Hotel Cromwell in Stevenage Old Town hosts meetings, conferences, private dinners, weddings and family events, with a largest room that seats 170 guests for dinner. The hotel has 77 bedrooms in a former 17th-century farmhouse on the High Street, Hertfordshire, near the A1 and 27 minutes by train from London King's Cross.
Seminars and company events
The hotel has three meeting spaces, which it describes as available in a variety of sizes and layouts. The Bourchier Suite and the Fairfax Meeting Room suit small and medium meetings, while the Cromwell Suite is the room for large conferences and events. The events team takes enquiries by phone, by email or through a form, and offers tours of the spaces. For year-end gatherings the hotel sells a festive corporate package that includes exclusive hire of an event suite, an arrival drink, wine, a three-course meal and tea and coffee. Private dining is also offered for smaller groups.
Weddings and receptions
The hotel holds indoor and outdoor wedding ceremonies, with a gazebo in the peaceful outside area for photographs. Couples can choose a ceremony followed by the wedding breakfast and an evening reception, or go straight to the breakfast. Wedding coordinators manage the day, the hotel offers a range of wedding packages, and a brochure and open days are available. Family events such as christenings, anniversaries, baby showers and remembrance gatherings are also accepted.
Rooms and capacities
The Cromwell Suite measures 14 m by 23 m. It seats 150 in theatre style, 170 for dinner, 48 in cabaret, 40 in a U-shape and 32 in boardroom style. The Bourchier Suite measures 13.5 m by 5.1 m and holds 50 in theatre style or for dinner, 25 in a U-shape and 24 in boardroom style. The Fairfax Meeting Room, at 3.81 m by 4.57 m, seats 10 in boardroom style or 12 for dining. The festive pages name the Cromwell Suite and the Bourchier Suite as the main event rooms, with oak-paneled surroundings.
Accommodation
The hotel has 77 individually styled rooms that keep original features of the old farmhouse. Delegates and wedding guests can stay on site, and the festive pages suggest extending an event into an overnight stay. Longer stays are handled separately in the group's serviced apartments in Bedford, which are not at this address.
Catering
The hotel has its own British brasserie, Rump and Wade, and food is served all day. For events, the kitchen prepares seasonal menus, and the festive corporate package uses the hotel chefs. Ask the events team about delegate menus, buffets and dietary requirements for day meetings.
History and setting
The building is the former farmhouse of John Thurloe, who was secretary to Oliver Cromwell. It stands in the middle of Stevenage Old Town, among independent shops, cafes and restaurants, just off the small High Street.
Getting there
The hotel is at High Street, Stevenage SG1 3AZ, close to the A1. Stevenage station is one mile away, and trains reach London King's Cross in 27 minutes. A car park is listed on the hotel's website.
