Boutique hotels

The Alexander Hotel group is a collection of boutique country house hotels near London. The quartet of four- and five-star hotels comprise Alexander House Hotel & Utopia Spa in Sussex; Rowhill Grange Hotel & Utopia Spa in Kent; and two Surrey properties Langshott Manor Hotel and Barnett Hill Country House Hotel. Alexander House Hotel has 58 bedrooms and a variety of event space, including the 120-capacity Shelley Suite and Wakehurst, which can host smaller meetings for 40 delegates. A beautiful Elizabethan manor house protected by a medieval moat, the 22-bedroom Langshott is a serene venue for business meetings, and lends itself well to exclusive use. Rowhill Grange offers The Pavilion, a state-of-the-art conference centre which can hold up to 60 theatre style. The newest in the collection, Barnett Hill, has recently been renovated and includes 58 bedrooms and nine function rooms.

Private landscaped gardens and Surrey woodlands are the setting for this Victorian manor house. Despite the rural location, the Macdonald Frimley Hall Hotel & Spa is a short trip from Heathrow, just off the M3. For the meetings crowd, there are four spaces to look at, all with free Wi-Fi. The largest is the Frimley Suite, which can be subdivided. The White Room has stained-glass windows, an open fire place and views of the gardens, while the book-lined Library is good for smaller gatherings. If the weather’s good, there are outdoor activities such as laser clay-pigeon shooting and archery, if not, the Vital Health & Wellbeing Spa is open to groups.

The B+B Collection has made its name turning listed buildings into comfortable, contemporary hotels. Alongside 27 modern bedrooms, its Edinburgh outpost houses the Findlay Room. Named after the Victorian property’s first owner, it features stained-glass windows, an ornate ceiling and open fireplaces. Abundant natural light suits it to focused meetings, as well as entertaining. The Residents Bar and galleried Library are appealing breakout and post-work options.

Floral print purveyor Laura Ashley owns and operates two boutique hotels, which mix state-of-the-art facilities with the textile designer’s trademark statement wallpaper and furnishings. Up in the Lake District, Laura Ashley Hotel The Belsfield makes the most of its scenic surroundings with a property on the edge of Lake Windermere. The 62-bedroom hotel has six conference suites that range from small boardrooms through to a large conference space for 120 delegates, plus a fine-dining restaurant.  Just outside London, Laura Ashley The Manor Elstree is set in a Tudor-style building within 10 acres of landscaped gardens. As well as a clutch of modern meeting spaces in the New Wing, we like the private dining room, which looks out over the grounds. Both hotels hold wedding licenses.

Part of the Alexander Hotels portfolio, this 19th-century manor house turned boutique hotel also has a conference centre: the Pavilion. The Clockhouse Suite, with its private bar and courtyard, is a good space for banquets and theatre-style conferences. Board meetings work well in The Wicket or Cottage Suite. The Utopia Spa has pools, saunas and steam rooms, and RG’s restaurant serves local produce. Fifteen acres of grounds can be used for team activities.