The Swan Hotel takes board meetings, conferences, private dinners, birthday parties, wedding receptions and memorial gatherings in three function rooms, for up to 60 seated or 100 standing guests. It is an 18th-century coaching inn on West Street in New Alresford, Hampshire, run by the same family, with 22 bedrooms upstairs.
Seminars and company events
The Watercress Room suits board meetings and training for up to 30 people in theatre layout, and the Dining Room seats up to 50 for working lunches and private dinners. The Vault has a screen and flip chart on request and takes larger meetings and conferences. Conference rates are available from the hotel as a separate document. The hotel also hosts club and society meetings, reunions and team celebrations.
Weddings and receptions
The Vault is the room used for wedding receptions, engagements, christenings and milestone birthdays. It holds 60 guests for a seated meal and 100 for a standing party, with a separate bar that opens for functions of more than 50 guests. Couples and hosts can bring their own DJ, singer or band, or hire the hotel's vintage jukebox. The site does not mention a ceremony license, so the ceremony itself would take place elsewhere.
Rooms and capacities
The Vault is the oldest part of the property, described by the hotel as having more than 500 years of history, and takes up to 60 seated or 100 standing. The Dining Room seats up to 50 in an open-plan layout. The Watercress Room holds up to 30 in theatre style. Room hire is booked in blocks of up to six hours.
Accommodation
The 22 refurbished bedrooms all have private bathrooms and tea and coffee facilities. Categories include doubles, twins, family rooms, snug doubles and a Manor Suite. Two self-contained apartments, among them The Arle, suit longer stays, for example for a speaker or the wedding couple.
Catering
Food for every function comes from the hotel kitchen, and only a celebration cake may be brought in. Menus cover finger and fork buffets, a grazing table for 20 or more, cold meat buffets, canapés, three-course set menus, afternoon tea and high tea, plus drinks packages. High tea is the most requested option for wakes.
History and setting
The Swan has served Alresford for more than 250 years. It began as a stop for horse-drawn coaches traveling between London and Southampton, and the building is Grade II listed. Today it is owned by Angela and managed with her daughter Jessica. West Street is the main street of the small Georgian town, known for its independent shops and the Watercress Line heritage railway.
Getting there
New Alresford lies about 15 minutes by car from Winchester, which has fast trains to London Waterloo and Southampton. The hotel is on West Street in the center of town, within walking distance of the rest of the high street.
