Latest news

Milton Hill House Introduces Allergen Emergency Kits

Meet Our General Manager: James Bell

Milton Hill House unveils refreshed ground-floor interiors following summer refurbishment

James Bell appointed General Manager at Milton Hill House, Oxfordshire

Milton Hill House Launches Inclusive Christmas Party Packages with Low & No Alcohol Options

Milton Hill House Honoured in the Manor Wedding Venue Category at the Guides for Brides Customer Service Awards 2025

The Venues Collection Achieves Significant Milestones in Future First Charter Goals for 2024

Exploring Abingdon on Two Wheels: A Scenic Cycling Guide

Hybrid Events: A Complete Guide to Virtual and In-Person Events

Milton Hill House becomes the first UK venue to remove dairy from all dessert menus.

The Benefits of Planning a Last Minute Wedding

Milton Hill House launches ‘Meetings for Change Plus’ event packages for healthy planet, mind and body

10 Best Birthday Party Surprise Ideas

Winter Wedding Ideas, Themes, & Decorations for a Cosy Celebration

16 Best Practices for Productive Meetings

5 Christmas Party Theme Ideas for your Work Do

How to Prepare a Training Session Plan in 6 Steps

Walking The Thames Path – Planning Your Route

The Venues Collection achieve Green Tourism ‘Green Meetings’ Standard

Family Days Out Oxfordshire For February Half-Term 2024

With the 2024 February half-term fast approaching, you might be searching for the best family days out near Oxfordshire to keep the little ones entertained. We have pulled together some of the best budget family days out for half-term to cr

5 Interesting Wedding Facts you Should Know

Your wedding day is one of the most important and special days of your life when you carry out the phrase ‘tying the knot’. Choosing to replace engagement wedding rings worn on the fourth finger of the left hand, with wedding rings is an ex

Best Christmas Activities in Oxfordshire

Balloon & Fireworks Festival Abingdon 2024

5 Benefits of Corporate Retreats and How to Choose One

Company retreats are the perfect opportunity for you to demonstrate your company’s goals and values whilst providing your employees with an effective team-building experience. Corporate retreats improve communication skills within a team, c

Eco Friendly Wedding Ideas

If you are wanting your wedding to be eco-friendly there are many changes you can make and ideas you can incorporate within your special day to be eco-conscious and to reduce your event’s effect on the environment.

How to Throw an Unforgettable Garden Party

Warm days and evenings make summer the ideal time to take your dinner parties , birthday parties, or baby shower outdoors. When it comes to hosting a successful garden party it sure pays to get creative. After a long winter cooped up inside

Baby Shower Gifts your Mother-to-be Will Love

5 Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Men

December is next month. Can you believe it? There’s no doubt about it, on Christmas morning it’s the main presents that take centre stage, but overlooking the supporting characters is a big mistake. No man wants to wade through a stocking f

The Venues Collection Executive Chef selected for Aspirational Culinary Apprenticeship Programme

The Venues Collection’s Executive Chef Sam Morgan has been selected to take part in a groundbreaking culinary programme in collaboration with esteemed chef Marcus Wareing.

Sam Morgan: Why Buying British Matters

Discover why buying British matters, as Executive Chef Sam Morgan explores the benefits of sourcing local, seasonal ingredients to support sustainability, quality, and the UK economy. Learn how this approach is shaping menus and driving more responsible, planet-friendly events.

Five Food Trends

Kerry Pearce, Head Chef at The Venues Collection’s Kents Hill Park shares the five food trends influencing what and how we will be eating over the next year:

The Venues Collection Launches Apprenticeship Charter

The Venues Collection, a nationwide provider of training and conference facilities, has launched an Apprenticeship Charter to help and reassure businesses when selecting appropriate accommodation for their apprentices whilst completing thei

The Venue Collection launches Future First Charter

The Venues Collection has launched its Future First Charter, a framework to shape and deliver the Group’s social purpose initiatives and targets. The Charter is built around three key pillars; People Pledge, Food Focus and Enriching Environ

Engagement Party Ideas at Home

Postponed Wedding Ideas: 8 Ways to Celebrate Your Original Wedding Date

Having to postpone your wedding day is never is anybody’s wedding plans. But sometimes, life throws a curveball and in the recent climate, there are lots of couples who, unfortunately, have had to postpone their wedding day until next year.

7 Popular Workplace Learning Methods – Types of Workplace Training

This article discusses workplace learning methods and the most popular types of workplace training.

12 stunning outdoor wedding decoration ideas in 2024

Planning a wedding involves numerous considerations before taking the plunge. From the guest list, invitations, and wedding cake to the location and venue, there are countless factors to ponder. Among them, one crucial aspect in crafting yo

10 Ultimate Summer Party Ideas

If you’re looking for summer party ideas in preparation for an upcoming birthday, then you’ve definitely come to the right place! From BBQs to carnivals, our list is guaranteed to have a little something for everyone. Each and every one of

15 Outdoor Wedding Ideas on a Budget | Tips & Tricks

If you’re looking for the very best outdoor wedding ideas on a budget, you’ve definitely come to the right place! We’re here to help you find outdoor wedding decoration ideas on a budget inspiration, and help you discover exactly what you w

As Seen In Conference News: Outdoor Events

Milton Hill House: Back to Business, A Case Study

5 Fabulous BBQ Party Ideas You’ll Love

Get inspired with creative summer BBQ party ideas, from planning essentials to food and activities that will make your event stand out. Discover how to host a seamless outdoor gathering and create a memorable experience for your guests.

Celeriac, Seasonal Ingredient for March

5 Small Wedding Ideas on a Budget

Explore practical tips and creative ideas for planning a beautiful wedding on a budget, from defining what a “small budget” really means to making cost-effective choices feel luxurious. Learn how to achieve an elegant look without overspending.

Virtual Events by The Venues Collection

Lime Venue Portfolio and The Venues Collection are partnering to offer customers a virtual and hybrid event concept available through selected venues within their portfolios. ‘Your Virtual Events’ launches today and will provide specialist

How To Plan A Last Minute Wedding

It’s time to plan your last minute wedding! Some people take months, maybe even years to plan their perfect wedding. From the flowers to the dresses, all the way to the figurines on top of the cake: there’s no disguising it, there’s a lot t

Meet Sam, Head Chef for The Venues Collection …

It is with affection we often refer to The Venues Collection as TVC. To recognise the integrity & passion of our teams we’ve interviewed several of them so you, our lovely customers, can understand who the people behind the masks are and wh

Meet Alice, Food & Beverage Assistant at Milton Hill House Hotel…

It is with affection we often refer to The Venues Collection as TVC. To recognise the integrity & passion of our teams we’ve interviewed several of them so you, our lovely customers, can understand who the people behind the masks are and wh

Meet Melissa, Meetings & Events Coordinator for The Venues Collection…

It is with affection we often refer to The Venues Collection as TVC. To recognise the integrity & passion of our teams we’ve interviewed several of them so you, our lovely customers, can understand who the people behind the masks are and wh

Meet Craig, Cluster Maintenance Manager for The Venues Collection…

It is with affection we often refer to The Venues Collection as TVC. To recognise the integrity & passion of our teams we’ve interviewed several of them so you, our lovely customers, can understand who the people behind the masks are and wh

#IAM TVC – Bringing people together safely

The Venues Collection is a brand where our people feel valued, respected, supported, cared for and happy. Our people and our culture are what defines us, what delivers great experiences, what continually improves what we do and what sets us

How to choose bridesmaids for your big day

Your wedding will be an incredible day which you’ll remember forever. Planning your special day requires a lot of decision making which can feel a little daunting. Which flower colour to choose? What appetisers to offer? If you’re reading t

5 Hen Party Ice Breaker Games and Suggestions

The Mash Sessions Interview Joanne Barratt MD of TVC

Honeymoon at Home Ideas and Suggestions

Your honeymoon is a really special event. The first time you’ll be creating memories together as a married couple and a chance to relax after the intensity of wedding planning. If you have had to postpone your honeymoon plans, don’t worry,

Games to play at a baby shower

When planning the activities, think about the guestlist for the baby shower. How many people will be attending? Does everyone know each other? If there will be lots of people from different circles, why not start off with some ice-breaker g

Organising a birthday party to remember

A birthday is a really exciting time, whatever your age. It’s a chance to celebrate your year, the goals you’ve achieved and the next step of your life. A lot can change in a year so a birthday is a perfect chance to wrap everything up and

Stop Food Waste Day 2020

Slight changes to our habits can significantly reduce food waste and by using every aspect of each ingredient we can all do our bit. This vegan pesto recipe has been created by our Executive Chef Sam Morgan to recognise Stop Food Waste Day

Classy Hen Party Ideas and Themes The Bride Will Love

When it comes to planning the perfect hen party, there’s a growing trend towards embracing sophistication and style. Gone are the days of wild and raucous celebrations; today’s brides-to-be are opting for more refined affairs.

Icebreaker Games for Meetings to Boost Engagement

When people hear the word “ icebreaker ” it tends to bring back memories of awkward school days. Standing up in front of the class and having to talk about yourself for 5 minutes is a moment that brings dread at the best of times. But icebr

Yarnfield Park sets up Market Stall to sell fruit and veg to community

Yarnfield Park Training and Conference Centre , part of The Venues Collection, set up a pop up market stall to sell their surplus fruit and vegetables to the community. Staff set up the stall in the conference centre’s foyer and invited mem

The Ultimate Last-Minute Wedding Checklist

Starting the journey of wedding planning can be overwhelming, with a multitude of details to consider and in the chaos of all the wedding preparations, it’s all too common to overlook crucial elements. To ease the stress and ensure every as

How frequent staff training can increase productivity

There is a fine balance between a good level of training and too much. If your employees are spending so much time in training sessions that they don’t have time to complete their normal work, you will have to reduce this but infrequent tra

Why offsite meetings are good for employee engagement

Keeping employees engaged during a meeting is vital to make sure that you are not wasting time and that you will all leave with a productive outcome. What you don’t want is to have to organise another meeting to cover everything you were tr

17 Unique and Unusual Wedding Gifts for the Bride and Groom

Unusual wedding gifts can be a bit of a minefield – if the happy couple doesn’t have a registry or aren’t asking for money for their honeymoon – it can be difficult to know what to get them for such a speical occasion. You don’t want to end

Conference Planning Checklist for the Ultimate Event

The idea of organising a conference can be a little daunting. With so much to think about, it can be easy to become overwhelmed. Ideally, you should start planning as soon as possible so you have time to prepare every aspect sufficiently. I

Event planning checklist for the ultimate event

Awesome Christmas days out to take Mum

Christmas Party Planning Guide for the Perfect Party

New Year’s Eve party themes for a great night

New Year’s Eve is always an exciting night, full of laughter, dancing and dining. Having a party with all your loved ones around you is a great way to ring in the new year. And what better way to celebrate than with a themed party? We’ve pu

How to be the best wedding guest

Being a guest at a wedding is always exciting. Delicious food , great music, and a couple uniting. Although you will enjoy yourself, it’s important to be aware of the couple and their needs. We’ve put together a guide to be the best guest y

The wedding anniversary gifts and their meaning

Marriage incorporates many traditions. The traditions start before the wedding, during and after. One of the main wedding traditions is the gifts you give your partner for anniversaries. These go way back and are a great way to show your et

How to have a stress-free wedding

It’s no secret that planning a wedding can be stressful. With so much going on and people to entertain, it can feel overwhelming. However, it doesn’t have to be taxing. Planning a wedding should be fun and exciting. We’ve put together some

How have wedding dresses changed over time

There are some types of dresses which will always be popular, and each bride has a preference when choosing her own. However, the style of wedding dresses has changed and evolved over time. The different eras have affected people’s choice o

Wedding Traditions Explained

There are many things people expect to see at a wedding. The majority of wedding day traditions are second nature, and no one questions the origin. Many traditions such as the bouquet toss and cutting the wedding cake. In this blog, we will

What makes a good conference venue?

The venue of your conference is the foundation of your event. It’s the building blocks that will structure your whole conference and shapes most of the other aspects, so it’s important to choose wisely. Our venue hire in Oxford is flexible

How to Choose the Right Wedding Catering

There are many elements to the perfect wedding day and choosing the right catering for a wedding is certainly one of them! Good food and good entertainment will be some of the most memorable experiences for guests as well as you, so it’s im

6 Wedding Budget Hacks to Keep Your Big Day Affordable

5 ways to make the most of a meeting

How to plan a successful meeting

How to create your wedding day timeline

How long does it take 120 people to file into a room? Do 60 people eat dinner quicker than 100 but slower than 30? When you’re trying to plan your wedding day, you’ll find yourself wondering this sort of thing as you try to create the perfe