Lenwade House Hotel

Lenwade House Hotel (Norfolk) is a country hotel and wedding venue with an authentic style. It is located approximately 8 miles from Norwich and 20 miles from North Norfolk on the banks of the River Wensum. Its grounds include well-tended gardens. This is an excellent option for couples planning an intimate or classic wedding in the countryside, as well as for guests interested in a peaceful holiday in nature.

This hotel attracts guests with its quiet atmosphere and picturesque landscapes. It is conveniently located in terms of transport accessibility, allowing you to combine a holiday in the countryside with trips to the sea and the city. The cosy rural setting and recreational areas attract many visitors – it is the perfect place for romantic wedding ceremonies and holidays surrounded by gardens and rivers.

Who owns Lenwade House Hotel?

The building that houses Lenwade House was constructed in the first half of the 20th century, around 1912. It was built in the mock-Tudor style and was originally a private country house. The name of the first owner is not mentioned in public sources. It is known that the house did not immediately become a hotel; it was converted later, which was typical for country residences in Norfolk at that time.

The hotel is currently managed by Norfolk Hotel Group Ltd, registered in Lenwade. It was founded in 2019 and is directed by Nicholas Steven Scrivens. It is noteworthy that The White Pheasant restaurant and pub, located on the premises, is listed in CAMRA as a licensed premises, but this applies specifically to the pub and not to the entire hotel as a property. For several years, the hotel was owned by Lenwade Limited, a company owned by the Scrivens family, which declared itself bankrupt.

Lenwade House Hotel liquidation

The company behind the luxury hotel went bankrupt several years ago. The hotel had to close due to its inability to pay off all its debts. Lenwade Norfolk had been experiencing financial problems for a long time.

Lenwade House Hotel Limited was owned by Jane Scrivens. The organisation was liquidated in May 2017 due to its inability to pay its debt to Broadland District Council. The liquidation was enforced by court order. The company's debts to creditors amounted to £60,000. In addition, it began to receive claims from people who claimed that it had outstanding obligations to them amounting to £30,000.

Since 2017, two more companies have been registered on the hotel's premises. One of them was called Renaldy Hotels Ltd, established in 2017. The Scrivens family acquired the hotel in 2010, but unfortunately, they were unable to cope with the financial crisis.

Lenwade house reviews

Lenwade Country House hotel was popular with guests who dreamed of having a wedding outside the city. This fact is confirmed by reviews (Tipadvisor, Google). However, there are also negative opinions among the hotel guests.

James

We chose Lenwade House Hotel as our wedding venue. Overall, we were satisfied with everything, including the rooms and the picturesque surroundings. I would particularly like to mention the hotel's convenient location and the surrounding nature. The staff organised an excellent banquet in the restaurant.

Charlie

We stayed at Lenwade House Hotel in 2016. I would have liked the rooms to be cleaner, and the quality of the breakfasts left something to be desired. What I liked were the gardens, which are really beautiful.

Location and grounds

Lenwade House Hotel is located in the village of Lenwade in Norfolk, about 15 km north-west of Norwich. It is in the countryside, far from the hustle and bustle of the big city. We would particularly like to highlight the classic country style — a country house with parkland, which the British love so much. In such surroundings, it is especially pleasant to drink afternoon tea while admiring the picturesque landscapes.

The hotel can be reached by car: from Norwich, the journey takes about 25-30 minutes along Fakenham Road (A1067). It is also possible to take a train to the nearest stations and then a taxi for the rest of the journey.

The hotel grounds are adjacent to the River Wensum, one of Norfolk's most picturesque rivers, making this a particularly attractive places for walks and outdoor recreation. The hotel is surrounded by well-kept riverside gardens with views of the water, green lawns and trees, creating an atmosphere of seclusion and tranquillity.

The hotel's surroundings are typical of the English countryside: fields, country roads and small villages. The combination of nature, the river and the spacious grounds made Lenwade House Hotel a popular venue for weddings, events and peaceful country breaks.

Rooms and accommodation

Lenwade House Hotel offered a choice of several room categories, suitable for both short stays and longer country breaks in comfortable surroundings:

1. Standard rooms — basic accommodation with essential amenities, suitable for stays of several days.
2. Deluxe rooms — more spacious rooms with high-quality furniture and beautiful views of the garden or hotel grounds.
3. Suites — the largest rooms, often chosen for special occasions such as romantic getaways, as well as for longer stays.

All rooms had basic amenities:

• Wi-Fi;
• tea and coffee making facilities;
• television;
• work area.

Depending on the room category, the windows offered views of the gardens, the river, green lawns or the Norfolk countryside. Breakfast was usually included in the price. In addition, guests were offered room service, which was in keeping with the format of a classic country house hotel focused on a peaceful and comfortable stay.

Lenwade House menu: restaurant and bar

Lenwade House Hotel featured Vines Restaurant and Dudley's Bar, which had access to an outdoor terrace. Both spaces fit perfectly into the format of a classic country hotel. The restaurant service was perfectly complemented by the more informal bar atmosphere. Vines Restaurant offered an à la carte menu with an emphasis on traditional British cuisine using local seasonal produce from Norfolk. The restaurant was perfect for everyday dining as well as family celebrations and private events. Its menu included the following dishes:

• seasonal soup;
• vegetarian risotto with wild mushrooms and Parmesan cheese;
• pudding with vanilla ice cream;
• lemon tart with fresh cream;
• roast meat with vegetables and gravy;
• chocolate fondant with berry sauce;
• assorted local cheeses.

Dudley's Bar and its adjoining terrace offered a more casual setting for drinks and informal lunches. In the warmer months, guests were able to sit on the terrace overlooking the hotel's green grounds and surroundings. Previously, the hotel also offered formats such as Sunday Carvery and the option of ordering a picnic hamper for walks in the picturesque grounds and along the River Wensum.

The hotel restaurant was available for Christmas, New Year and other holiday celebrations. The hall was specially decorated for the holiday, creating the appropriate atmosphere. Despite its rural location, the level of service was quite high.

Weddings at Lenwade House

Lenwade House positioned itself as a country venue for wedding ceremonies. Many Britons expressed a desire to hold their celebrations in a picturesque location. The hotel, reminiscent of a country house, offered the opportunity to organise a wedding according to the wishes of the newlyweds and their guests. Among its main advantages were:

• personalised service;
• privacy of the event.

The hotel was licensed to host civil ceremonies, meaning that all stages of the celebration, from the official registration to the banquet, could be held in one location.

For large wedding ceremonies, it was possible to set up a marquee on the grounds, either in the garden or near the riverside gardens. This increased the capacity and created a unique open-air atmosphere for the celebration.

The capacity depended on the chosen venue. Various options were available: from intimate ceremonies in the Conservatory to large receptions in the Woodlands Suite or the installation of a marquee. The format of the event was discussed individually, along with the table layout.

Newlyweds were offered wedding packages that included the following services:

1. Organisation of the ceremony and banquet.
2. Menu development (banquet dishes, appetisers, design and size of the wedding cake).
3. Catering and bar service.
4. Photo and video shooting upon request.
5. Decor, floristry and musical accompaniment

Note! Additionally, it was possible to order drinks, rooms for guests to stay in, and fireworks. These were available not only for weddings but also for other private events, which was in keeping with the format of a country house venue with extensive grounds. Fireworks could only be set off with the prior consent of the hotel administration and in strict compliance with safety regulations.

Venues for the ceremony

The Lenwade House Hotel could host both modest weddings with a small number of guests and large-scale celebrations. The hotel's main banquet hall, designed for wedding receptions and ceremonies, could accommodate up toV 80 guests, including seating, as well as additional space for standing guests. The hall was often used for banquets with dancing.

Main wedding venues:

1. Woodlands Suite — a spacious banquet hall for receiving guests and dancing.
2. Conservatory — a glassed-in veranda with natural lighting, perfect for an outdoor registration or buffet.
3. Vines Restaurant — a stylishly decorated space for a formal lunch or a more intimate wedding dinner.

The elegant restaurant space was often used for wedding ceremonies. This option was ideal for modest celebrations and small receptions.

The glass-enclosed veranda with beautiful lighting overlooking the River Wensum and riverside gardens was used for outdoor registrations and receptions after the ceremony. The unique features of this venue are its unity with nature and picturesque backdrop for photographs. It was perfect for summer weddings.

Wedding menu and drinks

Lenwade House Hotel offered a variety of food and drink options for weddings, tailored to different types of celebrations. The official website usually provided examples and files with menus so that guests could familiarise themselves with the offerings in advance.

Available formats:

1. Wedding breakfast — a classic wedding lunch with several courses, including appetisers, a main course and dessert.
2. Buffets — a more informal option where guests choose their own dishes from the range on offer.
3. Drinks packages — including welcome cocktails, wine, beer and non-alcoholic options.
4. Children's menu — dishes for younger guests.

Couples were given the opportunity to put together a customised package, combining the options offered depending on the number of guests and their budget. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free dishes were available on request. These issues were discussed with the wedding events manager.

Conferences and events

The list of services for business and events at Lenwade House Hotel was also quite impressive. It had modern infrastructure that allowed corporate meetings, business events and private events to be held in a country house setting.

For these purposes, the hotel had a main banquet and conference hall suitable for large meetings. Small meetings and receptions could be held on the glass veranda. Vines Restaurant was the ideal venue for business lunches, informal meetings and evening events.

The list of basic services for corporate clients included:

1. Wi-Fi.
2. Equipment rental (projector, screen, audio system).
3. Catering, drinks.
4. Accommodation for participants in hotel rooms.

Formats and services for business

During its operation, Lenwade House Hotel offered a wide range of services designed for corporate clients. It operated in the format of a classic country house hotel, focused on creating a secluded atmosphere conducive to work, away from the city.

The available formats included:

1. Breakfast meetings — morning business meetings with coffee, tea and a light breakfast.
2. Day delegate rates — day packages for conferences and meetings, including room rental, provision of equipment necessary for such events, and catering.
3. 24-hour delegate rates — round-the-clock accommodation services, organisation of dinners, breakfasts, and use of conference spaces.
4. Business lunches — informal meetings and negotiations in the hotel restaurant.
5. Training and team building — training sessions and team events that could be held both in the hotel's halls and in the surrounding area.
6. Corporate events and parties — private events, seasonal celebrations and closed receptions for organisations.

The above events were supplemented on request with catering, technical equipment, accommodation for participants and individual programme organisation. The wide range of services attracted business people as guests. At Lenwade House Hotel, it was possible to combine leisure with work.

What is happening with the hotel now?

The hotel is currently closed and its future is unknown. It is possible that Lenwade House will be put up for sale, but no final decision has been made yet. The restaurant and pub that previously operated at the hotel are also closed to guests. If the owner changes, there is a possibility that the project will be relaunched in a new format that is more profitable for the owner.