Team awards & party, 2026 An Enchanted Woodland Takes Over an Abandoned Mansion
A collaboration with EPH Creative
Each year we host the Rudding Park Annual Awards, a special celebration to thank our incredible team for their hard work, dedication, and achievements throughout the year. As hospitality professionals who deliver exceptional guest experiences day in, day out, it’s important that we create an event that truly reflects that same level of care, creativity, and wow-factor for our own people.
For this year’s awards, we once again partnered with our friends and neighbours, EPH Creative, with a vision to transform our annual team celebration into an immersive night of escapism. Creating a space that felt magical, unexpected. A complete transformation from the moment guests arrived.
The Enchanted Forest
Concept: An Enchanted Woodland Takes Over an Abandoned Mansion
The idea was that nature had reclaimed Rudding House, with ivy climbing the walls, trees growing through rooms, and woodland creatures hiding in forgotten corners. We wanted the event to feel whimsical and atmospheric, blending the romance and grandeur of the mansion with the mystery and magic of an enchanted forest.
The Entranceway
Radcliffe Room
The EPH Approach
With a clear but imaginative concept in place, the EPH Creative team designed a journey through the building, allowing each space to tell its own story while remaining part of the wider woodland takeover.
Each room had its own mood:
- Entranceway: Guests arrived through an overgrown entrance where ivy, willow, and wisteria framed the space. A fountain became the centrepiece, with cascading foliage, surrounded by statues, ornate details, lanterns, and candlelight to create a truly magical first impression
- Drawing Room: A traditional woodland setting anchored by a striking giant oak tree. Beneath its branches, cosy seating was created using chunky wooden furniture, wooden lanterns, pine garlands, and layers of foliage.
- Library: Reimagined as a woodland-inspired games room, offering a more interactive and relaxed space where guests could explore, play, and unwind.
- Radcliffe Room (Main Space): The heart of the transformation. Guests passed through an ornate entrance into a woodland walkway filled with draped foliage, hanging lanterns, bird cages, twinkling mushrooms, candles, and trees. This led into the enchanted forest itself, where gold and green leaves shimmered under atmospheric lighting.
The glamour of the mansion remained, elevated with gold candelabras, gold and green velvet furniture, and a mirrored bar. A giant tree created an intimate seating area beneath its canopy, while the curved gold bar featured another statement tree as a dramatic focal point. The stage area was framed with gold and green displays, a woodland arch and backdrop, and finished with a twinkling black dance floor.
EPH Creative delivered a full end-to-end service, from concept design and detailed layouts to lighting, installation, and de-rig, all seamlessly executed to bring the enchanted woodland to life.
Radcliffe Room
Drawing Room
The Outcome
The final result was a glittering, whimsical enchanted woodland; a magical world for guests to explore, take selfies, play games, and sip champagne. The balance of natural textures and elegant finishes created a space that felt both mysterious and luxurious, inviting guests to wander, discover, and celebrate together.
A truly unforgettable setting for an unforgettable night.
Number of Guests: 160