Two buildings in the grounds of a 14th century castle have been transformed into stylish corporate event spaces with heritage, charm and modern amenities at their heart.
The County Durham based Raby Castle, Park and Gardens opened The Riding School and the Dutch Barn event spaces in summer of this year and is now offering two festive corporate events to help companies celebrate together, including a unique event – ‘Christmas in the Barn’.
Colleagues and friends can wrap up warm and enjoy the December night sky from under the Dutch Barn on Thursday 19th December. Tickets are £35 per person and includes a delicious Estate BBQ, mulled wine and live music, feeling very much like a Christmas Market atmosphere.
Alternatively, Raby will be hosting a fantastic Creative Christmas evening on Wednesday 4th December, featuring wreath-making, an Estate grazing menu, and Prosecco in the newly restored Riding School, with tickets at £75 per person.
The character-rich Riding School is a 500sqm reimagined space suitable for large capacity events, seating up to 400 delegates in unique surroundings with added flexibility in the form of subtle space dividers. Whilst the adjacent Dutch Barn’s arcaded, architectural beauty gives users an undercover outdoor space providing the perfect spot for stalls, networking and exhibitions.
Laura Evans, Raby Estate’s business development executive, is excited about the opportunities the new venues bring. She said: “These unique spaces have been so thoughtfully constructed, reusing rather than rebuilding. We’ve created authentic spaces combining history, charm, and modern amenities to offer a new sense of excitement in comparison to a traditional conference venue many companies have become accustomed to.
“Whilst internally the buildings are light filled and employ natural materials in their construction, just outside the parkland gives breathtaking views and the chance to see glimpses of red and fallow deer, heritage architecture and impeccable landscaping. It’s a day out of the office with a difference,” Laura added.
Raby Castle, Park and Gardens has already welcomed notable companies including Porsche, Historic Houses and James Hallam, one of the UK’s leading independent Insurance Brokers, for a variety of corporate events.
Porsche Centre Teesside marked the launch of the new Macan Electric Model in the newly restored, character-rich Riding School, demonstrating the versatility and uniqueness of the space by displaying vehicles in the building.
As well as venue hire, Raby can curate memorable experiences to be shared with colleagues and clients. Themes like reconnecting with nature, rest and creativity inspire the collection of activities on offer including yoga, breathwork, flower arranging, Kintsugi ceramic workshops, clay pigeon shooting and archery.
The new event spaces are part of a major lifestyle destination in the castle grounds, complete with a remodelled 18th century walled garden and new dining and retail spaces.
Claire Jones, head of leisure and tourism at Raby Estates who project managed the two-year development alongside Raby Estates’ custodians Lord and Lady Barnard, said: “Here at Raby we had a busy schedule of events and markets year-round, but The Riding School and the Dutch Barn now give us a place to host larger scale events and celebrations. Bringing this space to life alongside Lord and Lady Barnard has been a joy and we can’t wait to share it with likeminded people, businesses, and organisations.
“Be it team-building days, conferences, product launches, award ceremonies or networking events, our team is looking forward to helping people create an event that showcases their work in an unforgettable space. If they want something that represents their brand and core values around sustainability and heritage, this will be the perfect setting for them.”
Within a short driving distance of business hubs including Durham, Newcastle Upon Tyne and Middlesborough, but also a short drive off the A1, Raby’s new business destination boasts ample parking and public transport links – it’s just over a two-hour train journey from London’s Kings Cross to Darlington.
Half day and full day packages with catering options and two days hire of the corporate space with an overnight stay at the nearby High Force Hotel gives businesses and organisations looking to work with Raby Estates flexible timeframes for their event.