I do like a bit of ‘Rat Pack’ so when Kilworth House asked if there was anyone in the office interested in going to their ‘Rat Pack Evening’ last Friday, I jumped at the chance. The hotel was also offering overnight accommodation.
Kilworth House is a Grade II-listed former family home and has two unique features – the stunning award winning theatre set in a wooded glade beside the lake and the hotel’s ornate Victorian Orangery overlooking the parkland.
This glorious Grade II-listed Italianate country house was built as a family home towards the end of the nineteenth century for John Entwisle, the High Sheriff of Leicestershire. After the death of Mr Entwisle’s second wife in the 1960s, the house passed to the Snowdon family who turned it into several flats.
In 1999 the current owners, Celia and Richard Mackay, bought the house and painstakingly restored it to its former glory transforming it into the beautiful hotel and grounds you see today. There is a book in the reception where you can follow the transformation.
As we drove up the hotel drive signage to the ‘Open Air Theatre’ reminded me that during the summer months, the hotel’s Open Air Theatre hosts shows such as ‘Kiss Me Kate’ and ‘Top Hat’ (both showing in 2017).
On arrival, we checked in to find that we were in a suite (Kilworth House has quite a few) which we found are all very different when we poked our heads into the other ones the following morning.
We made our way down to the bar where champagne was being served, and we were led into the hotel’s magnificent Orangery, which is part of the original house and will seat a max of 130 guests for dinner. The food was excellent, as well as the service throughout the weekend.
After retiring to the bar for a nightcap, we spent a very peaceful night in the Sheridan Suite (picture right).
The following morning we had breakfast in the Orangery again, where orders for hot food are taken and freshly cooked, rather than the common breakfast buffet which has been standing around for ages.
We currently have an enquiry for an Awards Lunch for one of our clients, who has been to view the Kilworth House. Pending a visit with his Director they plan to hold their event at the hotel in March. In his words when he was shown round the hotel: ‘what is there not to like?’
The facilities at Kilworth House can provide a discreet boardroom meeting for five, or a theatre-style conference for 80 delegates.
Kilworth House is just four miles east of Junction 20 of the M1 and easily accessible from the M69, M42, M6 and A14.
Kilworth House offers a full calendar of events which can be found on their website: www.Kilworthhouse.co.uk