As Hylands Park, the "jewel in the crown" of Essex venues, approaches its 300th birthday, the excitement is palpable. The sprawling 575-acre estate on Chelmsford's outskirts, a venue for countless events, including the iconic V Festival and Creamfields South, is set for a grand celebration. The estate has recently partnered with Spotlight Sound, a move that promises to elevate their events to new heights.
Hylands Estate, owned by Chelmsford City Council since 1966, has been a popular venue for weddings and corporate events. With Spotlight Sound on board, Thomas Woodards, events manager for the Hylands Estate, believes they can achieve "much, much bigger things." The focus is on enhancing corporate hires with the Hylands House and surrounding pavilion.
"It's the jewel in the crown for Chelmsford," Thomas said, describing Hylands. "Each room brings the wow factor. We're in a very good position location-wise, and we're trying to bring in clients from London and nationally."
Sam Dimond, owner of Spotlight Sounds, echoes this sentiment, calling Hylands one of the "most iconic" venues in Essex. As partners, Spotlight Sound will be on hand to ensure Hylands’ events go smoothly, providing everything from microphones to panel discussion planning and screens.
Chelmsford City Council, Hylands' tenth owner since 1730, has overseen significant periods of restoration over the years. The Grade II Hylands House, originally built for Sir John Comyns, has hosted significant events, including the European Scout Jamboree in 2005 and the World Scout Jamboree in 2007, celebrating 100 years of scouting.
As 2030 approaches, marking 300 years of the park, Thomas is already brainstorming ideas for the celebrations. "Hopefully there could be some celebration for 300 years of Hylands House, involving a lot of people we've worked with along the way and bringing the local people in," he said.
With the corporate market already witnessing many successful events at Hylands, Thomas believes they've only "scratched the surface" of what they can achieve. As the 300th birthday approaches, Hylands Park is set to become an even more vibrant hub for corporate events and away days.
Image: Anna Willis
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