Located in the rolling Suffolk countryside is a hotel which offers meetings organisers an escape from the dull, identikit corporate hotels found everywhere and anywhere in the country. Set between Bury St Edmunds and Sudbury, it is easily accessible from Colchester, Cambridge and Ipswich.

The Swan Hotel at Lavenham dates back to the 15^th Century when it played a key role in Lavenham’s wool trade. Today it is a quintessential English country hotel and restaurant, proud of its achievement of an AA four star 81% rating and two AA Rosettes. Ancient oak beams and inglenook fireplaces blend beautifully with rich furnishings and fabrics to create the perfect ambiance for rest and relaxation. The historic Old Bar boasts a wonderful collection of memorabilia including a wall signed by British and America airmen stationed at Lavenham Airfield during World War II.

The Swan Hotel at Lavenham combines medieval inspiration with 21^st Century innovation to offer a unique Suffolk meeting venue conducive to a wide variety of corporate events, including exhibitions, conferences and team away days. The 3 refurbished meeting rooms, which are equipped with Wi-Fi and air conditioning, provide a high degree of privacy and natural daylight, seating up to 18 delegates boardroom-style or 30 theatre-style. Offering a calming and inspirational environment for a wide variety of corporate teambuilding, motivational and personal development related events, however large or small, the hotel will ensure that your team will have a day to remember.

The Head Chef understands that food plays an important role in corporate events and produces imaginative menus to satisfy a variety of occasions, including exciting vegetarian options, exquisite dinner and even menus to reflect the corporate image.

The Swan also offers a choice of private dining venues with four dining rooms. All have a unique character of their own and have been recently refurbished. For large events, the elegant AA two Rosette Gallery Restaurant can be hired for exclusive use and can seat a maximum of 100 guests. It has a very large inglenook fireplace, plenty of beams, a high vaulted ceiling and a Minstrels’ Gallery, perfect for music or entertainment.

The McCallum Room has a high vaulted ceiling, large working fireplace and three large windows, offering plenty of light. Guests can sit around a beautiful long oak table which can seat 22.

The Suffolk Room maintains its historic charm, which marries well with the contemporary touches which have recently been incorporated. It is flanked by oak beams and has lovely mullioned windows. The room can seat 32 guests.

The historic Wool Hall is ideal for larger functions of up to 34 guests. Features include large windows on either side of the room, a high vaulted ceiling, plenty of oak beams and a cosy log fire.

Each of the Swans 49 en-suite bedrooms boast a mix of rich fabrics and contemporary furnishings co-ordinated in soft and mellow colours while pure linen sheets and feather pillows ensure a good nights sleep. Named after local Suffolk villages many of the bedrooms are original in style. From standard double rooms to mezzanine suites and fours posted beds, they are sure to delight. Oak beams and original medieval wall paintings abound and you will take great delight wandering through corridors and discovering the truly original character of The Swan.

Each bedroom has an en-suite bathroom, plasma TV screen, a DVD/CD player and tea and coffee making facilities. Suites and feature rooms provide use of bathrobes.

Don’t settle for the mundane, take a look at The Swan Hotel in Lavenham.

Kris Smith has been living and writing about Suffolk for several years, The Swan Hotel to offer a unique Suffolk Meeting Venue conducive to a wide variety of corporate events, for further details go to www.theswanatlavenham.co.uk or telephone 01787 247477.