Swinton Events
Swinton Events
We have a very busy programme of events for hotel guests and non-residents at Swinton Park, running throughout 2009. Therse include lunchtime events, the chef's table dinners, art exhibitions, spa taster treatment days and gourmet weekends. Further details on all hotel events are given below.
Please also have a look at the Cookery School section of our site for details on our day and residential courses. Ones that might be of particular interest in 2009 are the masterclasses run by Richard Townsend on game, the masterclasses run by Susan Cunliffe-Lister on Provenance Food : Grow and Cook Your Own, the Wild About Food foraging courses and the Curry Club evening courses.
The programme page sets out the dates of all hotel events and cookery school courses.
Falconry Display Lunches - throughout 2009
Join our falconer, Sophie Abbott, for a talk and presentation about falconry, reputed to be the oldest sport in the world, and the birds of prey that are in her care here at the aviary. A two course lunch is then followed by a 45 minute breathtaking falconry display, as the owls, hawks and falcons are flown in the grounds, demonstrating their manoeuvres, flying speeds and abilities.
Wine Appreciation Lunches - throughout 2008 and 2009
Our Wine Appreciation Lunches are hosted by a local wine expert and offer a light hearted approach to the world of wine, exploring the topical issues of the day followed by a tasting of some of their exceptional wines and a two course meal. The themes include New World v Old World; Anything But Chardonnay and Big Bold Winter Reds
Gourmet Weekend - 13/14th November 2009
This is always one of the most popular weekends here at Swinton, with a programme of wine tastings and cookery demonstrations during the Friday and Saturday, and fine dining on both evenings. This year we are also introducing a little musical entertainment to add a little cultural flavour to the entertainment. Fabulous value at £300 per person for the whole weekend (based on two sharing a Barons or Earls room), with an upgrades available at £50 or £100 per room to a Dukes room or suite.
Chef's Table - selected nights throughout 2009
We are delighted to offer you the Chef's Table dining experience, one
of the first of its kind in the North East, available for both guests
and non-residents.
The dinner will be hosted by the cookery school chef, Robert Taylor, who
in 2008 was awarded UK Chef of the Year 2008 by the Chaine de Rotisseurs.
He has also trained with the celebrity TV chef Rosemary Shrager at the
cookery school and worked under Simon Crannage in the award winning restaurant
kitchen in the hotel.
Guests will be able to enjoy the unique experience of seeing an expert
at work, whilst at the same time being able to savour a delicious meal
in the relaxed and informal surroundings of the demonstration cookery
school kitchen. What is unique about the Chef's Table at Swinton Park
is that Robert will be cooking for these select guests and no other, without
any of the usual distractions found in a commercial kitchen. The guests
will have his undivided attention and will be able to converse with him
throughout the evening should they choose, with plenty of tips and suggestions
up his sleeve for those wanting to take some home with them.
The Menu du Jour meal will start with an introduction by Robert to the
ingredients selected for that evening's meal and the dishes he will be
preparing, during which time champagne and canapés will be served. Robert
will then demonstrate each course as the guests observe, which will then
be served to them at the demonstration table.
The Menu du Jour will be served at the Chef's Table on selected weekend
dates throughout 2009, and can also be booked as a private event - it
is particularly popular for celebration or birthday dinners or for corporate
entertainment.
Family Activity Days - 11th, 12th & 22nd August
Falconry Displays, Treasure Hunts, Pony Rides, Feeding the Ducks and Visiting the Deer are all on offer at our Family Activity Days in August. The day will be spent in the parkland overlooking the castle, please bring outdoor clothing and your own picnics and refreshments! Complimentary tea and coffee for adults served all day.
£5 per person, no charge for children 3yrs or under.
Spa Taster Days - Mondays 6th July & 2nd November
Join the therapists for a 30 minute taster treatment, choosing from a
back massage, hand or feet ritual, body scrub or facial. This is an opportunity
to test out treatments you have not tried before, have a look around the
treatment rooms and facilities, or just to indulge yourself a little.
The treatment costs only £15, and this is redeemable against any products
bought or treatments booked on the day - it is almost too good to be true!!
Please allow 45 minutes for your visit, which will include a 15 minute
consultation followed by a 30 minute treatment. One appointment per person.
Garden Lunches - 12th, 15th, 19th & 20th May;
13th, 14th, 27th & 28th July; 10th, 11th, 24th & 25th August
Join Susan Cunliffe-Lister for a two course lunch, garden talk over
coffee and then a guided tour of the grounds. Each lunch is themed on
either the parkland and lakes or the walled garden. The parkland lunches
concentrate on the restoration of the landscape and the planting programme
in the grounds. Susan will give an insight into her gardening style, and
guests will be given a tour up to the parkland to view the daffodils or
rhododendrons and azaleas. The menus for the walled garden lunches will
include several ingredients from the garden, with recipe cards from our
chef Simon Crannage. Susan will explain her choice of produce, with tips
for cultivation and harvesting.
Alfresco Parkland Food Festival - Sunday 20th September
This is a new concept for a food festival where gate to plate is given its true meaning, with food served alfresco in the parkland at Swinton Park. The aim of the festival is to make the connection between produce and ingredient real, as visitors follow a culinary trail throughout the grounds, enjoying a wide range of "tasting" dishes served throughout the day at alfresco demonstration kitchens set up in the grounds.
Ingredients will include those such as venison, smoked trout and heather blossom sourced from Swinton Estate. There will be a choice of routes to follow between the Deerhouse, Walled Garden and lakes, with the Harvest Moon café in the woodland serving homemade soups, freshly roasted coffee and cream teas, with Morris Dancers and live music to entertain. Guided tours will be given in the woodland with local wild food expert Chris Bax, and in the walled garden with the garden designer Susan Cunliffe-Lister.
There will also be an artisan craft area, with demonstrations and plenty of hands on opportunities such as print making, willow hurdle making, corn dollies, Raku pottery and rustic chair making. The Deerhouse will be home to the Real Ale bar, with an extended area for demonstrations on Apple Juicing and Cider Making, Cheese and Butter Making and Blind Wine Tasting.
At the end of the trail there are family activities such as face painting, pony rides, bouncy castle, falconry displays and an animal corner. There is a Gourmet Food Marquee with a wide selection of local food producers including cheese, breads, herbs, beer, fruit wine, oils, soup, sausages and bacon, and also a Cookery Demonstration Theatre and cookery shop.
11.00am - 4.00pm. Entry : Adults £10 (includes a two course tasting meal or afternoon tea) Children (4 - 12yrs) £5 (includes 1 course voucher) 3yrs and under FREE
The English Country House Garden with Matthew Wilson - Tuesday 2nd June
A talk, tour and lunch with Matthew Wilson, curator of RHS Gardens Hyde
Hall and Harlow Carr, who has carved out a new approach to gardening with
exceptional results. Matthew will give an overview of the origins of the
landscape and design of the English Country House Garden, with specific
examples of gardens that he knows well. He will also consider the future
of our great gardens, with particular focus on how they can work in harmony
with the environment and climate. The talk includes a tour with Matthew
of the 18th century landscaped parkland and grounds at Swinton Park. £50
per person.
People Portrayed : Jewellery Displayed Lunch - 9th June
This is a new lunchtime event where we are joined by the jewellery expert
Susan Rumfitt, who is on the panel for the BBC Antiques Roadshow, and
Lizzie Darbyshire, a regular NADFAS lecturer whose particular expertise
is the history of portraiture and art of the nineteenth-century Britain
and France. Susan and Lizzie will guide you through the fascinating relationship
between portraiture and jewellery, whilst at the same time interpreting
the changing aesthetic and social importance of both art forms from the
Regency period to the Pre-Raphaelites. Portraits by artists such as Holbein,
Wright of Derby, Gainsborough, Ingres and Winterhalter will be studied.
Where possible Susan will be bringing examples of jewellery for you to
admire alongside the jewellery illustrated within the portraits.
The event includes coffee on arrival and a two course lunch. £45 per person.
Garden Design Days - 17th July, 1st, 14th & 29th August 2009
Join Susan Cunliffe-Lister for a Garden Design Day and learn about planting, planning and designing both a kitchen garden and the gardens in the parkland. The day will include an account of Susan's experiences of designing two very different walled gardens - the award winning ornamental one at Burton Agnes in East Yorkshire, and the highly productive one here at Swinton Park designed for growing fruit, vegetables and herbs for the hotel's kitchen and cookery school. The history and design of the 18th Century landscaped parkland at Swinton Park is also covered, including the story of its restoration following 30 years of neglect. Throughout the day practical and constructive tips and suggestions are given for both planting and cultivation.
Halloween Owl Spectaular and Ghost Trail - Saturday
31st October & Sunday 1st November
The Owl Spectaular is a family day with a Halloween themed treasure hunt
around the lakes and in the woodland in our 200 acres of parkland, along
with flying demonstrations at the Bird of Prey Centre at 11.00am and 2.30pm.
£5 entry, children 3yrs and under no charge. 10.00am – 4.00pm You can
also brave the elements on the Saturday night, (and a few other little
horrors too) as you follow the haunted candlelit trail around the woods.
Torches required! 6.00pm onwards. £5 entry.
Santa at Swinton - Monday 21st December
This is one of our favourite Christmas traditions, with a themed woodland
walk around the grounds and a visit to see Santa in his grotto. 11.00am
- 3.00pm. £6.50 per child.
Detox Deluxe 27th - 30th December and 3rd - 8th January
Recharge after the festivities with a luxury day spa package, which includes
a Detoxifying Marine Mud Therapy Wrap and Lymphatic Full body Massage,
an hour in the spa, lunch, wholesome smoothies and a goody bag to take
home. £125 per person.
Prices, Gift Vouchers and Booking
If you would like to book a place at a lunch or an event, or to arrange a gift voucher for one, please do not hesitate to contact us. To book a gift voucher on-line please click here.
The timings for each event and prices are as follows :
Falconry Display Lunch : £25 per person. The event starts
at 12.00pm with an introduction from the falconer, Sophie, followed by
a two course lunch and a 45 minute flying display. Warm clothing recommended
for the outdoor display.
Wine Appreciation Lunch : £35 per guest. The event starts
at 12.00pm with a talk and tasting which then leads into lunch.
Gourmet Weekend : £300 per person for the whole weekend (based
on two sharing a Barons or Earls room), with an upgrades available at
£50 or £100 per room to a Dukes room or suite.
Garden Lunches : £30 per person, starting at 1.00pm with
lunch which then leads into a talk and tour of the grounds.
Chef's Table: £35 per person, starting at 7.30pm. Guests
staying at the hotel on a DB&B basis can attend the Chef's Table as an
alternative to dinner in the restaurant.
Family Activity Days : £5 per person, no charge for children
3yrs and under. 11.00am - 3.00pm.
Garden Design Day : £100 per guest, includes a two course
lunch. The day starts at 11.00am and ends at about 4.00pm. The maximum
number in a group is 8.
Parkland Food Festival : £10 per guest; 4-12 yrs £5;
3yrs and under no charge. The festivals will run from 11.00am until 4.00pm.
English Country House Gardens with Matthew Wilson : £50 per
guest. The event starts at 12.00pm with a talk, followed by a two course
lunch and a tour of the grounds.
People Portrayed : Jewellery Displayed Lunch : £45 per guest.
The event starts with coffee at 11.00am, with a talk before and after
a two course lunch, ending at about 2.30pm.
Halloween Owl Spectacular : £ £5 per person, no charge
for children 3yrs and under. 10.00am - 4.00pm.
Ghost Trail : £5 entry, from 6.00pm onwards.
For all enquiries about events at Swinton Park please contact reservations@swintonpark.com Please also look at our Calendar if you want to check the dates of any of these events at the hotel.
Hotel of the
Year 2004. White Rose Outstanding Customer Service Award 2006.
With 4 AA Red Stars and 3 AA Rosettes, Swinton Park is one of the highest rated hotels in Yorkshire and Cumbria