Ravens Ait Island

**Apologies I have had to submit my review a second time as previously gave the venue the incorrect star rating**

I recently organised our annual management sales & marketing meeting at Ravens Ait. I was introduced to the venue by the Island's Business Development Manager Michelle Chilcott, who is absolutely fantastic and really goes the extra mile for you. I couldn't be more grateful that she introduced me to this wonderful venue.

The event was a 2 day meeting with a gala dinner on the 2nd night. The venue's Events manager Jessica was very helpful leading up to the event with all the finer details considered and the operational running and execution of the event was faultless.

We found the pricing structure to be excellent value and were pleased that the venue were able to offer a bespoke quotation built around our individual needs and more importantly to budget.

When finding a venue for this annual meeting, I am always looking for somewhere that is something different and willing to take on board the bespoke requirements for our team. They more than met these requirements.

Our delegates had fantastic feedback, the conference facilities and WiFi were excellent. The food was substantial and of good quality with plenty of variety. Alongside the fabulous buffet style lunches and wonderful evening meal we were served for our gala dinner, it was refreshing to experience a venue that catered well for the AM & PM breaks as too!! We didn't feel like we had the leftovers from afternoon tea. In the past this is where we have been let down and it was a great relief that Ravens Ait and their recommended caterers were able to overcome this.

The entire event ran to schedule from start to finish, with the venues team responding very well to some last minute changes we had and I was certainly appreciative of their flexible and helpful attitude.

Secured rates for accommodation was available for us at the comfortable Holiday Inn across the road, which enabled me to choose a venue without onsite accommodation with complete ease of mind.

Delegates were wowed by the small boat trip across the thames, which conveniently lasts long enough to be impressed but not so long that you could get cold or bored. The Venue organised a larger boat to bring delegates across in one trip on mass and then had a ferry man on duty the entire time we were on the Island in case anybody wanted to pop back to the mainland!

For the conference we were allocated the Thames Suite & Britania which were lovely bright spaces amongst the peaceful atmosphere of the Island and really aided the delivery of the meeting. On the second afternoon we moved out to the Island's front lawns for some team building activities which were a great success and a wonderful suggestion from Michelle & Jessica, thank you.

Our last evening was the Gala Dinner and awards ceremony for 200 which took place in the larger Marquee. A wonderful space, the room looked stunning, the food was sensational and we had a great Disco later on. The marquee has a bar inside as well so the event flowed perfectly without segregating any of the delegates. Also a special mention to the dedicated general manager of the Island Richard, who was on hand to assist with technical audio assistance. I would need to mention here that their was no issue with the Island's equipment, it was more that Richard was very helpful in demonstrating how to use it!!!

All in all the meeting received the best feedback we have ever had in this is entirely down to the hard work and diligence of the exceptional team at this quirky and wonderful venue. We will not hesitate to return and have already held the date for next year and are thinking about having our Christmas party here!

I could not fault this venue and would not hesitate to recommend.