'Wow factor' leads to award shortlist for Wivenhoe House

The stunning Wivenhoe House hotel has been shortlisted for a prestigious hotel of the year award.

Nestled in our award-winning park on the outskirts of the Colchester Campus the home of the Edge Hotel School is in the running for the East of England Tourism Awards 2021-2022.

The beautiful 18th Century four-star venue boasts picturesque views, a stylish brasserie offering a combination of classic dishes and modern cuisine, and an outdoor terrace for dining alfresco on those balmy summer evenings.

One of Wivenhoe House's unique attributes is that Events Management, Hotel Management and Hospitality degree students are part of the team running the hotel.

This means they are learning their trade in a real-world environment which gives them professional and managerial skills, as well as the academic theory, to prepare them for their future career as leaders in the industry.

It was announced this week that the hard work of staff has seen Wivenhoe House in the running for Large Hotel of the Year title, sponsored by Ensors Chartered Accountants.

The judges said: “Owned by the University of Essex and used as a training location for its Edge Hotel School, the hotel is an integral part of the local community.

“We felt relaxed and very comfortable and the attractiveness of our surroundings was a definite wow factor.”

The Edge Hotel School is ranked 3rd in the UK for overall student satisfaction for Tourism, Transport and Travel, the Edge Hotel School has a 96.7% overall student satisfaction rate (National Student Survey 2021).

The nomination was praised by Wivenhoe House General Manager Oliver Brown.

He said: “I am delighted that Wivenhoe House has been shortlisted and am so pleased that the team are being recognised for all their hard work and dedication, especially after such a difficult period.”

Its shortlisting follows Wivenhoe Park being voted as one of the UK’s top ten green spaces.

Home to the University of Essex since the 1960s was among the ten winners in the 2020 People’s Choice Awards.

It is the only university campus to achieve this honour.