More than 100 guests gathered at Englefield House this autumn for an evening celebrating women across rural pursuits, organised by events partner Wilde & Glorious.
Englefield House hosted the inaugural Women of the Outdoors Gala Dinner, a black-tie evening recognising women who ride, fish, shoot, hike and work in conservation, and encouraging the next generation to spend more time outdoors.
The idea for the event was thought up by Claire Sadler, Founder of Women of the Outdoors and Vice Chair of the British Association for Shooting and Conservation, and she tasked Katie Absalom of events company Wilde & Glorious with organising it.
Katie’s relationship with Englefield goes back to her time as Events Manager at the Royal Berkshire Shooting School, a long-standing partner of the Estate for corporate events, and she has been working with Englefield House’s Events Manager, Peter Carson, since 2015.
“I have worked with Peter and the team at Englefield for many years,” said Katie. “When Claire came to me with the concept for the Gala Dinner, I just knew Englefield House would be the perfect host venue, being a rural idyll set within 14,000 acres, yet close to Heathrow airport for our international guests.
“The Englefield ethos of stewardship of the land and protecting wildlife habitats resonates with the Women of the Outdoors values.”
Guests arrived for a drinks reception in the formal gardens overlooking the Deer Park, where headline sponsor Le Chameau, the country clothing brand, hosted its own drinks area with the House as its backdrop.
The party then moved into the Long Gallery for a three-course, game-inspired dinner, followed by speeches and live entertainment. Keynote speakers Megan Hine, adventurer and author, and Sarah Roberts, environmental journalist and author, spoke about their travels, their experiences in remote places and the resilience their work has demanded.
Guests on the night included presenter and podcast host Bizza Walters and Paula Minchin, Managing and Features Editor at Country Life, alongside leading figures from across the rural and country sports sectors.
For Katie, the ability to shape the House around the needs of each event is what sets it apart. She explained, “The wonderful thing about Englefield as an event planner is the flexibility and exclusivity. Whether hosting a shoot party of 12 or a large event of 200 guests or more, there is endless scope.”
She also pointed to the practical advantages that matter to organisers and their suppliers. “As a venue, it is incredibly hard to fault, because it has that wonderful sense of countryside magic while also being exceptionally practical. The flexibility of the event spaces, ease of access for suppliers and transport links, with the M4, London and Heathrow all within easy reach, make it a dream venue from an organiser’s perspective.”
Katie described working with the Englefield House team as “an absolute pleasure”, adding, “Peter cannot do enough to help.”
Asked what she would tell another organiser considering the House as an events venue, Katie returned to its character as a home. “I work with many estates and stately homes, but what I particularly love about Englefield House is that, first and foremost, it is a family home, and I believe guests genuinely feel that.
“There is a warmth and spirit to Englefield that is difficult to replicate elsewhere, and that, combined with everything the venue has to offer, is why I have kept coming back for more than a decade.”
Peter said: “Katie has brought some memorable events to Englefield over the years, and it was a privilege to host the first Women of the Outdoors Gala Dinner.
“An evening celebrating conservation and life in the countryside sits naturally with how the Estate is managed, and we hope to welcome Katie, Claire and Women of the Outdoors back to Englefield House in the near future.”
Englefield House hosts private dinners, drinks receptions, corporate events, sporting days and large-scale outdoor events. To discuss an event, contact Peter Carson, Events Manager, via peter.carson@englefield.co.uk