Parties at St Hugh’s aren’t just for students …

This week I was treated to a private viewing of the conference facilities at St Hugh’s College in Oxford, courtesy of Conferencing Manager Sarah Cooper.

The place is just around the corner from my office, but I haven’t seen inside since organising a seminar there years ago. That was for a client in archaeology and I remember very little beyond a dimly lit lecture room and echoing hallways … so I expected much the same but possibly redecorated.

As soon as I entered the front gates, I knew I was going to be pleasantly surprised.  The front quad is now beautifully manicured there’s a bright,  freshly painted feel once inside.  Even the most jaded PR person would see that an awful lot of effort has gone into a major refurbishment here, so I was keen to see more.

The Boardroom

We started with coffee in the snug Small Senior Common Room.  I say ‘snug’ but the window with its view over the grounds makes for a light and airy place, perfect for drinks before dinner in the formal Boardroom next door.  This room shares the same view from a lovely bay window.

The Dining Hall is more Collegiate and, with its server area and open kitchen, felt more like the St Hugh’s I remembered. What’s different is the lack of long, hard wooden benches lined up Harry Potter style.  Instead there are chairs and tables for around 200 people that can be rearranged easily, all overlooked by a stately Minstrels Gallery.

Of the series of smaller meeting rooms The Wordsworth stayed with me.  Square with a vaulted ceiling, it almost feels as if you’re in an elaborate tent. Overlooking the pretty quad at the front of the College, it is stylishly done; modern yet true to its heritage with white walls punctuated by dramatic blocks of Morris-print wallpaper.

The vast, modern Maplethorpe Building

The best was yet to come. We took a stroll across the grounds to the modern Maplethorpe Building.  Spring is late this year and the magnolia tree that heralds its arrival is still completely bare.  I’d love to see it in  flower though, if only to admire it in full bloom from the  Maplethorpe, as this is the most open building I’ve ever seen in Oxford, with its walls of glass on two sides, each overlooking landscaped gardens on either side.   This building would easily accommodate a party, wedding or conference of around 200 people and, as all the windows even slide open, I pictured myself, cocktail in hand, admiring the grounds on a summer’s eve …

I’ve heard from friends who have eaten there that the food is top class and I wouldn’t hesitate giving St Hugh’s a try for a corporate do or private party, and it’s a fabulous venue for a wedding.

So, a Big Thank You to Sarah for showing me around.  Now my next job is to plan the party….