The Swan at Lavenham hosts private dinners, corporate retreats, gala dinners, parties and weddings for up to 100 guests in its Gallery Restaurant, with three smaller private rooms for 20, 30 and 40. The hotel occupies a 15th-century building on the High Street of Lavenham, a medieval wool town in Suffolk, and has 46 bedrooms and suites.
Seminars and company events
The Swan does not publish meeting packages or day-delegate rates, so it suits company events built around a meal and an overnight stay rather than a training day with full audiovisual equipment. The hotel lists corporate retreats, cocktail parties and gala dinners among the events it hosts. A leadership team can dine in a private room, stay the night and use the spa the next morning. Organizers who need a projector or a classroom layout should confirm the setup with the events team before booking.
Weddings and receptions
Weddings range from small gatherings to exclusive use of the hotel. The Suffolk room suits smaller weddings of up to 30 guests, and the Gallery Restaurant takes larger weddings and parties of up to 100. The hotel sells wedding packages, and couples can house their families in the 46 bedrooms.
Rooms and capacities
The McCallum seats up to 20 under a high vaulted ceiling with an inglenook fireplace and suits a private dinner. The Suffolk takes up to 30 and is used for milestone birthdays and smaller weddings. The Woolhall, one of the oldest parts of the building, takes up to 40, and its hire includes a bedroom on the night of the event. The Gallery Restaurant, with an oak-beamed ceiling and chandeliers, sits at the heart of the hotel and hosts up to 100.
Accommodation
The 46 bedrooms and suites include Tudor doubles, Gainsborough rooms and Constable Suites. Hotel residents receive two hours in the Weavers' House Spa each day, a five-bubble spa that gives a retreat group something to do between sessions. Check-in is at 3 pm and check-out at 11 am.
Catering
The restaurant holds two AA rosettes. Private dining menus are designed by the head chef, with canapés and wine guidance from the sommelier. The Gallery also serves afternoon tea, and the Airmen's Bar is there for drinks before or after dinner. Seasonal events include Christmas and New Year's Eve parties and a dinner during the Lavenham Literary Festival.
History and setting
The Swan dates from the 15th century, when Lavenham grew rich on the wool trade, and the timber-framed town around it keeps much of the architecture of that period. The hotel holds four red stars from the AA and is a member of Pride of Britain Hotels.
Getting there
The hotel is on the High Street, Lavenham, Sudbury, CO10 9QA. Sudbury station, on a branch line with connections to London Liverpool Street, is about 7 miles away. London Stansted is the nearest major airport, roughly an hour by road.
