Why Hotel Du Vin Is A Good Meeting Venue – Henley And Tunbridge Wells

Hotel du Vin, Tunbridge Wells (pictured)

This hotel is in an old building in the centre of Tunbridge Wells and is suited to small groups.   There are three meeting rooms: one for up to 100 people, but it is long and thin and would be better for 40-50 with coffee breaks served in the room; one for 24 people and one for 12 people.  All meeting rooms are at the back of the hotel, so a quiet and have access to their own area of the garden and you can wander in to the rest of the garden from each secluded area.  There is a cigar cabin in the garden, with heating, which could be used for an informal break out.  In addition the lounge can be privatised for a break out, drinks or a coffee break.  All the meeting rooms can also be used for private dining.  There isn’t any a\v, but 50” TVs can be put in the two smaller rooms.  All of the bedrooms will be refurbished by the middle of September 2015, the bar has just been completed and the dining room will be done by the end of 2015.  

The hotel has 34 bedrooms and it can be privatised, although they have regular clients and are busy with leisure guests at the weekends. 

As well as being shown around the hotel, I attended a ‘screen and cuisine’ event.  There was a buffet dinner and in conjunction with Pinewood Studios the hotel had put a large screen in the garden to show a film.  This was being tested at Tunbridge Wells for three evenings and if it is successful then they will hold these events at other Hotel du Vin hotels next year.  Some of their local corporate clients attended and it was a good evening.  All the staff were friendly and helpful and knew their regular clients.

• Considerations

This hotel is right in the centre of Tunbridge Wells, so parking is limited.  There is a large public car park opposite, which costs around £5 a day, but is also used by people working and shopping in the town, so does get busy.  It is a 5 minute walk from the station – uphill – so not to be undertaken with a suitcase.

Hotel du Vin, Henley

This hotel is right in the centre of Henley and was converted from a brewery.  It feels a bit industrial and reception area, bar, bistro and meeting room foyer are in line, so you walk through them to get from room to room.  Otherwise access is from an internal courtyard.  There are three meeting rooms: the Canata for up to 28 people and has stairs with a mezzanine floor;  the Henley for 38 people; the Ruinart is the largest and holds 56 people, but has two metal pillars, so for meetings only the central section can be used.

The ideal residential group for this hotel is 20-25 people.

There are 44 bedrooms, all different shapes and sizes.  The Riverview Suite is really unusual, with a bedroom downstairs and sitting area and bathroom in the same space upstairs.  There is a balcony with a roll-top bath (outside) overlooking the river.

• Considerations

There is no parking at the hotel, but the hotel has secure valet parking nearby which is chargeable.