Corporate retreats in the countryside offer a fantastic opportunity to bond with your team in an inspiring out-of-office environment. Lisa Hunt, owner of Spicer Manor, explores the many benefits.

Enjoy relaxed and spacious facilities

Country houses are great locations for team away days or corporate retreats, offering ample space to host a jam-packed week of team building activities or a relaxing getaway. Not only will you have complete privacy in peaceful surroundings, but you’ll also be able to make the most of the great outdoors.

Choose from a range of activities

Most rural venues offer team building activities on or off-site or can recommend experiences nearby. This might include cookery classes, wine tasting, cocktail-making or murder mystery parties to name a few. There may also be the opportunity to make use of large grounds for activities such as‘Total Wipeout’ or archery.

Delicious catering options

Many country house retreats will provide a bespoke catering service on request, allowing you to treat your employees or clients to delicious food prepared on-site. One of the many perks of dining at a countryside venue compared to a city location is the locally sourced, fresh produce available. 

Get away from the hustle and bustle

Holding your corporate retreat in the countryside provides a natural setting to escape from the busy world and clear your mind of distractions, which is likely to have a positive effect on employee wellbeing. Getting together in a different environment will allow you to focus on your agenda away from the daily grind.

Luxury surroundings

Country houses often exude luxury, with beautiful interiors and often retain many period features which create a pleasant environment in which to work or spend time with colleagues. They offer something truly unique and memorable, with rooms full of charm and often with breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside. You may also find quirky meeting or break-out spaces to share ideas with colleagues.

Bedroom
Room at Spicer Manor

Free, secure parking

Hosting a corporate team activity in a busy city can mean employees paying a small fortune to park – often a far distance away from the venue. However, countryside venues are likely to provide free, secure on-site parking which enables attendees to have a stress-free commute.

Modern facilities

You might be out in the countryside, but you’ll still be able to make use of modern facilities such as free Wi-Fi, flipcharts, projector screens and some houses even have their own cinema rooms! It’s worth discussing your bespoke requirements at the point of booking to ensure you have everything you need before your event.

The cinema room
Cinema room at Spicer Manor

A rural retreat with a difference

Spicer Manor lies on the edge of the stunning Peak District National Park, offering a wide range of outdoor activities. The luxury country house is within easy distance of major cities including Sheffield, Leeds, York and Manchester. The house sleeps 34 guests and boasts twin hot tubs, a cinema and games room.

We have a range of indoor and outdoor spaces to choose from. Our magnificent oak orangery offers the perfect space for meetings. The house also boasts three adjoining living spaces which provide quirky breakout areas for groups to share ideas.

Two brown leather armchairs with red cushions
Breakout area in the grand hall at Spicer Manor

Upstairs, our cinema room provides 4K viewing quality in line with full-size cinemas and has seating for 22 delegates on specially designed cinema chairs. This room is ideal for corporate presentations or seminars.

For a more light-hearted team bonding session we have a range of outdoor games such as giant Jenga and boules which can be played on the impressive front lawn or in our fields.  

Activities nearby

If you’d like to head out on an adventure during your stay with us, there are several activity centres within easy reach which offer corporate team building days in Yorkshire.

For a fun-filled team building day, look no further than Puzzlewoods, situated in Cawthorne near Barnsley which is just a short 20 minute drive away. Here, you’ll pick your way through a one hour outdoor trail, facing a series of challenges along the way which will test your mental agility, physical ability and encourage you to think outside the box. There’s also the opportunity to toast marshmallows around a fire.

For something a little more challenging, Dolomite Training at Bakewell in Derbyshire offers everything from abseiling and stream scrambling to orienteering and mountain biking. The staff have a wealth of management training experience which enables them to tailor the activities towards team bonding.

Whatever activities you have in mind, Spicer Manor can cater for your needs. We have shared accommodation for up to 34 single delegates. For more information or to book your corporate retreat in Yorkshire, contact hello@spicermanor.co.uk.