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28th February 2019

Business breakfast meetings at The Carlton

By Eliot Wren on Business, Events, News

Ilfracombe’s business breakfast meetings are held at The Carlton, where you can meet and network. Chat with fellow business owners and entrepreneurs at Love Ilfracombe’s fortnightly open sessions.

This informal group meets every other week on Thursdays from 7:45am onwards. It’s a safe and friendly environment where ideas and tips are shared. Usually a guest speaker presents their business, initiative or advice.

Enjoy a tasty local pork sausage or grilled back bacon sandwich washed down with juice and as much coffee and tea as you need! Meetings close around 9am.

Upcoming dates include

March 4 & 18
April 7, 16 & 30

Book your place at www.loveilfracombe.co.uk/ibb

To recover catering costs there is a small charge of £5 per attendee.

Find out more about our meeting, business facilities here.

This event is organised by Love Ilfracombe.

28th February 2019

The Perfect Way to Grow Your Business Team

By Emily on Business, Events

Grow your team, grow your businessis one of those clichés that is periodically rolled out in business event planningsessions or by business magazinesand consultants, but what does that actually mean?

Google the term and you will find pages devoted to the topic, filled with jargonese chatter about onboarding, feedback loops or gardening metaphors that wax lyrical about the team progressing from seed to flower!

The phrase is of course a catch all intended to give the boss team building ideas, along with tips on how to increase productivity and profit…while really aiming to nudge the reader to click the link in the vague hope of finding out something they don’t already know.

Business Event Planning in North Devon

In Ilfracombe, North Devon, the Carlton Hotel brings its own slant to business event planning and the burning question of how to grow your team. It involves dispensing with the jargonese and getting ‘back to basics’. Not in a John Majortype throwback to the past, but by simply stripping away all the white noise that goes with the daily grind of life in the office and seeing things from a different angle.

In this respect, the Carlton provides much more than a conventional venue with meeting room hire – although meeting and seminar rooms (fully equipped and ready to cater for groups of 5 – 150 people) it also happens to have! Thanks to its fantastic location on the North Devon coast it offers far more in terms of team building ideas than most destinations.

The Carlton’sEngage business packageoffers unique opportunities for companies to get away from the office for a 2 day midweek break in Spring or Autumn where the art of business can be combined with pleasure in ways that are intended to grow the team as human beings. As most of the afore mentioned articles agree on one thing; people are the cornerstone of any business.

Bathing With Your Boss?

Growing one’s business is so often a case of working effectively with who you have rather than complaining about what you don’t (just ask Jose Mourinho!). This is something that some bosses fail to grasp when considering team building ideas – hoping that just by putting on an away day the team will magically fall in line and come together regardless of the activity.

There are plenty of bad away days you could drag your team through, such as ‘naked relationships’ otherwise known as bathing with your boss, which is apparently a popular bonding activity in Japan! So here are some far more appealing options from the Carlton’s Engage business package which makes the most of the beautiful North Devon coast.

Let’s start with the sea, which lends itself to kayaking, coasteering and surfing – cue a bracing, bonding and fun filled experience splashing about off Atlantic facing beaches such as nearby Woolacombe (which regularly crops up in the list of the world’s best beaches).

For confirmed landlubbers the action can easily switch inland – on the golfing green, off piste on a quad bike or even in mid air (as the clay pigeon flies!). If this sounds like far too much expended energy then gentler pursuits – from chocolate workshops to barista making by way of beachcombing on secluded beaches – can be arranged.

Bespoke Activities and Business Quality Accommodation

The Carlton has a reputation for working with members of the firm responsible for business event planning to come up with activities that will fit the company and the people that make it. Add to a programme of bespoke activities superb business class quality rooms, excellent in-house diningand meeting room hire thrown in for free (to ensure some business motivated moments in the break) and this is a winning combination for growing your team’s appetite for growing your business.

With Engage business packages starting at £100 per person, per night, get in touch by emailor telephone (01271 862446) to find out what the Carlton Hotel can bring to tour team this year (and, just for the record, a longboardingsession is far more memorable than an onboarding session!…).

28th February 2019

Coastal Tonic for Office Worker Health

By Emily on Business, Events, News

The problem with modern life is that it just doesn’t stop! There is a lot of research out there regarding office worker health, urging us to switch off and de-stress, but we just don’t seem to get the time to get round to it…

This is something of an irony seeing as the first bit of advice given when our technology stops functioning as it should, is to turn it off and give it a reboot!

Stress is part and parcel of business. It is the adrenalin fuelled engine which drives aspiration, ambition and achievement. But it is a double edged sword. Stress can lead to burn out and also be detrimental to the office environment and the business as a whole.

Many businesses use team building exercises and business away days to take their employees out of this environment. Business away days are an opportunity for the team to de-stress and connect on a different level . Bonding over something other than the shared use of the water cooler is beneficial to office worker health, but frequently business away days are over too quickly to fully enjoy the benefits.

Team Building Exercises to Beat Stress

That’s why the Carlton Hotel in Ilfracombe, North Devon, has seen a swift uptake of its two day Refresh & Energise business breakpackages this Spring. The midweek business breaks combine opportunities for team building exercises with a programme of relaxation activities for the team – from massage and Tai Chi sessions to outdoor coastal pursuits and a specially prepared Wellness menu that’s big on taste but healthy too.

Carlton Hotel owner, Eliot Seabourn-Wren, says, “There is a lot of uncertainty in the UK at the moment and many companies are waiting for the green light on some kind of direction, but this is also taking its toll on the office. Our Refresh and Energise breaks are proving popular because bosses are seeing the benefits to office worker health as well as promoting focus for what’s coming next.”

The Office is Bad For Your Health

It seems obvious, but research has been drawing attention to the negative impact of sitting for up to 8 hours a day. So the solution is to get a stand up desk right? Not necessarily! Standing for any length of time brings its own problems (from conditions such as plantar fasciitis – foot swelling to lumbar spine pressures).

A positive contribution to office worker health (aside from making efforts to bring more mobility into your day) comes through the power of massage. Massage techniques – from head to full bodyto feet massage – will flush out the muscles, put knotted muscles back in place and remove accumulated tension.

The ancient art of Tai Chi has also enjoyed a revival with its clear benefits for the modern office worker. Carlton Hotel ‘s Tai Chi partner, Paul Maxfield. “Tai Chi can be used in various ways such as for strength, flexibility, and mental wellbeing. It has obvious advantages for management and company employees. In day to day business, life can be stressful, and where decisions have to be made with a clear head, Tai Chi brings calm and focus.”

While massage and Tai Chi are more specialised features on the Refresh & Energise business break programme at North Devon’s Carlton Hotel, team building exercises don’t get any less formal than just taking a stroll on the beach! Walking is good for our health and everybody is saying it (hands up if you’ve done your 10,000 steps today?!)- and nowhere is this more pertinent than in relation to office worker health.

Guaranteed to boost the mind and energise the body is a coastal walk, or pleasant time spent combing the beach and marvelling at the power of the elements and the mighty Atlantic ocean – just the kind sight to help get things into perspective. It may be the simplest and most informal of team building exercises on a Refresh & Energise business break package, but it’s an effective one!

And of course a good walk builds a good appetite too. The office is a magnet for poor eating habits; grabbing lunch on the go, snacking on quick fix sugary and salty snacks, being too tired to rustle up anything other than a ready meal in the kitchen at the end of a long day…

The specially prepared Wellness menu at the Carlton appreciates the importance of fuelling correctly for maximum performance. Eating well is just another element of the hotel’s Refresh & Energise two day business break (from £102 per person, per night) – the perfect opportunity to hit stop, reset and prepare the team’s focus for the year to come.

For more information about the Carlton Hotel’s Refresh & Energise package, get in touch by emailor telephone (01271 862446).

7th February 2019

Energise the Business Team in Big Sky North Devon

By Emily on Business, Events, News

Take a look around the office. It’s been a devilishly long winter and everyone’s been cooped up for far too long. Dark mornings, dark evenings, stale air, bright lights, the hum of technology, winter colds and of course Brexit…

As winter rolls into spring, it’s time for business team building. Time to escape the city and blow those cobwebs away beneath North Devon’s big skies, drawing in the fresh air and embracing the elements. It’s time to wake up, rejuvenate and revive those corporate activities for the next campaign.

A change is as good as a rest and at the Carlton Hotel in Ilfracombe, change combines first class business hotel facilities with some of the most picturesque surroundings to be found in the West Country. Fresh for Spring 2018 in this unique boutique UK conference centre is a new two day business team building package.

Business Team Building the Refresh & Energise Way

The Refresh & Energise Package brings the perfect balance of high spec meeting and conference room facilities with an infusion of health and relaxation guaranteed to soothe stressed bodies and focus minds on upcoming corporate activities.

A midweek Refresh & Energise session allows for business team building with a difference. Meeting room sessions are mixed with wellness activities to stimulate mind and body. Your stay includes alternative team building activities like guided along the spectacular North Devon coastline, beachcombing to the sound of waves lapping on the shore, buddy massage treatments in-house and specially prepared Wellness menus.

Refresh & Energise guests have the run of the hotel, able to choose between two delightful seminar and conference room spaces (each with a capacity of up to 50 people). Meanwhile the Carlton Club Bar and Brasserie accommodates up to 150 people, providing options to drink, dine and reflect on discussions, training session material and upcoming business projects.

Feeding to focus the mind, the Carlton Hotel kitchen has created a specific menu for Refresh & Energise breaks, balanced with locally sourced, raw and healthy ingredients. The chefs prepare dishes that combine ingredients drawn from the land and sea – from local fresh fish to farm reared meat and fruits and vegetables provided by North Devon suppliers.

Once seen as an indulgent luxury, more business leaders are recognising the real benefits of massage in terms of necessity for optimising performance. On a Refresh& Energise business stay, therapies available for the team include Tui Na and Tai Chi, hot stones and head, feet, leg and full body massages.

Business Class and Seaside Charm

As well as organised activities there are ample opportunities to follow the meeting room with a little ‘me’ time, to escape with just one’s thoughts. A few minutes stroll from the Carlton there are secluded coves, or hilly lookouts with the mighty Atlantic Ocean below and an expanse of sky above, and the postcard view harbour filled with small fishing boats.

Ilfracombe is a seaside resort that was made famous by the Victorians, escaping the smoke to take in the ‘old briny’ and the Carlton is a period Victorian building that has been thoroughly updated with Twenty First century chic. Its 39 rooms have been designed with a stylish twist on the original character, oozing comfort and four star business quality, while the hotel’s open layouts make for a delightful UK conference centre with a difference.

A midweek Refresh & Energise Package booking this Spring costs from £102 per person, per night. The price includes room and access to the Carlton Hotel’s facilities (such as the gym), treatments and activities and all day catering, from breakfast, through lunch and onto dinner. Meeting room and seminar room provision comes with top class AV and super-fast WiFi facilities making the Carlton Hotel an inspired choice as an alternative UK conference centre for inspirational business team building and corporate activities

For more information or to discuss how to customise your business package, get in touch with the Carlton Hotel in Ilfracombe, North Devon by email or telephone (01271 862446).

24th October 2018

Award Winning Business Venue

By Emily on Business, News

Award-Winning Hotel With Modern Facilities

The Carlton Hotel offers all you need for a successful business event. Open all year round, our modern facilities and contemporary interiors are supported by a professional service, terrific food and excellent attention to detail.

Recent renovations have been carried out with corporate events in mind. Touches like new glazing for improved soundproofing, easy accessibility, WiFi throughout and plenty of power sockets mean that your event will be stress-free.

Independently owned and managed, great service is at the heart of everything we do. Our team will respond to your needs, plan well by asking all the right questions and look after your team and delegates effectively.

Key Venue Features

Diverse and spacious meeting spaces
Superfast broadband + WiFi
Excellent mobile coverage
On-site parking
Lift to all doors
Gymnasium and library
Bar with draught and craft beers
Locally sourced food in our Brasserie

Facilities

The Carlton’s modern event and meeting spaces are laid out over our ground and lower ground floor and the hotel is step-free from street level.

From 10 to 150 people, our spaces can adequately accommodate a choice of room arrangements. Suitable for events, meetings, workshops, and seminars are the following spaces:

Club

Our largest space, with integral bar, high ceilings and plenty of natural light.

Stage

Adjacent to the Club, the two areas can be linked together.

Burlesque

A discreet space ideal for smaller seminars, training events, and workshops.

Library

A cosy space for meetings or to break up the space during larger events.

Accommodation

The Carlton offers a great variety of accommodation, with two floors of the hotel converted to new deluxe standard and a choice of superior or classic rooms should you require an overnight stay as part of your event.

Rooms are offered at favourable rates to delegates and include breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Layout Capacities

Our principal event spaces and capacities:

Space	Boardroom	Theatre	Free ow	Banquet
Library	8	n/a	24	n/a
Burlesque	40	70	130	70
Stage	30	50	100	50
Club	40	80	150	80

All inclusive delegate rates from just £99. Please call us to discuss your room requirements.

The Carlton Corporate Brochure Download

24th October 2018

Let Us Do The Hard Work

By Emily on Business, News

Event Planning Service

As an owner operated hotel we put great service at the heart of the business. Our team will respond to your needs, plan well through asking all the right questions, and look after both your team and delegates effectively. We offer flexibility right up to the day of the event. For us, it’s all in the detail.

With our professional Event Planning Service, you can rely on us to help you plan every detail and be confident that everything is taken care of.

Made For Purpose

Our meeting and events include:

Training Event
Team Building
Business Workshop
Seminar & Conference
Interviews
Trade Show & Demos
Other (We can tailor packages specifically for your requirements)

Wonderful Customer Service

The hotel’s new owners are active in all aspects of their business and will ensure that both front of house and behind the scenes, your event is well supported. Our full-time team of hospitality professionals are loved for their customer service. Carlton guests comment on our friendly team, that simply go the extra mile for them. The same team, led by the business owners, will do the exact same for your event.

You can be sure that every all hotel team members will be thoroughly briefed on your event details, look and act in control of your event, receive your attendees with courteous professionalism, and assist you and delegates in all aspects of the event.

Our can-do attitude is the key to our success and in turn, means we will just get on with making your perfect event.

All In The Detail

A detailed fully costed proposal will be created and agreed with you to confirm our understanding of your needs.

If you want to offer delegates activities we can set you up with our partners. Outdoor, indoor and in-house we have a lot more activities that can keep your attendees engaged. At The Carlton, we are proud to partner other suppliers who can provide a range of activities to enhance your business, team building, workshop or seminar.

We are proud to work with these providers in their specialist areas of value-added activity.

Outdoor
H2Outdoor
Ilfracombe Golf Club
Little birds Therapy
Sam Courton Outdoor Activities
South West Shooting School
Indoor
Chocolate Emporium
Inspired Parties
Embassy Cinema
In-house
Pasta Workshop
Barista School for teams

If you are looking to add additional AV, theming, dressing and set up we can resource this on your behalf or put you in touch with professional suppliers.

The Carlton Corporate Brochure Download

Local Event Partners

24th October 2018

Great Food and Drink

By Emily on Business

We know that you’ll have a schedule and programme to maintain, which has an influence on the style and type of catering that’s best for individual events. We are expert at tailoring to your specific requirements.

Catering can be enjoyed in your meeting space, in a separate break out area or in our lounges.

Depending on the size of your event we can offer dinner to include run of our brasserie menu or create a bespoke offer suited to service delivery. Irrespective your delegates will enjoy the same high-quality ingredients cooked simply but stylishly for a tasty meal.

Breakfast – is available from 7:30 each morning, and earlier times can be arranged if you need this. Our menu offers fresh filter coffee, warm freshly baked croissants, healthy fruit, and yoghurt, cereals, grilled fish, local ham, free-range eggs plus our fantastic cooked breakfast options. Hot food is cooked to order, meaning delegates can enjoy their juice, fruit, and cereal knowing that their meal is being prepared and delivered to their table for maximum freshness.

Lunches – from working lunches with quirkier options, to our menu rapid (two-course express table lunch service) we offer your event the flexibility.

Small touches – we deliver filter brewed coffee, teas, and infusions, homemade cakes and biscuits, energising refreshments to keep your teams engaged.

From the basics through to the elaborate we plan to deliver. Our team have met the roasters at Clifton Coffee in Bristol, so understand and care for the brew. It’s a small point – but can make the welcome coffee just that more amenable.

And our team speak with suppliers every day ensuring the ingredients we put on your delegates plate is first class. It doesn’t matter if you’ve booked a light lunch or a comforting supper, the same care and attention to detail run through our production

Download Menu Options:

Menu 7 Buffet Service

Menu 8 Buffet & Bowl

Menu 9 Formal Buffet

Menu 10 Desserts

The Carlton Corporate Brochure Download