There’s something special about arriving at a country house hotel on a Friday afternoon, especially when it’s with a brilliant group of senior event professionals. Last week, we hosted an EventprofsLive FAM at Lainston House, and from the moment we arrived, it delivered exactly what our members value most: warmth, quality, character and serious event potential.
Friday | Arrival
We arrived by 5.00pm on Friday, checked in smoothly, and were shown to our gorgeous, individually appointed bedrooms and each one full of charm and comfort (the kind that immediately makes you exhale after a busy week).
We regrouped for drinks in the lounge, soaking up the relaxed country-house feel, before heading off on a short site visit to explore the meeting and event spaces. Lainston is one of those properties that feels intimate yet highly capable, perfectly suited to leadership offsites, client retreats and senior team gatherings.
Dinner was hosted at The Wellhouse, and it was outstanding. Known for its wood-fired cooking and its close connection to Lainston House’s own cookery school, this space instantly sparked ideas for team-building cooking experiences followed by dinner which was a brilliant format for corporate groups.
The restaurant was buzzing, the atmosphere warm and lively, and the food exceptional. The steaks were a real highlight, while importantly for our world, all dietary requirements were handled seamlessly, without fuss.
Creativity, connection & a nightcap (for some!)
After dinner, we moved into one of the property’s many meeting rooms for a guided painting class, and this is where things got really fun. Laughter, creativity and a few surprise artistic talents emerged (we have some very talented members).
A couple of the group headed to the bar for a nightcap, while others took the opportunity for an early night, retreating back to those beautiful bedrooms and enjoying the calm that only a countryside stay can offer.
Saturday | A relaxed close
The next morning, we reconvened for breakfast together before heading off to enjoy the rest of the weekend—rested, inspired and full of ideas.
Why we love working with Exclusive Hotels & Venues
This FAM reminded us exactly why we love bringing our members to properties within the Exclusive Hotels & Venues portfolio. Across the collection including Pennyhill Park, South Lodge, The Manor House (Castle Combe), Fanhams Hall, Royal Berkshire and Ansty Hall there’s a consistent focus on quality, individuality and event expertise.
We’ve been proud to host previous FAM trips with Exclusive Hotels & Venues over the years, and you can read more about those experiences on http://www.eventprofslive.com.
You can also explore meeting and event space capacities across the collection here: [insert link from Exclusive Hotels & Venues website]
Getting there
Address:
Lainston House
Woodman Lane, Sparsholt
Winchester, Hampshire
SO21 2LT
By train from London:
London Waterloo → Winchester
Approx. 1 hour direct
From Winchester station, it’s a 10–15 minute taxi to Lainston House
Easy, efficient and ideal for UK-based corporate groups.
We loved this FAM. We love our members. And we love showcasing the very best of Exclusive Hotels & Venues.
If you’re a venue or supplier interested in working with EventprofsLive or, if you’re a corporate event professional who’d like to join our network drop us a line at hello@eventprofslive.com. We’d love to hear from you.
