Corporate retreat venue in Scotland : Exclusive and inspirational executive away days, conferences & events

Papple Steading is a thoughtfully-developed farm destination, which sits in the foothills of the Lammermuir Hills in East Lothian – less than an hour from Edinburgh. It is here, amongst the art and the architecture, the natural environment and superbly comfortable surroundings that the conversation can flow differently, ideas take root, and people connect with purpose.

This is not a corporate retreat, or away day, in the conventional sense, but a more immersive experience in a place where the built environment matters as much as the natural environment, where culture and hospitality combine to empower and enrich people and to inspire fresh thinking, with lasting impact.

The Steading has 13 en-suite bedrooms – in a twinnable format it can accommodate 25 people – and businesses can enjoy exclusive use if it for as many days as they need. There are unique meeting spaces, and beautiful grounds combined with hyper-fast broadband and luxurious facilities. Full or partial catering can be provided via the Eve’s Court Restaurant, run by some of the finest chefs in Scotland, and it’s all just 45 minutes from the capital.

Enlightenment in East Lothian

“This is an enlightening experience,” says George Mackintosh, who set about restoring the steading 10 years ago with his wife Eri – a lawyer, a professional Sommelier, and mum to their three children.

Her attention to detail, flair and impeccable taste is responsible not only for the contents of the Papple wine cellar but the perfect mix of contemporary comfort and interesting artefacts which work here in perfect harmony.

Scotland, and in particular Edinburgh, is no stranger to the idea of enlightenment – a period of cultural and intellectual flourishing – across Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries.

It’s perhaps unsurprising that the enlightenment idea – a meeting of fresh ideas and celebrating tradition – appeals to George, whose father and grandfather were farmers. He grew up on a farm in the north of Scotland, but his entrepreneurial spirit took him into the fast-paced world of tech. His software automation business, which started with two people and was eventually sold with a staff of over 200, took him across the globe from Chicago to Hong Kong.

It was whilst running the business in London that the seeds of restoring an old Steading were beginning to germinate.

“I knew that to inspire people who worked for me, I needed to take them away from the day-to-day,” he said. At the time it would be to hotels on the coast in East Sussex. A change of view, a change of scene, a change of mindset was what was needed to help people think differently and to inspire fresh thinking.

But, there was nothing like Papple Steading on offer.

“I was struggling to find the right place, but there are a lot of businesses who are seeing the advantage of this, and of taking people away from their usual environment,” he says.

Whether it is an away day, a conference, a bonding experience over a few days, or simply a coming together over a good dinner and a shared experience, George and the team at Papple Steading can make a tailor-made package for you.

About Papple Steading

“We have what we call Art in Agriculture here,” explains George. Art adorns every wall, The Richard Demarco Gallery welcomes guests and day visitors to frequently changing exhibitions, and you may happen upon a bright sculpture as you walk in the grounds.

Even the rewilded flower meadows are art in its natural form. Papple is a traditional steading which was once owned by British Prime Minister AJ Balfour. Steadings are model farms, designed to innovate and advance agricultural methods – they were an important part of agricultural advancements in Scotland and beyond. Agricultural heritage – particularly in Scotland – is another of George’s passions.

AJ Balfour’s niece, Lady Eve Balfour, who spent her early years on the estate, went on to become a farmer, educator, and a founding figure in the organic farming movement, co-founding and becoming the first chairperson of the Soil Association in 1946. Eve’s Court, the restaurant,cafe and wine bar, is named after her. and has pledged a multi-year sponsorship of East Lothian Food and Drink to showcase the best food and drink producers from across the county.

Top chefs bring this produce to the table throughout the day, supplemented at times by foraged treats from the garden or forests in the grounds, and the eclectic global wine list does justice to that menu with interesting cuvees from £26 a bottle to over £200.

“This is a new kind of hospitality – not a chain – and nor is it a farm which has diversified into hospitality. We do not compromise on corporate comfort,” insists George

The bedrooms, set across several buildings, carefully restored and developed under the expert eye of Scottish architect Richard Murphy OBE, founder of multi-award-winning Richard Murphy Architects.

This isn’t a rustic retreat, it is a luxury one. The most comfortable beds, the best linen, impeccable service and quality.

You won’t find clay pigeon shooting, a golf course or quad bike riding here, but you may bond over a wine or whisky tasting session, you might forage for wild-flowers and learn to make your own lotions from them. You can immerse yourself in the landscape and the beauty of art, architecture and agriculture. George has given talks on agricultural heritage, he’s taken groups up to an iron age fort, they’ve organised intimate dinners for six, group dinners for 22 in the stunning dining room, and catered for 150 for a conference.

Design the corporate event for YOUR business

There is no ‘menu’ of corporate packages here.

“We like to start with a conversation,” says George, “So that we can better understand what that business does and what it wants to achieve, then we can make suggestions and tailor what we offer.”

Whilst the farmhouse is the meeting hub of Papple, and houses the grand dining room. There is a library, drawing room and wellness studio, which make for enriching and transformative break-out rooms.

Unique to Papple is one Gigabit of hyper fast broadband delivered on a direct fibre line and distributed to all rooms. Ideal for streaming, video calling and downloading. Find out more here

Open for visitors, diners and families

As well as this unique corporate hospitality offering, Papple Steading is open to visitors – whether calling for a coffee and a bacon roll, visiting the art gallery or grounds, or looking for a countryside retreat of their own to get away with family or friends. It welcomes walkers, cyclists, and dogs too, of course.

Papple offers self-catered and fully catered accommodation in five properties on the small estate. The Farmhouse, The Grieve's Cottage, the two Bothies and The Granary are beautifully styled with a mix of contemporary and period furniture. Modern art adorns the wall together with the 1860 architect's drawings of the farm buildings. Ideal holiday or event location for multigenerational family groups who can dine together in The Farmhouse grand dining room, which seats 22, or use other private dining spaces – indoor, outdoor and in covered areas.

Visit the website here