Venue spotlight: Birch

Birch. Two Hotels. One aim: have fun.

Birch’s hotels are housed in two-period properties just outside London – one north, one south – ‘but really, they’re less hotels, and more playgrounds.’

Former Ace Hotel London managing director Chris Penn and business partner Chris King are the brains behind the Birch brands.

Birch Cheshnut is set in the former De Vere Theobalds Estate hotel in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire and is billed as a ‘city escape’ which ‘looks like a hotel, feels like a festival’.

Birch Selsdon is set in a 17th-century brick mansion in South Croydon and was once home to De Vere Selsdon Estate.

"Birch prioritises what it does over how it looks and finds beauty in imperfection. It doesn’t mindlessly swap out old for new. It takes pride in the occasional scratch you see around the place," explained Brian Gore, commercial director for both Birch Selsdon and Birch Cheshunt.

"This helps us do more for our community and for the environment. We work with what we have, and a good example of this is our new property in south London, where alongside interior designers, A-rnd and Sella Concept, we have given new life to the old and added colour to unused spaces. No wasting materials which can be reused, repurposed, or upcycled," Gore added.

This approach flows through into meetings and events at Birch.

"Our clients are looking for a place to meet that gives them confidence that they are choosing a responsible partner. Our meeting and co-working spaces are not full of soulless rooms with high-spec AV kit you can’t actually work.

"We have plenty of cosy corners and creative tables for you to meet, PowerPoint or Zoom at. We also offer something different, with a schedule of programming and activities that allow you to connect with nature and swap the rat race for some headspace while having the maximum amount of fun possible. Think Pottery, yoga, lawn volleyball, screen printing, gong healing, nature talks, outdoor walks."

Birch Chestnut

Birch Cheshunt

The 140-bedroom property sits within 55 acres and features a farm, two restaurants and a bakery in partnership with the Dairy chef-restaurateur Gill. There are also three bars, 20 event spaces, a co-working space, fitness studios, a lido, a pottery workshop and rooms for screenings, music and art.

Birch Selsdon

With 175 rooms, a theatre for up to 130 guests and private dining for up to 120, Birch Selsdon offers events planners an enchanting meeting and event space set in 200 acres of rolling grounds.

Birch Selsdon has six dedicated meeting and event spaces which are cold in style. Yet the relaxed and fun environment that Birch perpetuates throughout its properties is conducive to conducting productive meetings.

Outside of the meeting room, Birch Selsdon offers a range of crafty activities in its in-house pottery studio, interactive kitchen, screen printing workshop, as well as private spin classes, yoga, meditation, treasure hunts and ‘walkabouts’ and an outdoor lido.

"Our event spaces are meant to draw a smile, with masses of colour, art from local artists, and unique and interesting setups - the screening room at Cheshunt utilises deck chairs, and the Seacole meeting room at Selsdon is full of bean bags. We even encourage outdoor meetings in our Tipi at Cheshunt, weather dependent, of course," Gore added.

Each event is curated bespoke to ensure you get the best of each property and your delegates get the best out of the event.

UK representation

Vine Tree Connections, a MICE hotel representation company, has been appointed to represent Birch (Cheshunt) and Birch (Selsdon).

Vine Tree Connections founder and MD, Emma Waycot, said: "We’re thrilled to be working with these outstanding new retreat properties. Birch (Cheshunt) and Birch (Selsdon) offer the perfect blend of contemporary style, stunning natural settings and retreat-style programming that make for an unforgettable corporate event.

"Vine Tree Connections will communicate the key brand messaging of both retreats and showcase the properties’ unique offerings that make them ideal for incentives, executive meetings, corporate training sessions, conferences, product launches and more."