A slice of English countryside with plenty of style to boot. This Venue in Cambridgeshire isn’t all beauty and no business, they’re also equipped with some fantastic conferencing facilities, which means you can take your event, launch, retreat or meet to this tranquil corner of Wansford and have a fantastic time.
One of the most important things we took away from Haycock Manor was the care put into all elements of the venue’s design. Each little touch in the bedrooms, boardrooms or ballroom felt like it was done with care and respect for the style, history and location of the Manor, while still allowing the building to feel fresh and bright. We loved this attention to detail and the care for the property could be seen in the attitude of the extremely accommodating staff too.
From the outside, this Manor has a classic look. A timeless structure consisted of old brickwork and many windows. We loved the feel of the place on our visit, a beautiful reception which has a bar and lounge immediately adjacent to it, we took in the regal feel of this venue which has seen many royal figures attend such as Mary Queen of Scots, Queen Victoria and even music royalty such as Freddie Mercury! One of the hotel's most prized bedrooms, The Alexandrina suite, is in fact the room that Queen Victoria stayed in, however, this was before her coronation, when she still went by, you guessed it - Alexandrina. The suite feels historic with exposed wooden beams and fantastic design, you can feel the history not only here, but in rooms throughout the hotel.
We were swiftly walked to our bedroom by the warm and welcoming staff. The rooms were, as to be expected. Top quality. Excellent fittings and features, with exposed beams, sash windows and even fireplaces. The rooms throughout the building feel like an immersive experience, bringing that classic, classy feel from the building’s exterior, inside.
This Hotel boasts two event suites and three board rooms all on its ground floor. The Lobby of the Haycock Manor can double up as a great registration area for your meeting event or launch. We liked how seamlessly these rooms were integrated into the venue, with some great facilities tucked into this tranquil hotel. The meeting rooms feel like their own sequestered sections of the building, which we think makes for maximum productivity!
Address: Wansford -in-England
Website: https://haycock.co.uk/
Conference Sales Contact: Emma Kirkley
Tel: 01780782223
Email: meetingandevents@haycock.co.uk
Distance & time from nearest airport: Haycock Manor is 36 Miles from both Cambridge and Nottingham airports. It is also 95 miles from Heathrow Airport.
Distance & time from nearest railway station: The hotel is 9 miles from Peterborough station
Parking: 80 space - all free
Where do coaches drop off / pick up at venue: At the hotel front door
Number of floors: two
Wi-fi: Yes
The Haycock Manor was first known as the Swan Inn, until in 1571, a storm washed away much of the buildings surrounding structures, such as its bridge. Since then, the Manor has seen many upgrades, including the name change, to get this impressive hotel up to the task of hosting modern events. To name a few of these features, 1GB superfast Wi-Fi, everywhere in the hotel, AV equipment to cater to any need, whenever needed and extremely accessible rooms, all on the same floor. Older buildings can sometimes struggle to feature accessible facilities due to their layout, Haycock definitely is not one of them, while losing none of its period charm, everyone is catered for.
Speaking of catering. We loved not just the food and drink at Haycock, but also the rooms they were served. Their Bar features some very cool Bowler Hat lampshades and a very impressive brass coffee barista machine, each giving the ‘no expense spared’ kind of feel that a structure like this deserves. Quirky design seeps into this hotel’s food too, in both of its restaurants, Prevost (fine dining experience with tasting menu only) and Haycock Kitchen which are outstanding and both led by Michelin recognised Head Chef, Lee Clarke. The sumptuous breakfasts are served in the downstairs area of Haycock Kitchen, known as The Brassiere which has up to 28 covers, including some excellent outdoor seating space for when the sun is shining!
Haycock Manor is home to some excellent leisure facilities, with an emphasis on wellness. They’re home to a small but well stocked gym with treadmills featuring large 21” screens, a rowing machine, Peloton bikes, free weights and more - everything you might need for a thorough workout. There’s also a nail bar in one of the outer buildings where guests can get an assortment of treatments.
There are a couple of fantastic spaces for outdoor team building opportunities – one in a large grass area outside the Haycock Suite and the other on the river side, where there is even a cricket pitch with a pavilion – at The Delegate Wranglers, we loved that the venue had such fantastic outdoor spaces. Working with their suppliers Go To events and Adventure Rutland, Haycock Manor offers a plethora of fantastic team building opportunities such as Dragon Boat racing.
The Haycock Manor also boasts the three aforementioned boardrooms, called the Barnaby, Fitzwilliam and Newton suites, respectively. Fitzwilliam, with space for up to 12 this room, as for all of the board rooms, can be utilised for both private dining, or meetings, thanks for its location in the heart of the hotel. The Fitzwilliam room also comes with views over the village of Wansford to keep your team inspired throughout the day. The largest of their boardrooms is the Newton room, we thought this’d be great for a training day, with a more spacious, larger area, equipped for up to 20 people.
Parking is easily accessible with 80 available spaces, and coach pick up is as simple as waiting right outside the front door (or inside if it’s a rainy day!).
Meeting Space Highlight: Haycock Ballroom Suite
The Haycock Ballroom suite is an amazing space with high ceilings, its own large bar area and tons of natural light. It’s rare to see a very old property with such a large meeting space, let alone one with its own separate entrance, accessible from the car park.
The Haycock Ballroom suite even has its own terrace outside complete with 5 large tables – great for drinks receptions or even a tasty barbecue, we’re licking our lips already. The suite also has an additional section called the Manor Suite, which can be included or partitioned off and used as a private dining room for 40 on its own.
Location: Ground floor through the courtyard at rear of the property
Best use for room: Dinner party, wedding, conference, awards ceremonies – Super flexible.
Natural light: Yes
Size: 456 Sq.M
Theatre: 350
Cabaret: 120
Dinner: 240
AV Equipment included: Screen & PA system
Meeting Space Highlight: Cookery School
Wow! We LOVED this feature, with fourteen independent cookery stations it’s perfect for team building or cookery courses. The Cookery School is also located in the main house which is so great to see, the whole place is brand new and had every appliance you could think of to live out your Masterchef dreams! The space also comes complete with a private dining room too so that you can enjoy the amazing flavours you’ve just cooked up.
Location: 1st Floor, main house
Best use for room: Team building cookery school sessions, cookery courses, masterclasses.
Natural light: Yes
Equipment included: All cooking equipment, ovens etc
Meeting Space Highlight: Manor Suite
Filled with natural light and right next to the Ballroom Suite, this is an extremely versatile space that can suit an array of layouts. Training, talks or large meetings could all be perfect for this large, windowed room. This room is also located beside a fantastic, peaceful courtyard which almost feels like a breakout room to itself, to zone out from work and take in the natural beauty of Wansford!
Location: Ground floor – rear building
Best use for room: Training, Meals, Classroom etc
Natural light: Yes
Size: 77.26 Sq.M
Theatre: 80
Cabaret: 30