THE HYDE - A YEAR ON

BUILDING projects take a time to get off the ground and timing is everything.

Ask any of the big house construction companies about the recession and they will tell you how the current crisis was not seen at all.

First it was Northern Rock. Then it was Lehman Brothers. Building stopped in its tracks and credit was frozen. Who could have foreseen it?

At Dillington House, near Ilminster, Somerset, the South West's foremost conference venue and adult education centre, the green light was given for a new state of the art building and eventually work began when the crisis was at its deepest in the late naughties.

The scheme was to construct a building of architectural distinction to be alongside the historic buildings at Dillington. The Hyde, a state of the art facility housing boutique accommodation and two studios costing some two million pounds, was offically opened to universal acclaim in February 2009.

The results are impressive but the timing was rubbish admits Wayne Bennett, Director of Dillington House, who recognises that trading conditions have been challenging to say the least.

"It is very difficult to be the Waitrose of the conference scene when some clients are wanting Lidl prices. I accept it is difficult for everyone and so it important that we are as flexible as we can be," said Mr Bennett.

"Dillington is one of the best meeting venues in the South West but real quality cannot be provided at stupidly low prices."

Although it has been a difficult year for everyone, Mr Bennett says things are looking up with Dillington’s forward bookings much stronger than last year.

In business it is often necessary to step back from the day-to-day hurly-burly and look at things strategically; to take stock and think afresh.

At Dillington in beautiful South Somerset you can find one of the region’s best places to meet – a place of real quality and refinement.

Dillington, a former Prime Minister's residence, has long enjoyed a reputation for first class service but it now boasts something that will inspire anyone in the business world. The Hyde - opened its doors to business a year ago and has been wowing users ever since.

Designed by the Bristol team of Purcell Miller Tritton, The Hyde boasts many surprising features that impress and surprise. For instance there is the deployment of an audacious cantilever which flies one of the studio rooms over the ancient garden wall.

Although you enter at ground level across a wooden bridge it soon becomes apparent that the ground drops sharply away and through large glass windows you are presented with amazing views of the Somerset countryside.

The effect is totally surprising and impressive. In a similarly stylish way, a mirror-pond reflects ripples across the ceiling of the Garden Room which leads to a sunken courtyard resplendent with giant bamboos and contemporary sculpture.

As well as two large meeting rooms and a stunning dining space, the building also incorporates fifteen boutique-style bedrooms many with their own private deck and extensive western views. Free wi-fi throughout is just part of the inclusive service.

The Hyde also has many eco-credentials. It sports perhaps the largest grass roof in Somerset as well as some very efficient solar panels. Much of the building is constructed in sustainably sourced timber and the insulation used consists of compressed wastepaper.

Rainwater is also harvested and is used for watering the gardens. Of course, locating a contemporary building on a historic site was challenging but with English Heritage support it has been ingeniously achieved without detriment to the other important buildings and their vistas.

This new addition adds enormously to the general offer at Dillington where excellence of service and flexibility are the key to its ongoing success.

Dillington House doesn’t do ordinary or mediocre and The Hyde demonstrates this in spades.

And so confident is Mr Bennett of Dillington and The Hyde's ability to convince newcomers of its excellence he even offers a free lunch to interested parties who telephone to set up a viewing.

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For further information go to website at www.dillington.com or telephone Dillington House on 01460 258 648.

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