As well as the serious side of the business, which includes discussing strategy and planning for the year ahead, the team always make time during their stay for fun and celebrations too.

The event saw senior managers from Connect Health also enjoy a Christmas party on the evening before staying on overnight to enjoy fun team-building activities the following morning.

Chief People Officer Lisa Davidson explains:

“We use Ellingham as it’s the perfect, exclusive setting for strategy planning for our senior team and it’s a lovely relaxed environment to host our Christmas party too. On the second day we organised a murder mystery fun day before departure.”

“We were working in teams and had two ‘deaths’ to investigate. There were lots of clues to work out whodunnit! It’s a great team-building activity across functions so it means you’re working with people on the mystery that you may not normally work with closely on a day-to-day basis.”

Lisa said that the rural, private location and warm hospitality from everyone here at Ellingham was a big deciding factor in returning for the second year.

“We were so well looked after the first time. The team here catered for our needs and the food and hospitality is great. The location is also perfect as we’re based in the North East so it’s not far to travel and need to get everyone together in one venue with suitable high-quality accommodation. We’ve had the same warm welcome and efficiency this time and we’re delighted with this year’s event.”

The thorough planning that takes place between Connect Health’s team and Ellingham Hall, helped managers decide to return for the second time.

And it was such a success, it looks like the senior management team from Connect Health will be heading our way again for Christmas 2020!

We’re absolutely delighted to announce that our General Manager, Anthony Hunter, has been given much deserved recognition after being named North East Employee of the Year!

Anthony has been quietly working away here at Ellingham Hall for the past 10 years.

He was chosen to lead the way in turning the Hall into an ad-hoc place for weddings at the age of just 23.

Our owners, Aidan and Helen, told judges they spotted something special about Anthony when they first met him working for an outside catering company.

Helen overheard him talking to a fellow, older employee about the importance of his appearance. It was this attention to detail that helped them decide to offer Anthony the job as General Manager.

In the past decade, Anthony has led the Ellingham Hall family and helped turn us into a destination that has become renowned for its weddings and, in the past 12 months, one that is becoming known as a first-class corporate events venue.

It’s all part of his vision to help Ellingham Hall become a real beacon in the Northumberland community and in his time, we’ve grown from a team of three to a family of 40.

But it’s for a very personal reason that Helen and Aidan decided to put Anthony forward for the Outstanding Service category of the awards.

Just over a year after taking the reins, owners Aidan and Helen suffered a personal loss when their daughter tragically passed. Just 12 hours later, they were told that the Chapel at the Hall was on fire. The blaze ripped through that historic part of the building and meant weddings that were booked that summer were at risk.

But Anthony stepped up and took control, ordering a marquee that was placed on the lawn so that couples who were booked here would not have to find last-minute alternatives if they didn’t want to. He also went the extra mile to help those couples and their families and it became a wedding season to remember.

After picking up the Outstanding Service accolade, Anthony along with the other category winners, was put forward to the overall category of North East Employee of the Year and he won it unanimously.

We know Anthony is a great boss as well as a fantastic employee, but for his work to be recognised around the region is much deserved.

Anthony is very humbled by his award and says he didn’t expect to win his category let alone the top honour.

For us, he’s always been a winner and we all congratulate him and look forward to him leading us on to bigger things with plans for future builds in 2022!

This year we’ve been thrilled to receive several awards at the venue for outstanding beauty and for the opportunities the venue provides, not just to couples looking to book their dream wedding, but to corporate clients looking at venue facilities with a difference. Now, it’s our wonderful team who host all of our fantastic events who have hit the headlines.

Shortlisted as Regional Finalists at The Wedding Industry Awards 2020, our team has successfully made it through to the regional finals for Events Team of the Year.

Whether it’s starting from the very early planning stages of a wedding, to forming skeleton ideas for corporate away days, it’s our passionate team who turns these outline plans into reality, sharing experience, creative flare and always ensuring the highest levels of customer service.

Incredibly proud of every member of our Ellingham Hall family, we will find out on 11th November if our team lifts the regional title at a glittering awards ceremony in Newcastle’s Vermont Hotel and whether the Team will go on to the very grand National final.

The Team would like to extend a big thank you to every couple who took the time to nominate them during the voting stages and we’ll be sure to keep you updated on the results.

Over the past 18 months, Ellingham Hall has picked up a host of awards for the stunning venue, as well as the services provided by our team.

It seems wedding award season is in full swing as we are delighted to announce, the Hall has made the shortlist for not one, but two categories in the 2019 English Wedding Awards

Following a string of nominations from couples who’ve married with us over the years, we were thrilled to see the Hall being listed as Venue of the Year for the North of England. It wasn’t until we received the confirmation email form their Awards Team, that confirmed we had also made the finals as Most Romantic Wedding Venue too.

The awards aim to reward those within the eclectic wedding industry that make one of the most special days of our lives one to remember.

A spokesman for the English Wedding Awards said: “These awards are an exclusive celebration dedicated to those who work tirelessly to make our dream day as perfect as possible. They also seek to recognise everyone in this sector that has shown excellence, commitment and have the customer satisfaction as top priority in their business.”

We will find out next month whether we will be crowned at a glittering black-tie ceremony, taking place on Tuesday 19th November, at Manchester’s Mercure Piccadilly Hotel. Keep watching to see how we get on.

Among the categories is the award for Outstanding Service. The award will be presented to the employee who has consistently demonstrated excellent service, to fellow employees and clients alike, but who has also gone that extra mile.

The judges will be looking for:

• Evidence of excellent customer service and going above and beyond.
• Examples of how value has been added.
• Feedback from customers regarding service given.
• The impact the candidate has had on customer service in the business.

Anthony has been an integral part of Ellingham Hall for 10 years now, and we know he is always giving outstanding service – whether that’s towards the rest of his team or to our clients.

We will find out if Anthony is successful at a glittering ceremony on Friday 29th November at Newcastle’s Crowne Plaza Hotel.

We wish him the best of luck, but we know that whatever the outcome, Anthony is a star in all our eyes.

We were honoured to welcome the volunteers and supporters of a very special Northumberland charity last month.

Managers at Bell View, Belford, decided to treat volunteers and supporters after the charity was given the prestigious Queen’s Award in the summer for its care work with older people.

The award is the highest a voluntary group can receive in the UK and is equivalent to the MBE. Bell View was the only voluntary organisation in Northumberland to be given the award in 2019.

To mark the occasion, Bell View managers wanted to do something different by hosting a celebration at very special place to echo the significance of the award.

Paul Harrison, Centre Operations Manager, said: “We decided we needed to celebrate it in a special way with volunteers and supporters. One of our trustees had already been here for another event and recommended it. It looked a good place to celebrate our award. It’s close to where our volunteers and supporters live, so they didn’t have to travel too far.”

Bell View offers a range of health, well-being and social activities from its resource centre in Belford. It also provides day care and support to people in their own home, with 50 volunteers involved.

It was formed in 1998 when the community stepped in after the County Council decided to close Bell View residential care home and remove its services. Remarkably, Ellingham Hall’s owner, Aidan, was one of those who took an integral part in saving the centre by being on the first board of directors. He later stepped down in 2001.

The volunteers and supporters were treated to fine food and entertainment and Deputy Lieutenant of Northumberland, John Lovett, made a short speech to congratulate everyone for their achievement.

Mr Harrison added that he was delighted with Ellingham Hall and thought the venue was the perfect setting. He commented: “The food was fantastic. It was a lovely place to treat our volunteers and supporters. It was the right place to come because it is different to the type of place we would normally go, and the right size for us. We had a lovely and memorable time.”

Do you need a venue for your charity? We offer great value rates and tailor packages to suit your budget, ensuring you get what you need from our venue, without breaking the bank.

With delicious catering options starting from only £10 per person, space for up to 140 guests in the Hall as well as 8 acres of stunning grounds, we’ll help you to create a Charity event to remember!

To discuss your requirements, contact our friendly team on 01665 568118 or email info@ellingham-hall.co.uk.

This past year has been one to remember thanks to the number of awards and nominations we’ve received.
It’s always amazing when our peers recommend or choose us for an award, especially when we’re up against some of the UK’s finest venues.

We’ve not only seen new awards from the wedding industry, but we’ve also enjoyed accolades for our corporate hospitality within a year from launch.

While we enjoy receiving those awards, there’s always something a little bit special when our guests regard us in such high esteem. And that’s what happened when we recently received a much-coveted Certificate of Excellence from Trip Advisor. It was an even bigger delight to be included in their ‘Hall of Fame’ for consistently receiving the certificate over the last 5 years.

As you may know, Trip Advisor is a community of people who are usually very forthright about their experiences in hospitality and catering!

Trip Advisor only awards top-rated businesses its Certificate of Excellence, annually to those that consistently receive ‘very good’ and ‘excellent’ reviews. To be awarded a certificate, venues must maintain reviews of at least 4 out of 5 stars, receive a minimum number of reviews and should be part of Trip Advisor for at least 12 months.

You know when a venue has been awarded the certificate when you see one of the famous green stickers displayed there.

Our General Manager, Anthony Hunter, said he was delighted with the achievement. He added: “To receive the Certificate of Excellence for the fifth year in a row, gives me the reassurance that our team are not only meeting but exceeding the expectations of our guests.

“We were delighted when we received the certificate in the post, and it gives us even more reason to celebrate about our high customer service standards.”

How long have you been in corporate hospitality?

I had worked in the hospitality industry for 7 years, from 2005 to 2012 after completing my degree at Northumbria University. I was a supplier to most venues in the North East, rather than working at a single venue. But I learned a lot about what goes on behind the scenes during that time.

What drew you to corporate hospitality?

To be honest, I fell into the sector by chance. I took a job with an events company and was tasked with providing a linen hire service to all hotels and venues within the region. I quickly developed excellent relationships with the venues and began supplying them with our full event services (not just linen). It is a very friendly and sociable industry, which I enjoyed, and it gave me great job satisfaction knowing that both my clients and the venues were impressed.

What is the first thing you’d advise anyone who is thinking of putting on a business event?

Planning is key! Allow enough time to properly plan the event and cover all bases. Also, factor in a contingency plan, as things don’t always run perfectly. You need to be clear on both the objectives of the event and what you want to get out of it.

There is also a need to have an event budget. This will help you to make certain decisions about the event and what you can afford to include.

Finally, think about timings! This will help you determine a structure and who you may need to involve to help make the event a success. Put yourself in the shoes of your guests and imagine what their expectations would be if attending.

What made you decide to work for Ellingham Hall?

I worked with Ellingham Hall previously supplying event planning services for weddings and events. I developed very good relationships with the team and had a good knowledge of the venue. I had great memories and that, coupled with my love for the venue and great working relationship, encouraged me to go join Ellingham when I was offered the post. I had been out of the industry for 6 years, but during that time I had gained more transferrable skills, particularly in corporate sales development.

What is your favourite room at Ellingham?

This is a difficult one because I’ve seen significant improvements to the venue since returning last year. However, I think I would say the Chapel because this I feel is the biggest major change. Not only does the restored chapel still retain the major historic features, but it now has a modern look and feel, which makes it more appealing to prospective clients. It is clever how the team made the best use of this space by adding a quirky mezzanine level, which leads out onto a rooftop terrace with stunning views. You could not access that area before the renovation and its added two extra spaces perfect for use for all occasions.

What do you like about working at Ellingham Hall?

It has to be the happy, relaxed working environment, which is key to getting the best out of people. The team constantly strives to improve the venue and the service levels offered. You can’t ask for more! You get a feeling that you’re a very important part of the team, no matter which position you have.

If you are searching for a corporate event venue, Ellingham Hall has a range of event spaces and offers exclusive use. Contact the team today to discuss your requirements.

Proms are a big part of life for school pupils these days. And a group of students and teachers from Berwick Academy enjoyed the unique setting of Ellingham Hall during their special prom event for leavers.

With a red-carpet welcome and mocktails for the group of 60 who made the short trip south, it really was a special occasion.

While you would expect students to enjoy the chance to “bust some moves” and let their hair down, no one quite expected that our resident peacock would be such a huge hit.

Head of Year Jess Angus wrote to us after a fantastic evening and said: “I do owe an apology to the resident peacock… I didn’t realise that a bird would fascinate the students as much as he did.”

The chapel was dressed in gold and black for the Prom and a Northumbrian hog roast fed the peckish pupils.

We had lots of fun welcoming the students. It was good to see them making the most of the fun photo booth, while others took the opportunity to chill in our reception rooms and out in the grounds.

Jess added: “Our Prom was amazing, and I honestly cannot thank your staff enough for the trust and professionalism you had with the students and myself.

“The students had the ‘run of the place’ and they really liked the ability to be able to go and sit somewhere quiet, wander around outside, chill on the roof terrace or have a good dance on the dance floor. I’ve always highly rated Ellingham Hall as a venue and it has exceeded any of the high expectations.”

We’re always happy to make a Prom something extra special! What else would you expect at Ellingham?

With great food options from only £15 per person, a seamless service and space for up to 140 students and staff, we’ll help make your prom, a night to remember!

To request more information on our prom packages, please call the team on 01665 568118 or email info@ellingham-hall.co.uk.