Tag: stoke rochford hall

Posted on

Stoke Rochford Hall Grantham acquired by Talash Hotels Group

Stoke Rochford Hall

Stoke Rochford Hall near Grantham has new owners following its acquisition by the Talash Hotels Group.

Home to the NUT’s National Education and Training Centre since 1978, the 96-room Victorian mansion now joins the expanding Talash group, which also owns and operates the Best Western Barons Court Hotel in Walsall, Best Western Falstaff Hotel in Leamington Spa, The Allesley Hotel in Coventry, Honiley Court Hotel in Warwick, Risley Hall Hotel & Spa in Derbyshire and the Chimney House Hotel in Cheshire. Talash is headquartered in Warwickshire and run by brothers Ravi and Sanjay Kathuria.

Sanjay Kathuria said: “We are really excited about Stoke Rochford Hall joining our group where we have significant plans to develop the business. The hotel is trading successfully and we see a number of opportunities to enhance this within our group. Stoke Rochford Hall is the latest step in our ambition for 20 hotels by 2020”.

Originally built in the 1840’s as a private residence, the Hall offers a state of the art hotel, conference and banqueting facility, while retaining its old world charm and values. Stoke Rochford Hall is six miles south of Grantham, a quarter mile from the A1 and under 75 minutes from London Kings Cross by train.

Posted on

‘Barking Bank Holiday’ for ‘Scrufts’ conference agency weekend at Stoke Rochford Hall Grantham for National Dog Day.

Scrufts & Owners on the Lawn at Stoke Rochford Hall Grantham

‘Barking Bank Holiday’ for ‘Scrufts’ conference agency weekend at Stoke Rochford Hall Grantham for National Dog Day.

Labrador Russell, owned by general manager Barry Clark of Stoke Rochford Hall Grantham, issued personal invitations to the pet dogs of 20 UK conference booking agencies  on Bank Holiday weekend, 28th and 29th August and hosted them to a weekend programme that included:
•    A canine afternoon tea on arrival with Woof ‘n’ Brew biscuits, speciality teas including ‘Mint Breath’, ‘Shiny Coat’ and ‘Health & Vitality’
•    A dog agility class
•    Barking barbecue (minus hot dogs)
•    Hounds Hunt – a treasure hunt around the hotel grounds with prizes for owners and their dogs.

Organised by Trident Hospitality, the agents visited Stoke Rochford Hall Grantham for a pet friendly familiarisation visit to the hotel timed to celebrate National Dog Day.

General Manager, Barry Clark said: “Todays pet-parents are making a very conscious decision to include their dogs in their events. We recognise that for many their dog is a member of the family and they need to have facilities that include them in the experiences. Our agency weekend guests have learned first hand just how Stoke Rochford Hall caters for this demand and are now fully prepared when pet-friendly clients seek the option to bring their pets on tour.”

Stoke Rochford Hall is a registered ‘pet friendly’ hotel that welcomes dogs, cats and other guest pets as part of the service. Pets receive their own booking service and welcome letter as well as a welcome pack of treats and a toy. Dog walking of guest dogs is included and carried out by members of staff plus, care for pets when delegates are in their meeting or event.

“Our agency guests have an appreciation of dog-friendly conferences and understand how the positive effect pets have on people and the known fact that dogs in a room have a calming influence on delegates. Naturally the grounds at Stoke Rochford Hall are the main attraction as they provide the opportunity to let the pets free and to have no concerns about traffic or other perils. Delegates love to bring their dogs and Russell has really enjoyed meeting his new friends and guests”. added Kevan Holland, director of Trident Hospitality.

Posted on

Multicultural weddings growth at heritage venue

Stoke Rochford Hall

Multicultural weddings growth at heritage venue

More weddings at Stoke Rochford Hall near Grantham are of a multicultural nature than ever before report managers at the heritage venue.

In a record year for weddings, the hotel has become accomplished at delivering a wide variety of wedding ceremonies and receptions after a rise in the number of multicultural weddings.

Requests from couples come in a wide range and complexity such as adding a little bit of each culture in significant ways and with more than one culture, inevitably there comes more than one language.

Food is an easy way to bring two cultures together and many couples give guests a taste of dishes they haven’t tried before. As a tribute to one bride’s Latina heritage, one couple had their guests sip on sangria during cocktail hour and enjoy paella for dinner.

“It is a really interesting combination of the beautiful heritage style of Stoke Rochford Hall with the multiple ways in which different couples from different cultures are presenting their guests when making the start in their married life. It certainly makes it interesting, if sometimes challenging, for the team here but they are getting more and more accomplished each time we cater for these events.” comments Barry Clark, general manager at Stoke Rochford Hall.

The hotel recently won a Highly Commended award at the annual Conference and Hospitality Show Awards 2016 in the Best External Space Category.

“Many of the new enquiries are from couples in the Grantham area but we have noticed an increase coming from the Leicester, Nottingham and Peterborough areas, so it seems our reputation is spreading”. adds Barry Clark.

Stoke Rochford Hall is set in 28 acres of landscaped grounds with quiet seating areas, lake and charming woodland walks. Stoke Rochford Golf Club is adjacent to the hotel where resident guests can book tee times and enjoy a special price for a round.  The hotel is easily accessible directly from the A1 just south of Grantham.

Posted on

Going for Group Travel

Deirdre Brown

Great Potential has been assisting Stoke Rochford Hall near Grantham with its Group Travel marketing since spring 2015. Spearheaded by GP Associate Deirdre Brown, the campaign has produced significant gains in both volume and value at the hotel. Increased business in this sector is in excess of £90k and the average rate per guest has improved by over £10 per person.

Work has included a full in-house training for team members about handling group market guests with he simple motto “arrived together but treated as individuals” at its core.

A marketing campaign  to the domestic group tour operator market combined with group tour organisers has produced the desired increase in the sector. This was underpinned with a ‘groups welcome’ drivers pledge to help the drivers and tour guides with their visits including routes and information about nearby attractions, an early warning of arrival by mobile phone and text plus individual welcome letters for all guests.

Inbound operators are now the next target along with some special interest activities aimed at some specific overseas markets using local attractions in the area and for meal and overnight stops for longer-haul groups travelling between London and Scotland.

Deirdre Brown is Great Potential’s Group Travel specialist and also runs Deirdre Brown Travel that was established in 2015 following the sale of Eddie Brown Tours in 2014 which Deirdre Brown operated for over 30 years. The new company specialises in fully escorted travel holidays and was a finalist in the Coach Tourism Awards for ‘Best Programme of the Year 2016”.
Contact Deirdre at: deirdrebrown@greatpotential.co.uk

Posted on

Hotel manager ‘loses’ pet Labrador in pets welcome initiative

Pets Welcome Initiative at Stoke Rochford Hall Grantham

Hotel general manager ‘loses’ his pet Labrador as guests can’t get enough of him in ‘pets welcome’ initiative.

Barry Clark Stoke Rochford Hall general manager is wondering where Russell his pet Labrador is some days as guest are loving walking him so much.
Pets receive their own booking service and welcome letter as well as a welcome pack of treats and a toy. The hotel is a registered ‘pet friendly’ hotel and welcomes dogs, cats and other guest pets as part of the service. Staff care for guest dogs them when guests want to visit local attractions that do not accept pets and they also provide a free dog walking service.

“The biggest attraction of dog walking seems to be the fact that the grounds at Stoke Rochford Hall are so large and a great asset where guests love to bring their dogs, let them free and have no worries about traffic or other perils.”
comments Barry Clark, general manager at Stoke Rochford Hall.

Stoke Rochford Hall is set in 28 acres of landscaped grounds with quiet seating areas, lake and charming woodland walks. Stoke Rochford Golf Club is adjacent to the hotel where resident guests can book tee times and enjoy a special price for a round.  The hotel is easily accessible directly from the A1 just south of Grantham.
“Russell seems to be really enjoying his new friends and guests are helping me out when I have a busy day and have less time to walk Russell myself.” adds Barry.

Posted on

Stoke Rochford Hall is Wedding Venue of the Year Finalist

Stoke Rochford Hall

Stoke Rochford Hall near Grantham has reached the finals in the Wedding venue of the Year category of the Lincolnshire Life Taste of Excellence Awards 2015.

These are the eighteenth annual Taste of Excellence Food & Drink Awards that celebrate the best in food and drink from across the county.

“The team here at Stoke Rochford Hall is delighted to be in the finals of this award. After a busy summer when in August alone we hosted 17 weddings it is excellent news to be recognised by reaching the finals of these prestigious awards. We are looking forward to the awards ceremony in November”. Comments Barry Clark, general manager at Stoke Rochford Hall.

The winners and runners-up will be announced at an Awards Ceremony on Thursday 12th November at Oaklands Hall Hotel, Laceby.