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We know there is going to be a shift in the focus of incentives and events for the foreseeable future. However, this doesn’t mean they’re off the table!
With small gatherings being the new norm for the time being, we’re predicting an increase in smaller incentive events in the UK and individual concierge prizes - for example, a reward of an overnight stay and dinner at a luxurious hotel for two for a Top Performing Salesperson.
As venues slowly start to reopen their doors, the Neon Team are excited to get creative with these UK incentive ideas. Our country is bursting with exceptional venues and hospitality services and now more than ever is the time to start utilising what’s right on our doorstep!
Like with any travel incentive, luxury is key, so we’ve been on the hunt for some of the UK’s most luxurious hotels. Here are our first 4 (of many) venues that we know would be perfect for hosting an intimate lavish incentive or sending a Top Performer as a well deserved ‘thank you’.
In a Nutshell: The brand new PIG hotel dates back to the 15th century and flaunts far-reaching sea views, oodles of quirks and character and stacks of original features.
Location: The hotel is just a short stroll from Harlyn Beach and Constantine Bay and is only a 10-minute drive to the picturesque port of Padstow where restaurants and activities are in abundance.
Rooms: THE PIG has unique and character-filled bedrooms located in the Main House and the Stonehouse and four romantic Shepherds’ Huts tucked away around the gardens. Room rates start from £199 for the cosy ‘Snug Room with Terrace’.
Restaurant: The hotel’s restaurant, The Lobster Shed is an outdoor dining terrace offering a picture-perfect alfresco dining experience. Boasting a wood-oven and grill, the restaurant serves local simple seafood and drinks and sources ingredients from the hotel’s garden where possible.
Neon’s Verdict: THE PIG is perfect for an intimate incentive group or an individual reward where lapping up seasonal great food and a seaside vibe is the goal. It’s also brand new so will offer a unique experience to all.
In a Nutshell: Gilpin Hotel and Lakehouse is the epitome of a modern country-house hotel with a dash of glamour. Private hot-tubs and saunas, Michelin-starred dining and top-level service are just a handful of the draws to this hotel.
Location: Gilpin is situated on the eastern edge of the National Park on the back road to Windermere. The popular Lake Windermere and its bustling neighbourhood and Bowness are just a three mile drive away.
Rooms: The white-washed Edwardian house has been impressively extended to encompass Skandi style cabins and a series of quirky rooms to create this lavish modern country-house. It comprises of 25 country chic bedrooms, including 6 Junior Suites, 6 Garden Suites (each with their own outdoor cedarwood hot tub) and 5 Spa Lodges (each with convertible treatment area, steam room, rain shower, stone bath and outdoor sauna and hydrotherapy hot tub).
The 100-acre Gilpin Lake House Estate, with its spa, small lake, boathouse, hot tubs and swimming pool is also available. With only 6 bedrooms, this beautiful house has the feeling of a fully staffed private country house. Entry level double rooms start from £295.
Restaurants: The Michelin starred HRiSHi on site combines great Lake District products with classic methods to deliver unbelievable textures and flavours. The more relaxed Gilpin Spice is a colourful affair with an open kitchen and tapas-style dishes.
Activities: There is a vast variety of activity options at the hotel. From beautiful spa treatments, scenic hikes and lake cruises to abseiling, canoeing and windsurfing. There is also a great choice of excellent dining options within the Lake District National Park, including the highly acclaimed Drunken Duck, which is only 20 minutes away.
Neon’s Verdict: Gilpin offers relaxation and escapism in one of the UK’s most idyllic spots. We think this hotel is a great spot for an incentive that’s looking to combine equal measures of outdoor activities, zen spa treatments and the wow factor.
In a Nutshell: The Newt combines the warmth of a Georgian family home with garden-to-table dining and a beautiful garden-scented spa. The surrounding parklands, woods, orchards and abundant gardens all offer exquisite views across Somerset.
Location: The hotel is located 10 minutes from the attractive market town of Castle Cary in Somerset.
Rooms: The charming bedrooms offer a Scandinavian simplicity and combine modern style with the historic character of the building. You can expect an artful mix of freestanding bathtubs, four-poster beds and dreamy design that’s sensitive to the original foundations and framework of the house and its assorted outbuildings. Double rooms start from £383.
Restaurants: The Botanical Rooms restaurant takes on the challenge of ensuring that every single plate the kitchen sends out features at least one thing from the estate and its gardens. Whether it’s been grown, foraged, distilled or baked in the bakery.
For groups of 14–16 people, there’s also the option to dine in the original vaulted cellar of the house. Menus are inspired by Georgian documents found in the house.
Activities: The Newt has its very own cyder press, bottling plant and bar, treetop walk and wild swimming ponds. Guests can unwind in the stunning spa with its hand-tiled hammam, sauna and salt steam room. Take a dip in the beautiful pool leading to a heated outdoor hydrotherapy pool or enjoy a game of croquet or badminton on the lawns.
Neon’s Verdict: The Newt is an all encompassing venue. It has everything you need to keep a small group busy, entertained, well fed and relaxed - all without leaving the property. We love the additional activities available at this hotel and feel the option to dine in the vaulted cellar would give you the flexibility to personalise one evening and make it really stand out.
In a Nutshell: With Albert and Michel Roux Jr in charge of the kitchen the food at Inverlochy Castle is as good as the impeccable service, breath-taking landscape and luxurious surroundings.
Location: The castle is sat at the foot of Ben Nevis, Scottish Highlands and the bustling tourist town of Fort William is only a couple of miles up the road.
Rooms: Inverlochy Castle houses 17 traditional rooms, including three suites, which are all traditionally furnished and impeccably kept. Assume the best of everything, with lavish bathrooms, Penhaligon toiletries, Egyptian cotton bed linen and state of the art amenities. Double rooms start from £335.
Restaurants: Dining at Albert and Michel Roux Jr at Inverlochy Castle is an experience to savour, with the legendary father and son taking the helm of the kitchen and offering the finest dishes using local produce.
Activities: Everything is possible at Inverlochy Castle, with activities including skiing, white-water rafting, mountain biking, off-road driving, clay pigeon shooting, stalking or fishing. For a more relaxing way to pass your time, enjoy a Roux-designed picnic on the pretty loch or take a whisky tasting class in the billiard room.
Neon’s Verdict: Can you ever go wrong with a castle? We think not. Especially when you have Albert and Michel Roux Jr in charge of the kitchen. Not only is Inverlochy Castle a knockout in hospitality and cuisine it also benefits from being snuggled in the foothills of Ben Nevis, boasting some of the finest scenery in Scotland.
Excited by the prospect of a UK travel incentive in the future? Find out more about the bespoke event solutions we can provide here.
