Corporate Events, Away Days and Private Dining

The Old Crown Coaching Inn offers something that conference centres and city hotels cannot: a 16th-century setting with character, AA Rosette food, and the kind of atmosphere that makes people relax and actually talk to each other. Whether you are planning a team away day, a client dinner, a board meeting, or a company celebration, we have a space and a format to match.

We are 25 minutes from Oxford by car and accessible by direct bus. Free on-site parking for all guests. 14 boutique bedrooms for overnight stays. And three distinct bookable spaces, from an intimate 8-seat chef's table to an 80-seat ballroom. No two events at The Old Crown look the same, because no two teams need the same thing.

Our Spaces

The Chef's Table (up to 8 guests)

A private dining table downstairs, seating up to 8, with its own dedicated service and a specialised menu designed by our head chef. The Chef's Table is ideal for board dinners, senior leadership meetings, client entertaining, or any occasion where you want exceptional food in a private setting.

The menu is bespoke. Work with our kitchen team to design a multi-course meal tailored to your group, including wine pairings if desired. This is not a set menu chosen from a list. It is a meal created specifically for your table.

Best for: Client entertaining, board dinners, small leadership off-sites, partner dinners, celebration meals for senior teams.

The Pub (private hire, up to 40 guests)

The pub at The Old Crown can be privately hired for events, giving your group exclusive use of a proper 16th-century English pub. Low beams, original stonework, real ales on the hand pumps, and a log fire in winter. It is the kind of room that immediately puts people at ease, which is exactly what you want for a team event.

Use the pub for informal meetings, networking drinks, team socials, or a relaxed dinner. The full food menu is available, or we can arrange a set menu, sharing platters, or canapes depending on the format.

Best for: Team socials, networking events, informal off-sites, drinks receptions, celebration dinners for mid-size groups.

The Ballroom (up to 80 seated, 120 standing)

The Ballroom is our largest space, comfortably seating up to 80 guests for a formal dinner or accommodating up to 120 for a standing reception. The room features olive velvet chairs, contemporary Gabriella Anouk artwork, wrought-iron chandeliers, and the atmosphere of a space that has hosted gatherings for centuries.

The Ballroom works for conferences, presentations, large team away days, product launches, annual dinners, and award ceremonies. It can be set up in theatre style, boardroom style, cabaret, or banquet format depending on your requirements.

Best for: Conferences, large team events, presentations, annual dinners, award ceremonies, product launches.

JJ's Wine and Cocktail Bar

Adjoining The Ballroom, the Wine and Cocktail Bar can be used as a breakout space, a pre-dinner drinks reception area, or a more intimate setting for smaller groups. Its beautifully tiled interior and views onto the courtyard create a more refined atmosphere than the pub.

Spaces at a Glance

Space	Seated	Standing	Best For
Chef's Table	8	-	Client dinners, board meetings, leadership
The Pub	40	50	Team socials, networking, informal off-sites
The Ballroom	80	120	Conferences, presentations, large events
JJ's Wine & Cocktail Bar	20	30	Breakout space, pre-dinner drinks
Courtyard	50	1000	Summer receptions, outdoor breaks

Team Away Days

An away day at The Old Crown is the opposite of a beige conference room. You are in a building with 500 years of history, in a market town surrounded by countryside, with food from an AA Rosette kitchen and a proper pub to retreat to when the work is done.

A Typical Away Day at The Old Crown

• 9:00am: Arrive. Coffee and pastries in your chosen space. Free parking for all attendees.

• 9:30am: Morning session. The Ballroom set up in your preferred format with AV equipment.

• 11:00am: Break. Coffee and refreshments served in the Wine Bar or courtyard.

• 11:15am: Session two.

• 12:30pm: Lunch. Served in the pub, Wine Bar, or Ballroom depending on your group size. Choose from a set menu, buffet, or sharing platters.

• 1:30pm: Afternoon activity option. Team walk to the Folly Tower (30 minutes round trip), or a longer countryside walk if the group is up for it. Fresh air and a change of scenery do more for team cohesion than any trust exercise.

• 2:30pm: Final afternoon session or breakout groups.

• 4:00pm: Close. Or stay for the evening: drinks in the pub, dinner in the restaurant, overnight in one of our 14 bedrooms.

Overnight Events and Multi-Day Off-Sites

With 14 boutique bedrooms, The Old Crown is one of the few venues in rural Oxfordshire that can host an entire team overnight. This transforms a day event into something more valuable. Teams that eat together, drink together, and stay together build stronger relationships than teams that drive home at 5pm.

A typical overnight format:

Day 1: Arrive mid-morning. Working sessions through the day. Team dinner at The Old Crown in the evening, either in The Ballroom, the pub, or the Chef's Table for smaller leadership groups. Drinks in the Wine Bar afterwards.

Day 2: Breakfast together. Final sessions or breakout work. Depart after lunch or extend into the afternoon.

For larger teams that exceed 14 rooms, additional accommodation is available at nearby properties. We are happy to help coordinate.

Private Dining

Private dining at The Old Crown works for business and personal occasions alike. Three options:

The Chef's Table (up to 8)

Our most exclusive dining experience. An 8-seat private table with a bespoke multi-course menu created by the head chef, with optional wine pairings selected by our team. The Chef's Table is downstairs, away from the main dining room, giving your group complete privacy. Ideal for client entertaining where the food itself is part of the impression you want to make.

The Pub (private hire, up to 40)

Exclusive use of the pub for a private dinner. The full menu or a pre-agreed set menu, served in a 500-year-old room with a fire crackling and the bar at your disposal. Less formal than The Ballroom, more convivial, and perfect for teams or groups who want atmosphere over formality.

The Ballroom (up to 80)

For larger private dinners, annual company dinners, departmental celebrations, or awards evenings. The Ballroom can be set for banquet-style seating with a full three or five-course dinner from our double AA Rosette kitchen.

Practical Information

Detail	Information
Location	Faringdon town centre, Oxfordshire. 25 minutes from Oxford, 90 minutes from London, 20 minutes from Swindon station.
Parking	Free on-site parking for all attendees.
Public transport	Direct bus from Oxford stops outside the front door (30 minutes). Nearest train station: Swindon (20 min by car). Didcot Parkway (20 min by car)
Wi-Fi	Full fibre Wi-Fi
AV equipment	Microphones, projectors and TV screens can all be provided
Accessibility	Ground floor access, accessible toilets
Catering	Double AA Rosette kitchen. Bespoke menus for all events. Dietary requirements accommodated.
Accommodation	14 boutique bedrooms. Discounted rates for corporate bookings.
Invoicing	Corporate invoicing is available with discounts on group bookings
Contact	info@theoldcrowncoachinginn.com

Why Choose The Old Crown for Corporate Events

• Not a conference centre: No strip lighting, no ceiling tiles, no identical rooms. Your team will remember this venue because it is unlike any corporate space they have been in before
  

• Food that impresses: An AA Rosette kitchen with a bespoke approach to every event. The Chef's Table in particular makes a statement for client entertaining
  

• All under one roof: Meeting space, dining, bars, and 14 bedrooms. No shuttles between venues, no splitting the group, no logistics

• Central location: 25 minutes from Oxford, 90 minutes from London, direct bus from Oxford. Easy for attendees to reach from all directions
  

• Free parking: No car park charges, no meters, no stress. Everyone parks on-site for free
  

• The afternoon walk: A team walk to the Folly Tower or through the local countryside is worth more than any icebreaker exercise. Fresh air, conversation, and a shared experience that costs nothing
  

Evening options: After the work is done, a proper pub and a cocktail bar are downstairs. No need to arrange taxis to a restaurant. The evening happens naturally.

 Frequently Asked Questions

How many people can The Old Crown accommodate for a corporate event?

The Chef's Table seats 8 for private dining. The pub can be privately hired for up to 40 seated guests. The Ballroom seats up to 80 for a formal dinner or conference, and can hold up to 120 for a standing reception. The Wine and Cocktail Bar and courtyard provide additional breakout space.

Is there AV equipment available?

We provide a projector, screen, flipcharts, and high-speed Wi-Fi. We can source additional equipment on request.

Can the team stay overnight?

Yes. We have 14 boutique bedrooms on site, and we offer discounted rates for corporate bookings. For teams larger than 14, we can help arrange additional accommodation nearby.

What catering options are available?

Our double AA Rosette kitchen can provide anything from morning coffee and pastries to a full five-course dinner. Working lunches, buffets, sharing platters, canapes, and bespoke menus are all available. We accommodate all dietary requirements. The Chef's Table offers a fully bespoke multi-course experience for groups of up to 8.

How far is The Old Crown from Oxford?

25 minutes by car via the A420. Alternatively, a direct bus from Oxford city centre to Faringdon stops outside the front door and takes approximately 30 minutes. This makes The Old Crown easily accessible for teams based in Oxford or arriving by train.

Is there parking?

Yes. Free on-site parking for all attendees. No charges, no time limits.

Can we have exclusive use of the venue?

Yes. For larger events or multi-day off-sites, exclusive use of the entire venue (including all 14 bedrooms) can be arranged. Contact us for pricing and availability.