team off-site day? Get in touch with us today, and let’s find the perfect location to make your event unique and impactful.
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