Brocket Hall House party

Brocket Hall House party
July 2010

Brocket Hall is one of Britain’s stately homes set in 543 acres of Hertfordshire parkland.  Last weekend it was the venue for a magnificent House Party organised by Carole Stone, Queen of Networking who is reputed to have the names of 17,000 “friends” in her electronic database.  The exclusive gathering brought together 50 of the UK’s movers and shakers from such diverse worlds as politics, finance, public relations, publishing, leisure industry and corporate hospitality.

Brocket Hall Estate boasts 2 championship golf courses and a 6 hole par 3 course, tennis courts and a croquet lawn, all of which were made available to us lucky guests. Whilst walking the grounds a self operating chain ferry took me across to the exclusive Michelin-starred restaurant Auberge du Lac - another aspect of Brocket Hall Estate.  Jean Christophe Novelli was the former Chef Patron but Executive Chef Phil Thompson earned the Michelin star!

Later in the day whilst fighting my opponents during a vicious game of croquet it was hard to believe that I was only 22 miles from the centre of London.  The Hall offers some of the finest conference and private entertainment facilities in the UK.  And this beautiful place is licensed for marriages – a wedding there would be so dreamy!

Built in 1760 by Sir Matthew Lamb the stately home remains intact, with an amazing collection of fine furniture and paintings (I loved the Peter Monomy marine pictures).  Handsome family portraits and intimate black and white photographs gave me a glimpse of the Hall’s past occupants and their extraordinarily privileged lives. Everywhere was steeped in history and all the bedrooms had names associated with those fortunate enough to have lived there.

Mine was named after the poet Byron who apparently was the passion of Lady Caroline Lamb, the wife of the second Lord Melbourne who owned the Hall and eventually became Prime Minister.   On his death Brocket Hall passed to his sister who married Lord Palmerstone and he too became Prime Minister! Lady Caroline famously conducted her affair with Lord Byron on the estate.  She also popped out of a soup tureen naked at Lord Melbourne’s 50th birthday bash in the ballroom where we had dinner.  She was obviously quite a girl!  The waltz was famously introduced to England in that same ballroom.

After a buzzing champagne reception on the terrace overlooking the lake, dinner was served.   It was a grand affair hosted by Dieter Klosterman the charming Chairman of Palmerstone Hotels & Resorts who run Brocket Hall.  They are to be congratulated on their fine cuisine, wines and superb hospitality.
 
Brocket Hall is a venue for private functions and is becoming known for reviving the fashion for lavish hospitality famous in the Georgian era.  As the hall is 250 years old this year they are having a series of wonderful house parties to mark the occasion. 
The hall is a leading conference venue which has attracted top businesses and politicians from all over the world (Bill Clinton being one of them) and has been used as a location for many television programmes and films.  It’s a popular choice in part because of the secure gated estate. 
 
If you or your company are interested in a golf event, fine dining, a wedding venue or a truly special House Party experience then take a look at www.brocket-hall.co.uk . You can stay and play there, or stay and dine there - individual room nights are taken in Melbourne Lodge the former stables that face the hall.
I can thoroughly recommend it!