This will be the seventh annual Landlord Law Conference.
We are returning for the third time, to the excellent Sprowston Manor Hotel (with its free parking for delegates) just outside Norwich where we have run our past two conferences.
Why this venue?
But “why Norwich?” you may be asking. Why not go somewhere more central such as London?
Well, the main reason is that it is the best venue we have found.
Our earlier Conferences took place in Bury St Edmunds, Cambridge and Manchester but it was only after I attended an ARLA event there in 2015 that I realised what a great conference venue we had right on our own doorstep. Isn’t it always the way?
It just has such a lovely atmosphere. I think it has to do with the fact that it is in the country and surrounded by grass and trees.
Our Conferences are serious training events and people learn better if they are relaxed and happy. You also learn better when taken out of your normal surroundings. That’s why big companies take their managers to country retreats for their training.
Then, Landlord Law is a national service – wherever we go is going to be inconvenient for a lot of people. So we may as well make the journey a worthwhile one for everyone by choosing a really nice venue.
- From the point of view of the delegates, it has nice surroundings, excellent accommodation for those staying over and great food (the Conference lunches are the best of all our Conference venues – even the Hilton!)
- From the point of view of us, the organisers, it has the capacity we need for a large Conference (not as easy to find as you would think), its close to us (we live in Norwich) and it is not expensive – so we can keep the costs down. The Conference is an expensive event to run.
So in this post, we will take a closer look at
The venue and its history
At heart, Sprowston Manor is an old Jacobean Manor House, with the original house built in about 1559.
It has an interesting history – for example, one of its occupants was Miles Corbet, a registrar in Chancery who was selected to sit in judgment on Charles 1 and who was one of the signatories to the warrant for his execution. At the Restoration, he fled to Holland but was seized, brought back to London and was hanged at Tyburn as a regicide in 1661.
That story was taken from a little history book of the Manor. There is another story told to us by the staff, but not in the history book, about one of the fireplaces which has a lovely wooden surround. Apparently, it is built from the bed of a wife of one of the owners, who found her in it with her lover.
There is also a suit of armour at the foot of the stairs but sadly there does not appear to be any story about it.
But Sprowston Manor doesn’t just have history. It has its own golf course, as well as a driving range, swimming pool and spa – along with two restaurants – one outside in the grounds, which is used by the golfers.
The Landlord Law 2019 Conference will once again be held in the Norfolk Suite, a purpose-built marquee in the grounds, which has its own facilities.
Delegates who are not local will be able to stay at the hotel and we will have the usual informal ‘evening before’ meal – which is always very popular.
One of the things I like about the Sprowston Manor is the amount of comfortable seating scattered around – for example, there is a large bar, lots of sofa’s and armchairs in the reception area along with various nooks and crannies – one of them with the suit of armour. So plenty of places for people to sit and chat and enjoy a drink in the evening.
Making a weekend of it
In fact, you may want to make a weekend of it and stay over. Quite a few of our delegates do.
The hotel is offering a special rate for conference delegates for the weekend – so you will be able to visit the medieval city of Norwich (3 theatres, castle, market, cathedral, great shopping (massive M&S), etc) and the famous Norfolk Broads.
Or you could just stay at the hotel and play gold and use the indoor swimming pool and spa – we have negotiated special discounts for delegates.
You can see on the page, a little video we shot of the venue – so take a look. If you go to the Conference Information page you will find two others showing lovely Norwich and Norfolk. It’s a great location.
We look forward to welcoming you there on 17 May!
I really enjoyed the Conference I attended in Manchester and would very much like to attend again. However; to get from Staffordshire, Midlands to Norwich means 5 train changes and travelling the day before.
The venue looks idyllic but impossible for me to attend as I cannot travel the day before due to childcare.
If you decide to change venue again I will most certainly attend
Wherever we run the conference will be inconvenient for someone.
As you say we did run a Conference in Manchester a few years ago. However, it was very difficult for all sorts of reasons (not least the 7 hours drive both ways) and it was actually harder to get delegates to attend Manchester than it is to get them to come to Norwich!
So we have decided to stick with the Norwich venue. Not least because it is by far the best venue we have ever had. There are not many really good, reasonably priced venues with the capacity we need. And it has the best lunches!