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3. VSL Visit Sopwell House with Vine Tree Connections

Tuesday 11 March 2025

Last week, Vine Tree Connections, a representation company with an impressive portfolio of independently owned luxury hotels across the globe, including Sopwell House, invited VSL on an overnight familiarisation trip which did not disappoint!

Sopwell House is a luxurious family-owned 4-star Georgian country house hotel nestled in 12 acres of Hertfordshire countryside in St Albans, 27 minutes by train from London St Pancras and within easy reach of Luton Airport. Since the summer of 2023, the entire hotel has been refurbished and is now in the final phase and due to be complete at the end of this month. A multimillion £ overall investment to enhance the guest experiences and upgrade facilities. This investment has resulted in renovations to all guest rooms, total overhaul of the dining options and a refresh of their carefully thought-out meeting spaces.

The evening started with welcome drinks served in a semi-private area of the Octagon Bar, a chic, modern space inspired by the London cocktail culture. Its luxurious decor, gorgeous central bar, and floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the gardens all contribute to its sophisticated ambiance.

Following welcome drinks, we started our tour of the hotel's event spaces, bedrooms, and spa. The St Alban Suite, the largest of Sopwell's 15 well-equipped function suites, can accommodate up to 700 people for a reception with drinks, 300 for dinner, or 180 for cabaret. The grounds, which have areas for fun and leisure, make the ideal setting for on-site team building or just a place for your delegates to rest and enjoy a little peace and quiet.

There are 126 bedrooms, all of which are flawlessly designed in a classic, British style. There are also 16 magnificent Mews suites, which are located to one side of the hotel behind a private gate and encircle a gorgeous botanical garden created by Chelsea Flower Show Gold Medalist Ann-Marie Powell. For senior level attendees who require a "wow" factor, the mews are a great choice. The Mews offers guests the highest level of exclusivity. Additionally, several of the Mews Suites feature their own private courtyards with dark wicker lounge areas and sunken private spa baths. The main building's renovated "chic" rooms, where we slept, definitely lived up to their name.

After touring the hotel's incredible spaces, we were given a special dinner in Omboo which is the hotel's striking Pan Asian restaurant. At the rear of the restaurant, behind luxurious, embossed sliding partition walls, is their private dining room, where we had a wonderful meal. It's a lovely, intimate setting that's ideal for 8 to 12 people. Designed to encourage interaction and conversation between guests, there are no set starters or mains and each dish on the menu was delivered to the table as soon as it was ready, to be shared and enjoyed by all. The service and meal were superb!

Following an amazing visit, we can heartily endorse Sopwell House as an excellent venue for networking events, off-site meetings, team-building exercises, residential conferences, award ceremonies, gala dinners, private dining, and much more.