Day meetings for up to 100 delegates in theatre layout, residential seminars and weddings of up to 120 evening guests all fit within The Talbot Hotel, a 17th-century stone hotel in the center of Oundle, Northamptonshire. Three meeting rooms, two wedding suites and 34 bedrooms sit under one roof, with free parking behind the building.
Seminars and company events
The hotel sells day delegate and 24-hour delegate packages, as well as meeting rooms on their own. Packages cover room hire and equipment, a hot drinks station, spring water and a lunch prepared by the kitchen, with parking included. Every room has a screen and a projector. For larger groups the Westgate Suite is the main room, while the Drumingwell Room serves a board of ten. The Oak Table area can work as a breakout space or for a working meal. The team can also arrange team-building sessions, outdoor activities, wellness options and cultural visits. Corporate events, Christmas parties and retirement dinners are among the occasions the hotel lists.
Weddings and receptions
Weddings are a core part of the business. The Westgate Suite takes up to 80 guests for a ceremony, 75 for the wedding breakfast and 120 for the evening reception. It spans two floors: a private bar and lounge below, a dance floor under oak beams above, with views over the garden. The Whitwell Suite, in the oldest timber-framed part of the building, seats 70 for a ceremony and 40 for a meal. The Snug Lounge on the ground floor suits ceremonies or dinners of about 20. A wedding coordinator follows the couple from planning to the day itself, the registrar is booked separately, and couples may bring their own band or DJ.
Rooms and capacities
The Westgate Suite measures 5.2 by 15.2 meters, has daylight and air conditioning, and holds 100 theatre style, 70 cabaret or classroom, and 30 around a boardroom or U-shape table. The Whitwell Suite, 5.2 by 12.2 meters, has daylight, oak paneling and log fireplaces, and takes 40 cabaret and 30 boardroom. The Drumingwell Room, 4.5 by 6.5 meters, is step-free and seats 10. All three rooms are free of pillars and can be locked.
Accommodation
The hotel has 34 individually styled bedrooms, from single rooms to a deluxe suite, including an accessible double. Wi-Fi is included and dogs are accepted. Wedding guests receive a preferential rate, and the couple has a honeymoon suite that doubles as a getting-ready room.
Catering
The kitchen cooks modern British dishes with seasonal, local produce, and food is served from breakfast until 9 pm. For events, menus range from formal served dinners to buffets, with tastings included in wedding packages and dietary needs handled by the chefs. A bar and a private courtyard garden complete the offer.
History and setting
The building was rebuilt in 1626 with stone taken from Fotheringhay Castle, and it is listed at Grade I. Tradition links its oak staircase to Mary, Queen of Scots, who was executed at Fotheringhay. The roof is Collyweston slate and the wings are timber-framed.
Getting there
The hotel stands on New Street in the center of Oundle, a short walk from the River Nene and Oundle Wharf. Free parking is available at the rear of the building.
