Funky Venues

Venue Review

Character: Classic English Country House with a modern boutique edge.

Funky Features: Inside: Howard’s Bar and The Garden Room Restaurant styled by Isle Crawford due to be launched summer 2007. In-room massage and spa facilities available. Out: Urban and rural pursuits (from clay pigeon shooting through fishing to giant garden chess) in grounds landscaped by ‘Capability’ Brown.

Location and History

Stoke Place is a country gem just half an hour from the centre of London. Situated 1.9miles from Slough station and nine and a half miles from Heathrow Airport, this elegant country house was built in 1690 by royal cook, Patrick Lamb as a family home. In the 18th century, east and west wings were added to the three-storey building century, the 25-acre grounds and lake were landscaped by ‘Capability’ Brown and a high red brick wall was built to provide privacy. In 1764 Sir George Howard, Equerry to Queen Charlotte bought the estate and the Howard’s owned Stoke Place for the next 200 years.

Since it became a hotel, Stoke Place has welcomed guests including Ricky Gervais who stayed while he was filming nearby, and comedian, Chris Morris who chose the hotel as the setting for his wedding in June. Today, the beautiful grounds teem with wildlife including deer, badgers and woodpeckers. Even the resident swan regularly strolls in to the hotel to say hello.

Interior

Combining classical pillars and marble floors with modern decor, the reception sets the elegant interior tone for Stoke Place. The updated William and Mary period interior is defined by a vibrant colour scheme of green, rich brown and mulberry. 

Rooms to remember include, the Drawing Room which boasts a fine old fireplace, a garden room with fine views over Stoke Place lush lawns and Howard’s Bar which gives onto the generous terrace.

Bedrooms include 12 contemporary-style suites, which have been thoughtfully designed down to the luxury Edwardian freestanding baths. All rooms have huge bay windows offering excellent views of the grounds. Services include 24 hr Internet access and room service.

Spaces for Hire

Stoke place 6 spacious and elegant function rooms, each with the individual personality to suit the tastes of private or business parties numbering from ten to 400 people and accommodating events from conferences to weddings. ‘Lakeside’, has great views of Stoke Place’s lake and has a bar and terrace of its own. With its high ceilings, the ‘Ballroom’, makes a grand party or wedding venue. The Howard Vyse Room is a perfect business suite, featuring large bay windows and state-of-the -art techno-facilities including broadband/wireless access and plasma screens (as all the conference rooms do).