Blog

Welcome to the Tylney Hall blog.

Cosi Fan Tutte Opera – 25th August

August is an exciting time at Tylney Hall as it is when we hold our annual summer Opera evening. Last year we staged Pagliacci and it was the first Opera I had been involved in - from booking the Opera Company to helping guests with their enquiries, reserving accommodation, typing the menus and the table plans, all that was needed was a nice sunny...more info

Fathers’ Day Lunch – 16th June

With Fathers’ Day just around the corner why not treat your Dad to a Traditional Sunday Luncheon here at Tylney Hall, in the Oak Room Restaurant. Enjoy a three course lunch for £39.50 per person with favourites such as Deep Fried Fillet of Cod served with Hand Cut Chips, Roast Beef and Traditional Spotted Dick served with Custard on the menu. No...more info

London Sales Day

Usually I spend my working day as an Event Co-ordinator based at Tylney Hall, but last month I got to spend the day with Hannah Burkeman, Sales Manager for Elite Hotels. We went to London for the day to meet with three clients and for me to understand the role that Hannah plays at Elite Hotels. Having met at Basingstoke Train Station on a bright...more info

De Souza Associates - Site Inspection

Take a look at http://desouzaassociates.wordpress.com/2013/05/03/tylney-hall-site-inspection/ to see De Souza Associates review of their recent site inspection of Tylney Hall. Anna Hughes - Sales, Marketing and PR Co-Oridnaor - 3rd May 2013. more info

Spring/ Summer Lounge, Terrace and Room...

Following the wonderful weather over the last couple of days, I am very hopeful that Spring is now well and truly here to stay. With this in mind our Spring/Summer Lounge, Terrace and Room Service menu is now available and has dishes which reflect the move from Winter to Spring. Having listened to past feedback, considered regular guests requests...more info

Spring Seasonal Menu – A Taste Sensation

Another season has come round and here at Tylney we have been up and running for a week or so with our Spring A La Carte Menu. My personal favourite this year has to be the main course of Slow Roasted Pork Belly served with Black Pudding and Cider Apple Sauce (being from the West Country the cider element was always going to be a hit with me)!...more info

Spring has arrived at Tylney Hall

Spring has finally arrived at Tylney Hall Hotel and the grounds are starting to come into their seasonal best with the Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Wisteria and Cherry Trees all coming into bloom - perfect timing for our Spring Lunch and Tutored Garden Tour. This special event is just around the corner, held on Saturday 18th May and gives you the...more info

MIA Award

We are pleased to announce that our Senior Events Co-Ordinator, Louise Searle has been shortlisted for and came within the top 25 in the MIA (Meetings Industry Association) list 2013. Louise was nominated for this award for her dedication, enthusiasm and hard work. She builds great relationships with her clients and offers outstanding customer...more info

Mother-to-be Treatment

As I am now 33 weeks pregnant it was an ideal time to try the Kerstin Florian mother-to-be treatment that is available in the spa here at Tylney Hall. A lovely little treat before the arrival of baby and a chance to rest and relax and let my mind drift off from all things work, baby and home-related for an hour and a half. As all of the Kerstin...more info

Graduate Management Training Scheme Blog

Looking back on my time at the University of Surrey studying Hotel and Catering Management and with fond memories of my first graduate role with Elite Hotels, I was delighted and honoured to be asked to be part of the working group formed to devise our own Elite Hotels Graduate Management Training Scheme back in 2011. Working with colleagues from...more info

Outdoor Swimming Pool

Despite the ongoing wintery weather we have opened our heated outdoor swimming pool on schedule for Easter and a few brave guests have already taken the plunge – here is my perspective of what goes into getting it ready for use. The first job for our outdoor swimming pool summer opening is to actually empty the pool! The pool is kept half filled...more info

So, what are Lifestyle Portraits?

A big hello to all the readers of this blog and an even bigger thanks to Tylney Hall for asking me, Alistair Jones (aka Ideal Imaging Photography), to write a little piece about the Lifestyle Portraits that I have been providing for babies, children and families across the region for the last few years. So let’s address the question - what are...more info

Employee of the Year 2012

Many congratulations to Dan Davey our recently promoted Trainee Supervisor who has been named as this year’s Employee of the Year. Dan, 25, has been involved in the hospitality industry since the age of 15 and joined Tylney Hall as a barperson in 2010. The following year he was appointed as the waiter overseeing the bar and lounge area and he took...more info

An Easter Break at Tylney Hall

If like me, you have had enough of cold weather and snow, I am certain you will be looking forward to the Easter Weekend, as it usually means spring is well on its way. Easter is my favourite bank holiday of the year as I a am child at heart and there is nothing more fun than painting Easter Eggs and waiting for the Easter Bunny to leave some...more info

Spring Wedding Showcase

A visit to our Wedding Showcase on Sunday 3rd March is a must for all those planning their perfect wedding. Whether you’re looking for a traditional wedding or are a modern bride seeking more of a contemporary affair, our Wedding Showcase is the event for you; a unique and glamorous experience with plenty of ideas to help plan your perfect day. We...more info

Elite Hotels “GEM” Awards

Last year Graeme Bateman, Managing Director of Elite Hotels, set up a working party consisting of representatives from the four hotels. Its aim was to create a scheme designed to give recognition to those employees who 'go that extra mile' in their daily work. After several meetings and many discussions the GEMs Scheme was born - a scheme that...more info

Mother’s Day – Sunday 10th March 2013

Mother’s Day is the perfect time to show her your appreciation. So why not treat your Mum to a very special Mother’s Day this year at Tylney Hall. We have a delicious Spring Sunday lunch served in the Oak Room Restaurant with favourites such as Roast Herb Crusted Rack of Lamb served with Mediterranean Vegetable Ratatouille and Rhubarb and Ginger...more info

Valentine's at Tylney Hall

If you a real Romantic at heart (like me) – then you will be counting down the days until Valentine's Day. At Tylney Hall we have two options to celebrate this most romantic time of the year. I am especially excited about Valentine's Day itself (14th February as a reminder!) we have a candlelit five-course dinner served in the wonderfully...more info

Winter Tasting Treat

Hospitality is a very unique industry; as a hotel never 'sleeps', the size and the complexity of the operation is enormous. Like a well oiled machine we have to ensure each individual is working as part of the team to ensure the end product (guests satisfaction) is achieved every time. It is my responsibility to oversee the Food and Beverage...more info

Get Fit in 2013 with our Lifestyle Membership

If like many, you have over indulged a little more than originally planned over Christmas and New Year then your thoughts may well be turning to how to lose the festive excess. The thought of exercise is often unappealing at any time of year but with the good intentions of New Year’s resolutions it is as good a place as any to start – especially...more info

The Hot Toddy Cocktail

With the arrival of short days and crisp frosty mornings it means the Winter months are firmly upon us and the festive season is in full swing. We find ourselves already fed up with the endless stream of Christmas songs that have been playing since September and have finally dragged the decorations out of the attic and put them on the tree. ...more info

Preparing for Christmas

As I was walking through the crisp leaves whilst taking Oscar, my Basset hound, for a long walk the other morning, my mind turned to Christmas and the plethora of things that I needed to check were in hand at work, back at the hotel. Walking through our estate, crunching though the leaves on a crisp, sunny morning, one cannot helping wander if...more info

Selecting the Perfect Christmas Tree

There are so many methods and traditions that people follow when selecting their Christmas tree, that sometimes it makes the process something of a chore. I always feel that the process of choosing the Christmas tree signals the start of the festive season and it is no different here at Tylney, although we don’t go and personally select all of our...more info

Award News Update

I just thought that I would write a quick update to the blog Award News from the end of October to let you know how we got on in our award nominations. In the Beautiful South Awards for Excellence 2012/13 which were held on Wednesday 28thNovember, and attended by myself and General Manager, Mark Ashton, we received the Silver award in the category...more info

Decorating for Christmas

It’s that time of year again..... time to add some festive cheer to Tylney Hall by putting up our Christmas decorations. Trees, tinsel, mistletoe, ball-balls, stockings, wreaths and as many lights as humanly possible! Nothing gets us more excited about Christmas than seeing our halls fully decked. Hopefully you’ll be coming by soon to see them in...more info

Christmas at Tylney Hall

Christmas at Tylney Hall is always such a magical time; I love the work that goes into preparing Tylney for the festive season and having the opportunity to plan someone’s Christmas Break when they attend our Christmas House Party. Tylney Hall for me is a perfect setting for a Christmas Break, set away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life...more info

Winchester Christmas Market

Every year I organise a familiarisation weekend and invite key clients and agents from the Travel Trade industry for them to experience first hand what Tynley Hall and the surrounding area has to offer. One of the locations I take my guests to is Winchester, which is 25 minutes drive from Tylney Hall. Winchester is magical at any time of year...more info

Christmas Party Nights

As if from nowhere November had arrived and we are on the count down to Christmas. If, like me, you thought you had plenty of time to make your Christmas arrangements, panic may have begun to set in. Forget about all the stresses that Christmas brings and celebrate the season by joining together with friends, family or work colleagues to enjoy a...more info

Autumn A La Carte Menu

In many aspects Autumn is my favourite season, I often refer to it as the 'evening' of the year as after the hustle and bustle of summer you get to unwind and relax a little. The season is all about transition, from the vibrant green of summer we change to the distinguished darker tones of Autumn and as our days get shorter, the nights draw in. ...more info

Award News

We are delighted to share with you that the team here at Tylney Hall have been nominated for a number of awards. Primarily, we have been shortlisted for two awards in the Beautiful South Awards for Excellence 2012/13 which is run by Tourism South East. The first award is in the category of Large Hotel of the Year and the second is for the...more info

Autumn/Winter Lounge Menu

It's quite a common perception that creating a lounge menu is easy, but creating a good one is anything but! A lounge menu is all about having the right balance, the dishes shouldn't have the same complexity as an A la Carte menu as they are designed to be enjoyed in a relaxed atmosphere, but that doesn't mean they should be created or prepared...more info

Photographers Playground

Another glorious weekend, another visit to Tylney Hall to shoot a wedding for a lovely couple, it’s work, but not as you would normally think of it. You see, to me coming up to Tylney Hall is like a visit to the theme park with friends. Before I’ve even walked through the door I’ve had a friendly nod from the concierge and, on entering, a big...more info

Outdoor Wedding Ceremonies

I’m so excited that we are now able now to offer our Wedding guests the chance of getting married in our fabulous gardens. We have recently been granted the permission to use our beautiful stone Gazebos in the Italian Gardens as a civil ceremony venue. These have glorious views of the gardens and boathouse lake, and will make for beautiful photos...more info

A Wedding of Two Cultures

With trepidation I approached the brides’ door, knocked and waited. I’ve knocked on this particular door many times during previous weddings but, on this occasion I have never met its current occupant; Hong, who flew in from Hong Kong only a few days earlier and so had booked without us ever having met. This was set to be an unusual marriage, not...more info

Cookie Creations at Tylney Hall

We have been designing and creating wedding cakes for quite a while now and we were over the moon a couple of years ago when Tylney Hall chose us as their preferred cake supplier. Tylney Hall is a stunning landmark venue, set in the most idyllic surroundings. The first views of the house still have that wow factor for us even though we’re there so...more info

The Wedding Showcase - 21st October 2012

I was delighted to be invited back to Tylney Hall for their autumn wedding showcase. Apart from the chance to meet a number of prospective couples it’s always a great opportunity to catch up with the staff at Tylney and other suppliers when we aren’t all rushing around making sure a wedding runs smoothly. We all tend to have our places during...more info

Moutan Flowers at Tylney Hall

We have been working with Tylney Hall for 6 years, and one of the great things about working closely with a hotel is that you learn where the best places to decorate the hotel are and how best to utilise your flower budget. Tylney Hall has great spaces for flowers, if you’re having a larger ceremony in the Tylney Suite, we recommend large...more info

Weddings - Why Tylney Hall?

It’s no secret, Tylney Hall is my favourite wedding venue, but what makes it such a great place to host your wedding? Firstly, you have the beauty of the grounds, spacious, well-manicured and full of interesting detail and landscaping features, apart from having the wow factor it’s a veritable playground for me as a wedding photographer. Then you...more info

Winter Package

I do love the start of autumn with the trees starting to change into the wonderful autumnal shades of reds and oranges, the evenings drawing in and the crisper mornings as a frost starts to appear on the ground. As the season turns into winter the short days and wonderful lazy, cosy evenings and of course the build up to the festive season all...more info

Jane Austen Ladies Lunch

If, like me, you enjoy escaping every once in a while in a good book sometimes there is nothing better than re-visiting an old classic. A favourite of mine is Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen and here at Tylney Hall you can image how life in the late 1700’s would have been and the story can really come to life. At our next ladies lunch we are...more info

Professional Portraits in our beautiful...

If you’re like me, you’ll love capturing special moments in your lives. Therefore, whatever the occasion and time of year, why not consider a lifestyle photo shoot in our spectacular grounds with resident photographer Alistair Jones of Ideal Imaging? Sometimes referred to as ‘environmental portraiture’, a lifestyle ‘photo shoot’ is more of an...more info

Afternoon Tea at Tylney Hall

In a modern age where the majority of socialising takes place over the internet there is one tradition that has stood the test of time: the English Afternoon Tea. Originating in England in the 1840's, the traditional Afternoon Tea has evolved into many forms to suit all tastes but will still usually consist of an assortment of delicious savoury...more info

London 2012 and Tylney Hall

Well, wasn’t the London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony an impressive start to ‘the greatest show on earth’? All of the team here certainly enjoyed watching it and our favourite highlights of the evening included Mr Bean, the Queen and James Bond, seeing our home Team GB athletes parade in the Olympic Stadium, along with the amazing spectacle of the...more info

Summer Time in the Gardens

With the amount of rain we have had over recent months our gardens have managed to retain their luscious green colour that we often lose during summer. Despite grave concerns over the hosepipe ban imposed earlier this year, this has left our Grounds Team not having to do their usual daily watering duties and leaving them more time to concentrate...more info

Summer A la Carte Menu

It finally seems that summer is upon us with good weather forecast for the week ahead, which means our kitchen team have been busy putting together dishes for the summer A la Carte menu. Summer is a month which every one looks forward to and that's no different for us here at Tylney Hall. It would be impossible to name all the fruits and...more info

Event planning at Tylney Hall

I find event planning very interesting and rewarding. Clients contact us for a variety of reasons: conferences, exhibitions, meetings, family fun days, weddings, christenings and celebration meals, making every event a unique experience for us to organise and our clients to enjoy. The events team, made up of 4 full time and 1 part time staff,...more info

Olympic Torch

This year has given us an opportunity as a nation to be proud to be British. From the Jubilee Celebrations, where we came together for street parties to the nail biting penalties of England crashing out of the European Championships, it is now time again to get together to celebrate the Olympics and Paralympics. From when the torch relay was...more info

Pagliacci Opera

I always enjoy putting together our annual calendar of events and our Summer Opera has always undoubtedly been the highlight of these each and every year. The house and formal Italian gardens at Tylney in my opinion provide a perfect back drop to such an event and I hope this year will be no different when we stage Leoncavallo’s comic opera...more info

Tylney Hall Videos

Here you will be able to see the latest videos from Tylney Hall Hotel. Keep looking at Facebook or Twitter to find out when our next video is live. more info

Gardens at Tylney Hall

This weekends Spring Lunch and Garden Tour on Saturday and Garden Open Day on Sunday were wonderful. Weather wise it was perfect and we couldn’t have chosen a better weekend! Thanks to our team of gardeners and the sunshine, the grounds looked absolutely stunning, particularly the Rhododendrons, Azaleas and Wisteria, all in full bloom. Don’t just...more info

Summer Lifestyle Membership

As the evenings are lighter and the weather is getting better I am thinking of getting in shape for the summer season of weddings and holidays, all occasions where over indulgence tends to occur. Another highlight of summer for me is lazy days filled with Pimms, BBQ’s and strawberries and cream, again not good for that beach body! The big gym...more info

Spring A La Carte Menu

Another season has come round and here at Tylney we have been up and running for a few weeks with our Spring A La Carte Menu. With Spring comes the chance to prepare some lighter dishes as so many great vegetables come into season. Some personal favourites of mine include morel mushrooms and baby leeks, both of which have been incorporated in one...more info

Afternoon Tea Fit For The Queen

Afternoons for me are about relaxing, catching up with friends and family and enjoying each others company. So whether you are looking to stay with us during the Jubilee weekend or just looking for those few hours away from reality, I would recommend our special Diamond Jubilee Champagne Afternoon Tea. What better way to relax for an afternoon...more info

Making the Most of the Jubilee

We are all very much looking forward to the long bank holiday weekend that is coming up to celebrate 60 years of The Queen's reign. A four day weekend is the perfect time to spend with your family and friends and the extra bank holiday gives you the perfect excuse! In my mind there is no more wonderful place to celebrate than at Tylney Hall - the...more info

A Marathon Effort

Here at Tylney we are very proud of our very own two 2012 athletes – Laura Sharp, Deputy Banqueting Manager and Will Moore, Senior Receptionist, who both completed this year’s London Marathon. Will ran the Marathon to raise money for Naomi House, a charity which provides support to children and young people with life-limiting conditions and their...more info

Garden of Dreams

The Tylney Hall Gardens are springing into life right now creating tranquil and uplifting scenery. Whilst it’s not quite warm enough to sit on the terraces or by the outdoor swimming pool to enjoy the gardens due to the glorious unpredictability of the British weather! So here at Tylney Hall, along with Kerstin Florian, we have created an Ultimate...more info

Preparing for the London Marathon

This Sunday, the 22nd April, I will be running the London Marathon to raise money for Naomi House. This charity provides support to children and young people with life-limiting conditions and their families. The amazing support that the dedicated nurses and support team provide includes respite care for families, medical care at the hospices, home...more info

Summer Bar, Lounge & Room Service Menus

As the summer season has now arrived, we have put together our summer lounge and room service menus to reflect the season and encourage new guests to come and experience our Tylney Hall hospitality, as well as creating something new for our regular guests to try. Having listened to past feedback, considered guests requests and, indeed, seasonal...more info

Spring Lunch and Garden Tour

Spring has arrived at Tylney Hall; the grounds are starting to come into their seasonal best and the Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Wisteria and Cherry Trees are in full bloom. Walking around the grounds at this time of year is a perk of my role that I enjoy the most. I always jump at the chance to co-host events, such as the Spring Lunch and Tutored...more info

Easter at Tylney Hall

When it comes to the major festivals of the year, I like to update you all on what we are up to at the hotel. As with Christmas, Easter sees all the departments working together to put on another show of what is great and British at this time of year. With Spring upon us, Easter must be soon to follow and the grounds are coming to life. The...more info

A Wonderful Ladies Lunch

I just have to share with you how absolutely wonderful Mondays ladies’ luncheon was. Our speaker was The 8th Countess of Carnarvon, Lady Carnarvon. Lady Carnarvon, spoke to us on the Real Downton Abbey and the book she has written on her husband’s great grandmother, Lady Almina, the 5th Countess who converted Highclere Castle into a Hospital in...more info

Downton Abbey Ladies Lunch

We are very excited about the start of our new-look ladies lunch club starting on Monday 19th March. Our speaker on this occasion will be The 8th Countess of Carnarvon, Lady Carnarvon. Lady Carnarvon will be speaking to us on the real Downton Abbey and has written a book on her husband’s great grandmother, Lady Almina, the 5th Countess who...more info

Pancake Day

If you are a fan of pancakes, this Pancake Day we have a treat for you! It’s not a pancake race, or a competition of how many times our guest can toss a pancake, but gourmet pancakes available at each course on Shrove Tuesday (21st February) in our Oak Room Restaurant.......and not just the traditional favourites of sugar and lemon, chocolate...more info

Winter À La Carte Menu

I always enjoy putting together our new seasonal à la carte menus with the kitchen team. Everyone gets involved suggesting personal favourite seasonal dishes, flavours and new ideas that they have come up with. Through tastings and testing over a couple of weeks the team have created our winter à la carte menu. There is such a variety of...more info

Valentine's Celebrations

No matter what your thoughts are on what some call the most romantic day of the year, I think that there is a little bit of a romantic in all of us, especially when we have found ‘the one’. I am a romantic at heart and love nothing more than the fairytale ‘happy ever after’, even more so if I have played a small part as fairy godmother. Being in...more info

Afternoon Tea - GCSE Group Visit.

Today a group of 6 GCSE students from Sherfield School visited the hotel to find out more about traditional afternoon tea and to experience the 'Tylney way'. This was to get real life experience, to help them in their course work of creating and serving their own afternoon tea, which will go towards their GCSE in Hospitality and Catering. The...more info

Beautiful South Awards 2011

On Thursday 1st December Hannah Burkeman, Sales Manager and I attended the Beautiful South Awards for Excellence 2011, held at Denbies English Vineyard in Surrey, where we were nominated for the Large Hotel of the Year. We were up against some stiff competition from the Aviator, Hampshire, Lingfield Park Marriott Hotel & Country Club, Surrey,...more info

Decorating for Christmas

It will soon be Christmas again here at Tylney Hall. It is one of my favourite times of the year as my team get to decorate the whole hotel with a little bit of Christmas sparkle! At the beginning of November we start to wake up our decorations, help them to stretch their arms and legs and give them a good polish with lots of love and care....more info

Putting up the Christmas Tree

If you ever wondered how our Gardener's make our Christmas Trees stand up straight here's how. This one is outside the main entrance and is 18ft! more info

Tylney Hall Mulled Wine

With Christmas fast approaching and the festive menu starting on Thursday we will be serving Mulled Wine throughout December, and after defrosting the car this morning I couldn’t think of a better time to start the preparation. We will be making approximately 500 litres of Mulled Wine (about 2,500 glasses) over the festive season, however below is...more info

Kerstin Florian and VitaMan Spa Launch

Last Thursday, 10th November, it was the launch of our new spa product ranges here at Tylney Hall. Over the summer months my team of spa therapists have all been trained on the new product ranges – Kerstin Florian and VitaMan. Kerstin Florian is a European skincare brand which specialises in using natural resources, including thermal mineral salts...more info

Replanting the Decidous Azalea Garden

This week marks the beginning of a 3 -5 year project at Tylney Hall which the whole Estates Team is involved in, the replanting of our decidous azalea garden, which is situated in between the lake and the bottom of the vista. The azalea garden is thought to be one of the last areas of the Tylney Hall Garden to be developed in the mid 1930’s by the...more info

Preparing for Christmas

In so many places over the past few days I have been reminded that Christmas is just eight weeks away – in the shops, on social media and of course as our attention at the hotel now turns to bookings and managing this busy period. Christmas is always a very special time and I have fond memories of Christmases both at home with my family and more...more info

The Downton Abbey Effect

Has anyone else been enjoying the Sunday night treat that is Downton Abbey? It is fantastic, and my favourite character has to be the Dowager Countess of Grantham (Maggie Smith) who has some brilliant lines. It almost makes me look forward to Sunday evenings which is definitely not my favorite time of the weekend! In some ways life at Downton...more info

Tylney Hall Garden Open Day

Last weekend was the last garden open day for 2011 not only here at Tylney Hall Hotel, but also in the National Garden Scheme (NGS) for the Hampshire area. Although starting off cloudy, the day stayed dry throughout and the afternoon even saw some sunshine which encouraged many people to join us for what turned out to be a very successful day. ...more info

Planning That Special Day

Our wedding showcase which took place on Sunday was a wonderful success! We met so many happy couples on the day and it was such a pleasure to show them round Tylney Hall. Whether it was a small intimate wedding that they were looking for, or a large traditional wedding we have it all here. Aided by our award winning customer service (Silver Award...more info

Travel Trade Familiarisation Weekend

Last weekend (30th September to 2nd October) saw our first Travel Trade Familiarisation trip, organised by our Sales Executive, Martina O’Loughlin. Nine Travel Trade representatives came along to experience what we at Tylney Hall and the surrounding area has to offer their clients. Friday evening started with a full show round of the hotel...more info

Wedding Fair Season

It must be the wedding season for venues here in Hampshire. Every weekend from mid-September onwards there seems to be a wedding fair in our local area. Or it could be as a bride-to-be myself they stand out more to me than they have in previous years. As a wedding venue, we here at Tylney Hall are no different, in fact we are preparing for our...more info