Best Retreat Venues for Scaleups in the UK
For fast-growing companies, finding the right retreat venue is about more than just a scenic setting. Scaleups need space to think strategically, environments that energise teams, and partners who understand the pace and complexity of growth. At Elsewhere Offsites, we specialise in delivering retreats for ambitious teams that are scaling fast- and need experiences that match that momentum.
Whether you’re a startup entering your first growth phase or a maturing scaleup heading toward Series C, the venues below are purposefully selected to meet the needs of high-performing teams who want to go further, together. We look at what great retreat venues for scaleups looks like at Elsewhere.
What Makes Great Retreat Venues for Scaleups?
Before diving into the list, here’s what we believe sets great scaleup retreat venues apart:
• Designed for Collaboration: You need breakout rooms, workshop spaces, and flexibility. Not just a boardroom with biscuits.
• Emotionally Intelligent Delivery: Teams at scaleups are diverse, fast-moving, and emotionally invested. Your offsite partner should be too.
• Creative Energy: Growth takes imagination. Your environment should spark ideas, not stifle them.
• Operational Readiness: It’s no good if the venue looks great but falls apart when 60 people arrive. Scaleups need partners who can deliver at pace, with precision.
1. Hill House, Norfolk – For Bold Thinking and Private Festivals
Hill House is a creatively charged Tudor manor designed for teams who think big. With 3 acres of grounds, a bold interior aesthetic, and exclusive use of the property, it’s perfect for teams looking to unplug from the day-to-day and reimagine what’s possible.
Why Scaleups Love It:
• Ideal for leadership retreats or all-team gatherings
• Events field allows for custom setups—private festival vibes, tipis, fire pits, and live music
• 10 bedrooms onsite + 100+ nearby at the country club
• Direct train from London (90 minutes) + private transfer
Use Case: Strategy offsite meets summer party. Morning workshops, afternoon challenges, evening celebration.
2. The Amersham Campus - Multi-Building Setup 40 Mins from London
Just outside London, this is one of the most flexible and inspiring retreat campuses available for scaleups. Think historic coaching inns, a converted chapel, a glass-walled event hub, and large outdoor grounds—all connected and exclusively yours.
Why Scaleups Love It:
• Multiple buildings = parallel workshops, space for both leadership and full team
• 80 bedrooms onsite, designed by Soho House’s Isla Crawford
• Perfect for 20–100 person retreats
• 40 minutes from London (direct from Marylebone)
Use Case: All-hands retreat with strategy sessions, breakouts, and evening social.
3. The Blazing Donkey, Kent - For Laid-Back Energy and Strong Hospitality
Just over an hour from London, The Blazing Donkey delivers big on charm and ease. With 29 bedrooms across the main house, safari tents, and shepherds huts- it’s ideal for teams who want something that feels human and fun, without losing functionality.
Why Scaleups Love It:
• Hospitality-first feel: award-winning food and service
• Great for informal team building, drinks, games, and bonding
• Flexible event spaces and lovely outdoor setup
Use Case: Culture refresh, team bonding, or informal all-hands with an edge of celebration.
4. The Olde Bell, Berkshire – Historic Charm Meets Modern Strategy
For scaleups looking for atmosphere and legacy, The Olde Bell is hard to beat. This 12th-century coaching inn combines riverside beauty with a five-space event complex called The Malthouse- your own private retreat HQ.
Why Scaleups Love It:
• Characterful but equipped
• Flexible space that supports high-focus sessions and relaxed downtime
• Thames-side walks and pubs for casual breakout moments
Use Case: Series B/C strategy sessions with a splash of team culture work.
Built for Scale: Why Scaleups Choose Elsewhere
We’re not a venue marketplace. We’re operators.
That means everything you see here is part of a curated, deliverable experience. Elsewhere retreats include:
• Venue hire + all planning + delivery
• AV, facilitation, team challenges, food, logistics
• Consistency and quality across every touchpoint
Scaleups choose Elsewhere because we move as fast as they do, and we understand how important culture, clarity, and creativity are at this stage of growth.
You bring the ambition. We’ll bring the setup that matches it.
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Or browse the full Elsewhere venue portfolio here