After travelling for just over an hour and a half we found ourselves at the entrance to the Mercure Windsor Castle Hotel, what a sight, a beautiful traditional building with balconies and large windows. From the front the hotel looked quite large, but once we walked through the door it was even more grand and spacious than expected, kind of like a tardis, with the added benefit of a well appointed car park. We were welcomed warmly at the reception desk when we checked in. In my opinion first impressions are key, so having a smiling face to welcome guests is very important, which the Mercure Windsor Castle Hotel have down to a tee. When we got to our room we were impressed by the finishing touches and soft furnishings that made the room feel homely and comfortable, rather than cold and sterile.
So after a little rest and a quick change we went back down to the main part of the hotel where we were met by the lovely Jane Clement and David Hayden and other staff from the hotel for a champagne and canapé reception. The champagne went down a little too well and the canapés were delightful. The reception was followed by a show round of the fabulous function rooms that the hotel has to offer. The function space is so varied and versatile that it would be perfect for any type of event, especially private dining for a Masonic Weekend. The Windsor and Georgian Suites are absolutely breathtaking and would be ideal for large functions and big groups. Then we were shown to our private dining suite for the evening, the menu was well selected, and the food was beautifully presented and tasted amazing. The service was impeccable and the staff were so accommodating, there were a few fussy eaters who changed their menu at the last minute, the staff made the changes without any trouble and all of the food arrived at the same time, which is difficult with changes at such short notice especially for a large group. Dietary requirements were noted by the hotel and the menu steered clear of all ingredients that any of the guests were allergic to. We were entertained by a very well thought out quiz during dinner which was both testing and interesting at the same time.
The next morning we got ready for a day of excitement. Breakfast certainly set us up for what was to come, it was varied and delicious. We met outside the hotel to watch the Changing of the Guard Procession; I would highly recommend watching this to anyone who visits Windsor. We then walked down to the river to jump on a riverboat taxi to Windsor Racecourse for a fun fuelled day at the races. Sadly I didn’t win, but watching the races and taking a punt on which horse would win made up for that. The food at the racecourse was amazing and the staff manning the bars were so attentive and friendly. When we arrived back at the hotel from the races we needed a rest, so we sat in the lounge and relaxed before having a more informal buffet dinner in the gorgeous Windsor Suite. Again the food was faultless and wonderfully presented.
After a good night sleep we had another fantastic full breakfast, did a little bit of shopping in the centre of beautiful Windsor, then checked out to begin our journey back to Bournemouth.
Overall it was a fantastic weekend, great food, great company and a very comfortable bed, what more could you ask for?
For more information on planning your Ladies’ Festival please contact Matt Devine or the rest of the team at Square Events and Perfect Weekend by phone on 01202 400855 or by email to [email protected]
