De Vere Venues takes on management of Chicheley Hall
The 48-bedroom Buckinghamshire venue is a Grade I-listed mansion built in the 1700’s and was purchased by the famous fellowship of leading scientists in 2007.
Located in 80 acres of grounds, Chicheley Hall is owned by the Royal Society and is used as a hotel and a venue for corporate, academic and leisure events.
Expansion plans
"Chicheley Hall is a fantastic addition to our portfolio of venues and further strengthens our expansion plans for the brand," said Tony Dangerfield, chief executive of De Vere Venues.
Speaking to BigHospitality at the end of last year, Dangerfield said he believed hotel operators would see a significant upturn in the corporate events market in 2013.
As part of the wider De Vere Group, De Vere Venues plans to take on 12 more properties over the course of the next three years including a number with accommodation.
Led by Robert Cook, De Vere Village Urban Resorts is currently rapidly expanding its portfolio and this week confirmed what Cook told BigHospitality last year - that the brand was ready to open its first properties in Scotland.
Meanwhile the De Vere Hotels section of the group is focused on specialising in golf hotels while De Vere Venues continues to expand.
"At De Vere Venues we’re committed to providing cutting-edge environments to service our customers and to be leaders in training, conferences and events.
"Chicheley Hall is a great fit for De Vere Venues and we’re delighted to have them on board," Dangerfield added.
Chicheley Hall
Located minutes away from the M1 motorway and nearby town Milton Keynes, Chicheley Hall features nine meeting or training rooms for up to 100 delegates and a former coach house containing two lecture theatres.
Professor Tony Cheetham, vice-president of the Royal Society said: "Chicheley Hall is a magnificent conference centre and the Royal Society is delighted to have awarded the management contract to De Vere Venues.
The venue is already home to a great programme of cutting edge scientific events and we are now looking forward to more people being able to enjoy the inspiring surroundings."
