Swapping the hustle and bustle of the city for the tranquillity of the countryside is becoming increasingly popular for corporate away days. The pandemic has left us appreciating fresh air and open space more, and we’ve found that more and more businesses are choosing The Lion, or indeed our sister pub The Swan, to host their business meetings to help escape the city for a few days. Our Brereton Suite is often noted as perfect event space for hosting corporate away days as well as other events. Expect a premier experience with top food and a great space to use at your leisure. Below, from our experience of them, the team at The Lion are sharing our top tips on how to plan a corporate away day.
Choosing An Event Space
The perfect location
If you’re planning a corporate day away from the city, you’ll want to opt for a location that mixes practicality with escapism. A venue that offers professionalism but doesn’t compromise on experience. The idea of corporate away days is not only to learn and engage with your staff, but also to reward them with a different environment, one where you can all unwind and build better team connections for a few days.
To meet the aims of your away day, you’ll need to get the venue right.
Of course, we’re biased. But we have found our Brereton Suite to offer the ideal qualities of an event suite perfect for corporate days. In our idyllic village of Malpas in Cheshire, our completely self-contained suite has its own entrance, affording you complete privacy, this even includes a private bar (perfect for post-meeting drinks). You and your team will have the option to step out into The Lion’s outdoor seating area. Ideal on a summer day are the large French doors that open to allow air to circulate through the room. Or for winter celebrations, the warm lighting inside makes for a perfect welcoming venue to entertain guests.
The right capacity
Secondly, you’ll want to ensure your venue is fit for purpose. You want a space that’s small enough to feel intimate so you can communicate freely, but that doesn’t compromise on personal space; especially as we continue to practise social distancing until it is safe not to do so. Our suite can accommodate various groups, with capacities as follows…
Theatre style – 60 people
Cabaret – 36 people (max)
Boardroom – 20 people
The ‘wow’ factor
Of course, you’ll want to impress your staff and make sure they feel treated during their away day. So, it’s a good idea to opt for a venue with the ‘wow’ factor. Something that’s not your everyday function suite or meeting room.
Our Brereton Suite attracts plenty of natural light and is a versatile space. Ideal for when business meetings move to more relaxed celebrations as the afternoon turns to the evening. Not to mention of course, it’s on the doorstep of our main pub and the rooms in our courtyard for overnight stays. This is all part of the experience.
Somewhere to stay overnight
When you step out of the Brereton Suite, you’ll find a number of our newly refurbished en-suite rooms. They are all conveniently located on site making it the perfect place for your party to stay overnight too. Complimentary parking spaces for your guests are also included, as well as an electric charging point. You can book our rooms direct through our website, or of course please feel free to contact our team to enquire about corporate packages.
Planning Activities Outside Of The Meeting
Corporate away days are all about mixing business and pleasure, so to plan the perfect one for your staff you’ll want to schedule in a few fun activities alongside the serious stuff.
There are plenty of venues around The Lion that are perfect for team building. Just 15 minutes from us, Alderford Lake offers private corporate packages and team building with a difference. Their Aqua Park is bigger than ever this year, combining 3 islands, the exhilarating 12ft Mt Rainer rope climb, climbing tree, jumping cliffs and slides. This is a day out that’s certain to provide a good-humoured challenge for you and your team.
For those of you staying a night or two, we have a number of golf courses on our doorstep, as well as Chester racecourse.
Or, if a relaxing break is more your speed, The Spa at Carden offers great day passes to their newly built Spa Garden and thermal experiences. With a wide range of treatments and lunch included, taking a well-earned break couldn’t be easier. The spa is located just 15 minutes from our grounds. Aren’t we lucky?
Booking Your Corporate Away Day
After a difficult year, more and more businesses are treating their staff to corporate away days to help build and strengthen team relationships, as well as to say thank you for their resilience throughout this pandemic. Are you considering arranging one?
The Lion is the perfect choice for a corporate away day in the Cheshire countryside. You can enquire about hiring the Brereton Suite through by calling 01948 807 070 or emailing events@thelionatmalpas.co.uk.
