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Regional Venue Focus Magazine Feature, Spring 2006 - 'Extreme Makeover’

Address:	Savill Court Hotel, Wick Lane, Englefield Green, Egham, Surrey
Tel	01784 472 000
Fax:	01784 472 200
Email:	Contact by email
Website:	Visit their website

Regional Venue Focus Magazine Feature, Spring 2006 - 'Extreme Makeover’ Information:

Savill Court Hotel in Surrey has undergone quite a transformation, says Astrid Mannion

Revisiting Savill Court is a bit like stepping into a wardrobe and discovering Narnia. This place hasn’t enjoyed a fantastic reputation of late, but a £12m refurb has put it well and truly back in business.

Clever designers have transformed the existing interior and added exciting new space – including an excellent range of purpose-built function rooms and 44 further bedrooms – while staying true to the property’s Jacobean roots. This is particularly evident in the hotel’s function rooms and public areas, where the new design incorporates original features while adding fresh new colour schemes and elegant furniture.

It is apparent that the redesign had one goal in mind: to place the hotel back in the luxury league. And if early feedback is anything to go by, this has been achieved. ‘Savill Court is back on track big time,’ confirms Valerie Fitch, the managing director of ATL Hotel Reservations, which books venues on behalf of blue-chip companies. ‘My clients are not easy to please, so my reputation is on the line if I book venues they aren’t happy with. Twelve months ago I wouldn’t have considered this place, but after the refurbishment, it is looking great,’ she says.

Linda Derecourt, a personal assistant from airport operator BAA, who recently organised an overnight conference at the hotel, agrees. ‘I’ve only had good feedback from delegates, so I will definitely use the hotel for events again. The rates were reasonable and the staff incredibly helpful.’

So the customers are happy, but what about the competition from nearby properties? The hotel’s sales director, Jamie Taylor, isn’t worried. ‘Our stunning grounds and the sheer size of the property really sets us apart and I can’t think of any other venue nearby that can compete with the unusual range of space we now offer,’ he says.

We can see where he’s coming from. The purpose-built Orangery, for instance, has really added to the hotel’s reception facilities. It seats 200 guests in spacious surrounds that feel both classic and contemporary and should prove particularly popular with wedding parties. Other cool features include a hi-tech executive boardroom and six so-called ‘syndicate bedrooms’, where the push of a button makes the bed disappear to create a meeting space for up to 10 people.

The most impressive of the function rooms is definitely the three-tiered Great Hall, which has a domed conservatory roof and a hydraulic ground floor that can be raised to form the centrepiece of a raked auditorium spread over the two upper levels. Capable of holding up to 850 delegates for anything from car launches to concerts, it also features state-of-the-art staging, lighting and presentation systems, as well as 13 adjoining break-out rooms. This truly unique space has only just come out of refurbishment and is yet to be unveiled to the events market. But, just like the rest of this beautifully transformed property, it looks set to wow.

Get Pampered in the New Spa

If you’re in need of a pampering break or want to give meeting delegates a bit of a treat, make sure you check out Savill Court’s new spa. A full range of massages, facials, manicures, pedicures are available and the facility has a 15-metre indoor swimming pool, as well as a sauna, steam room and jacuzzi.