Did you know that Thicket Priory isn’t just a wedding venue? Well, you do now.
Thicket Priory is an exclusive hire venue which can host anything from family celebrations and birthday parties to corporate retreats and director away-days. Just let us know what you’d like to do, and we’ll look to accommodate your plans in the many spaces we have both indoor and outdoor here at Thicket Priory.
Set in the gorgeous English countryside, you can escape the hustle and bustle of life, feeling like you are in the middle of nowhere, but with the convenience of only being a 20-minute drive from York. With great connections to the North, South and Midlands, any travel plan to get to us should be stress free. We are a central hub here in York, often connecting the North-South divide for families and businesses. On-site parking for up to 100 cars takes the stress away for those arriving to the venue, with a warm welcome and homely touches, offering the perfect retreat.
With 18 acres of gardens, surrounded by a world-renowned nature reserve, why not relax in the tranquil setting of the grounds to escape the real world. There is woodland, a lake and 3 bridges for a mindful walk surrounded by nature.
What you need to know…
1) Accommodation, staying on-site, and getting to us…
We have 35 en-suite bedrooms, all beautifully decorated and individually characterised. Each room from the smallest to the largest is a comfortable and luxurious setting for everyone staying over.
There are 26 bedrooms within the main house, which is the building dating back to the 1840s, with an additional 9 bedrooms in the garden wing which was added to the Thicket Priory accommodation in the 1970s. There are 13 ground floor rooms, with 12 of these rooms being ‘fairly accessible’, and then 1 bedroom which is fully accessible.
A few travel facts:
– 20-25 minutes from York by car/taxi
– Great connections to the North & South by train
– You’ll feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere, but you’re only a stones throw from major train and motor routes.
– 1 hour drive from Leeds/Bradford airport (40 miles)
– 1 hour 45 minutes from Manchester airport (90 miles)
2) Meeting Spaces, the formal part…
We have various meeting spaces offering options from intimate 1 to 1 style meetings, to theatre style up to 200. Break-out rooms galore, relaxed spaces, private rooms, with natural lighting and our beautiful appointed house pantries to ensure you have tea, coffee and biscuits on tap! Who doesn’t love a Tunnock’s teacake!
We work with you to create the exact setting you would like for meetings, ensuring we have all AV equipment you may require, and a flow to your stay that gets the most out of your away-day, whether that be formal work, or activities for the ultimate switch off. We know just how important it can be to take yourself out of the usual day to day work setting to open your brain to new ideas and maybe that all important light bulb moment!
3) Wining & Dining…fuel for the mind!
Our Ballroom can cater for dining up to 200 guests, but we have the flexibility to cater for much smaller groups and use different parts of the venue to accommodate your catering throughout your stay. From informal breakfasts in our Old Kitchen and Parlour, which is our very own little piece of ‘Downton Abbey’, to banqueting beneath our sparkling chandeliers, the options are endless.
We work with our chosen caterers to make sure you dine like kings & queens, whether your choose to do this formally or informally, you’ll experience food with true Yorkshire provenance at it’s finest!
And what’s a dinner without a beverage? Our on-site Gryffin bar is fully stocked to accompany your dining plans, with a range of local, regional and international beverages to cater for all tastes. From gins and whiskeys to wine and a large range of non-alcoholic drinks which are becoming more popular by the day!
4) Activities, the fun part…
Whilst here at Thicket Priory we can help to plan a number of activities to entertain you, and depending upon the time of year these would range from outdoor activities to indoor activities.
Here are a few examples of activities we have hosted on-site which have been very well received:
– A Pottery Showdown.
– Archery in the Lawn.
– Live orchestra by candle-light in the Chapel.
– Lazing Clay Pigeon Shoointg.
– Axe-throwing Yorvik style, after all we are in York!
– Wine tastings or A Cocktail Masterclass.
These are just a few, but essentially we can help to create the exact theme that you would like for the event.
Just so you are also aware, if you have an event with us in December, the house-fairies will have decorated the building for Christmas, and it is so magical!
Pricing is bespoke for each event with us, as everyone has slightly different plans, numbers, catering and activity requirements, so please do contact us with details and we’ll be more than happy to pull together a full quotation for you. Enquire HERE.
We very much look forward to hearing from you.
Anna
General Manager
01904230600
