Posted: 1 August 2022

Leading Midlands training and meeting venue Ashorne Hill officially opened its brand new Carson Centre last Thursday at an official ceremony.

Based in Leamington Spa, the award-winning Ashorne Hill recently invested over £40k to transform an under-utilised building into the self-contained meeting space that holds up to 20 delegates and compliments the neighbouring Shedden Centre available for exclusive meetings and assessment centres.

Full of natural light and equipped with all the latest technology– including audio visual equipment, modern furnishings, and free Wi-Fi, the Carson Centre provides a motivating environment for delegates. Ideal for small meetings or training events without distraction, the extra space now brings the total number of meeting rooms at Ashorne Hill up to 44.

The centre has been named after long-standing Managing Director and previous chair of Venues of Excellence; John Carson who retired last year. He returned to Ashorne Hill today to officially open the centre.  John was surrounded by his family and previous colleagues who were welcomed with an afternoon tea before the official ribbon was cut.

John commented “It is a great honour to have this building named after me especially given I worked with some excellent professional people who made my time at Ashorne Hill such a positive experience. No single person makes Ashorne Hill what it is and I am extremely grateful to all my colleagues who make the customer experience one that is difficult for our competitors to emulate. I’m incredibly touched that my legacy and name will continue through the Carson Centre.  It means so much to me to continue to see the business grow and develop and to see the team continue to thrive and achieve success”.

Jon West, the current Managing Director at Ashorne Hill, said, “Our investment plans at Ashorne Hill continue apace and it was a very fitting tribute to John to name our new centre after him and watch him open the centre. Alongside the development of the Carson Centre, this year, we have also opened a new executive lounge and a private cellar. We continue to maximise the use of our outdoor space to accommodate our clients’ needs.

He continued, “We are so blessed to have such stunning and tranquil grounds that enable delegates to take time out whilst they are here to reflect and rejuvenate away from the workplace and focus on their wellbeing. The recent addition of a Boost Bar packed full of nutritious snacks and drinks is further evidence of how we are putting wellbeing at the forefront of everything we are doing and investing in”.

The Carson Centre is located next to the existing Shedden Centre. The Shedden Centre can be used as a dedicated assessment centre but with the Carson Centre alongside now offers much more flexibility for meetings and events.