Swinton Events
Swinton Events
We have a very busy programme of events for hotel guests and non-residents at Swinton Park, running throughout 2009. Therse include lunchtime events, the chef's table dinners, art exhibitions, spa taster treatment days, opera recital dinners and gourmet weekends. Further details on all hotel events are given below.
Please also have a look at the Cookery School section of our site for details on our day and residential courses. Ones that might be of particular interest in 2009 are the masterclasses run by Richard Townsend on game, the masterclasses run by Susan Cunliffe-Lister on Provenance Food : Grow and Cook Your Own, the Wild About Food foraging courses and the Curry Club evening courses.
The programme page sets out the dates of all hotel events and cookery school courses.
Falconry Display Lunches - throughout 2009
Join our falconer, Sophie Abbott, for a talk and presentation about falconry, reputed to be the oldest sport in the world, and the birds of prey that are in her care here at the aviary. A two course lunch is then followed by a 45 minute breathtaking falconry display, as the owls, hawks and falcons are flown in the grounds, demonstrating their manouveurs, flying speeds and abilities.
Wine Appreciation Lunches - throughout 2008 and 2009
Our Wine Appreciation Lunches are hosted by a local wine expert and offer a light hearted approach to the world of wine, exploring the topical issues of the day followed by a tasting of some of their exceptional wines and a two course meal. The themes include New World v Old World; Anything But Chardonnay and Big Bold Winter Reds
The World of Exquisite Jewels with Susan Rumfitt - 2nd December 2008
Join our Fine Jewels Lunches, which are hosted by the jewellery expert Susan Rumfitt. Susan has an international following and is on the panel for the BBC Antiques Roadshow.
Following a short lecture and lunch you will be able to handle examples of antique and contemporary jewellery, and guests are invited to bring two peices of jewellery with them for a complimentary valuation service*. There will also be an exclusive selection of jewellery available for sale.
Christmas Rocks - 2nd December
Create that wow factor this Christmas and New Year with jewellery from
Susan Rumfitt's collection. Following an illustrated talk on fashion and
jewellery in the 20th Century Susan will have fabulous jewellery on display,
perfect for that special party, present or just because you deserve it!
*(Guests should check with their insurance company that they are covered by their policy when removing items from their house or bank. Neither Swinton Park or Susan Rumfitt Ltd accept responsibility for any items lost or damaged as a result of attending the lunches)
Gourmet Weekend - 30th & 31st January, 20th & 21st February, 13/14th March & 13/14th November 2009
This is always one of the most popular weekends here at Swinton, with a programme of wine tastings and cookery demonstrations during the Friday and Saturday, and fine dining on both evenings. This year we are also introducing a little musical entertainment to add a little cultural flavour to the entertainment. Fabulous value at £300 per person for the whole weekend (based on two sharing a Barons or Earls room), with an upgrades available at £50 or £100 per room to a Dukes room or suite.
Decorating Swinton Park - 5th & 8th December 2008
Join Susan Cunliffe-Lister for a tour of the castle and a talk about the decorations, using traditional styles and techniques including dried and fresh foliage from the gardens. Includes a two course lunch. £25 per guest.
Christmas Party Nights - 17th, 18th & 22nd December
Individuals and groups are very welcome to join us for our party nights - come and enjoy the celebrations without all the hard work of making the arrangements! The night includes dinner and dancing and costs £35 per guest.
Santa at Swinton - Tuesday 23rd December, 11.00am - 3.00pm
This annual event is always popular with families, and this year promises to be more fun than ever. Treasure hunts, Santa's Grotto, a walk in the beautiful grounds and refreshments.
Detox Deluxe - Friday 2nd January
Recharge after the New Year on Friday 2nd January with a luxury day spa package, which includes a Detoxifying Marine Mud Therapy Wrap and Lymphatic Full body Massage, an hour in the spa, lunch, wholesome smoothies and a [comfort zone] goody bag to take home. £125 per person.
Chef's Table
We are delighted to offer you the Chef's Table dining experience, one
of the first of its kind in the North East, available for both guests
and non-residents.
The dinner will be hosted by the cookery school chef, Robert Taylor, who
in 2008 was awarded UK Chef of the Year 2008 by the Chaine de Rotisseurs.
He has also trained with the celebrity TV chef Rosemary Shrager at the
cookery school and worked under Simon Crannage in the award winning restaurant
kitchen in the hotel.
Guests will be able to enjoy the unique experience of seeing an expert
at work, whilst at the same time being able to savour a delicious meal
in the relaxed and informal surroundings of the demonstration cookery
school kitchen. What is unique about the Chef's Table at Swinton Park
is that Robert will be cooking for these select guests and no other, without
any of the usual distractions found in a commercial kitchen. The guests
will have his undivided attention and will be able to converse with him
throughout the evening should they choose, with plenty of tips and suggestions
up his sleeve for those wanting to take some home with them.
The Menu du Jour meal will start with an introduction by Robert to the
ingredients selected for that evening's meal and the dishes he will be
preparing, during which time champagne and canapés will be served. Robert
will then demonstrate each course as the guests observe, which will then
be served to them at the demonstration table.
The Menu du Jour will be served at the Chef's Table on selected Friday
nights throughout 2009 and will cost £35 per person. A 25% discount applies
to B&B rates for guests attending the Chef's Table, and guests staying
at the hotel on a DB&B basis can attend the Chef's Table as an alternative
to dinner in the restaurant.
An Evening with Opera North - Thursday 2nd April
An elegant evening of musical entertainment with artists from Opera North. This is an opportunity to combine a fine dining experience in fantastic surroundings with a recital by singers from Opera North - England's national opera company in the North and one of Europe's leading arts organisations. A great way to celebrate that special occasion. Tickets cost £125 per person, and need to be booked via Opera North - please contact Katharine Oldershaw on 0113 399 3208 or by email on katharine.oldershaw@operanorth.co.uk. Special room rates are available to guests attending the evening : £140 (double occupancy) or £125 (single occupancy) for bed and breakfast which can be booked directly with the hotel.
Swinton Contemporary 2009 Art Exhibition - 5th - 24th April
We are very proud to be hosting this exhibition in conjunction with Hornseys, the well regarded fine art gallery in Ripon. The exhibiting artists are all highly acclaimed, all with a local connection to Yorkshire but also recognised at a national level, and include Ed Kluz and Emerson Mayes.
Spa Taster Days - Mondays 2nd March, 6th July & 2nd November
Join the therapists for a 30 minute taster treatment, choosing from a
back massage, hand or feet ritual, body scrub or facial. This is an opportunity
to test out treatments you have not tried before, have a look around the
treatment rooms and facilities, or just to indulge yourself a little.
The treatment costs only £15, and this is redeemable against any products
bought or treatments booked on the day - it is almost too good to be true!!
Please allow 45 minutes for your visit, which will include a 15 minute
consultation followed by a 30 minute treatment. One appointment per person.
Garden Lunches - 6th April; 12th, 15th, 19th &
20th May; 13th, 14th, 27th & 28th July; 10th, 11th, 24th & 25th
August
Join Susan Cunliffe-Lister for a two course lunch, garden talk over
coffee and then a guided tour of the grounds. Each lunch is themed on
either the parkland and lakes or the walled garden. The parkland lunches
concentrate on the restoration of the landscape and the planting programme
in the grounds. Susan will giev an insight into her gardening style, and
guests will be given a tour up to the parkland to view the daffodils or
rhododendrons and azaleas. The menus for the walled garden lunches will
include several ingredients from the garden, with recipe cards from our
chef Simon Crannage. Susan will explain her choice of produce, with tips
for cultivation and harvesting.
Parkland Spring and Autumn Food Festivals - Monday 25th May and Sunday 20th September
This is a new concept for a food festival where gate to plate is given its true meaning, with food served alfresco in the parkland at Swinton Park. The aim of the festival is to make the connection between produce and ingredient real, as visitors follow a culinary trail throughout the grounds, enjoying a wide range of "tasting" dishes served throughout the day at alfresco demonstration kitchens set up in the grounds. Produce that can be sampled will include venison, game, trout, lamb and beef sourced from the surrounding 20,000 acre estate, wild food harvested from the parkland and countryside, and cultivated produce grown in the hotels' four acre walled garden. Local wild food expert, Chris Blax, will be giving talks on how to find and harvest nature's own edible shoots, berries, roots and leaves, while advice and tips on designing, planting and cultivating your own kitchen garden will be given by Susan Cunliffe-Lister.
The English Country House Garden with Matthew Wilson - Tuesday 2nd June
A talk, tour and lunch with Matthew Wilson, curator of RHS Gardens Hyde Hall and Harlow Carr, who has carved out a new approach to gardening with exceptional results. Matthew will give an overview of the origins of the landscape and design of the English Country House Garden, with specific examples of gardens that he knows well. He will also consider the future of our great gardens, with particular focus on how they can work in harmony with the environment and climate. The talk includes a tour with Matthew of the 18th century landscaped parkland and grounds at Swinton Park. £50 per person.
People Portrayed : Jewellery Displayed Lunch - 9th June
This is a new lunchtime event where we are joined by the jewellery expert
Susan Rumfitt, who is on the panel for the BBC Antiques Roadshow, and
Lizzie Darbyshire, a regular NADFAS lecturer whose particular expertise
is the history of portraiture and art of the nineteenth-century Britain
and France. Susan and Lizzie will guide you through the fascinating relationship
between portraiture and jewellery, whilst at the same time interpreting
the changing aesthetic and social importance of both art forms from the
Regency period to the Pre-Raphaelites. Portraits by artists such as Holbein,
Wright of Derby, Gainsborough, Ingres and Winterhalter will be studied.
Where possible Susan will be bringing examples of jewellery for you to
admire alongside the jewellery illustrated within the portraits.
The event includes coffee on arrival and a two course lunch. £45 per person.
Garden Design Days - 17th July, 1st, 14th & 29th August 2009
Join Susan Cunliffe-Lister for a Garden Design Day and learn about planting, planning and designing both a kitchen garden and the gardens in the parkland. The day will include an account of Susan's experiences of designing two very different walled gardens - the award winning ornamental one at Burton Agnes in East Yorkshire, and the highly productive one here at Swinton Park designed for growing fruit, vegetables and herbs for the hotel's kitchen and cookery school. The history and design of the 18th Century landscaped parkland at Swinton Park is also covered, including the story of its restoration following 30 years of neglect. Throughout the day practical and constructive tips and suggestions are given for both planting and cultivation.
Prices, Gift Vouchers and Booking
If you would like to book a place at a lunch or an event, or to arrange a gift voucher for one, please do not hesitate to contact us.
The timings for each event and prices are as follows :
The Falconry Display Lunches start at 12.00pm with an introduction
from the falconer, Sophie, followed by a two course lunch and a 45 minute
flying display. Warm clothing recommended for the outdoor display. £25
per person.
The World of Exquisite Jewels with Susan Rumfitt starts at 12.00
with a talk, followed by lunch (which includes a glass of wine) and a
valuation. £35 per person
The Wine Appreciation Lunches start at 12.00pm with a talk and
tasting which then leads into lunch. £35 per person
Decorating Swinton Park starts at 11.00am with a talk and tour
of the house, with lunch afterwards. £25 per person
The ticket price to attend the Christmas Party Night
is £35 and includes a three course dinner and dancing.
Entry for the Santa at Swinton event is £5.00 per child. Proceeds
in aid of Acorns Pre-School, Masham
The Detox Deluxe spa day costs £125 per person and includes
two hours of spa treatments, use of the spa, lunch and a goody bag to
take home.
Swinton Contemporary 2009 Art Exhibition : no charge
Garden Design Day : £100 per guest, includes a two course lunch.
The day starts at 11.00am and ends at about 4.00pm. The maximum number
in a group is 8.
Parkland Food Festival : £10 per guest; 4-12 yrs £5;
3yrs and under no charge. The festivals will run from 11.00am until 3.00pm.
English Country House Gardens with Matthew Wilson : £50 per
guest. The event starts at 12.00pm with a talk, followed by a two course
lunch and a tour of the grounds.
For all enquiries about events at Swinton Park please contact reservations@swintonpark.com Please also look at our Calendar if you want to check the dates of any of these events at the hotel and other events in the local area.
Hotel of the
Year 2004. White Rose Outstanding Customer Service Award 2006.
With 4 AA Red Stars and 3 AA Rosettes, Swinton Park is one of the highest rated hotels in Yorkshire and Cumbria