Swindon-based bookings agency Venues and Events International celebrated International Moment of Laughter Day by taking clients on a fun-filled trip to No Man’s Fort – a former sea defence in the Solent which has been converted into a four-star hotel.
Allied Bakeries, Wates and Old Mutual Wealth joined Venues and Events International and hotel management firm Amazing Venues on the outing to inspect facilities at the unique hotel between Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight. 
Alongside its 22 luxury rooms and suites, No Man’s Fort has five function rooms, a spa, outdoor hot tubs, games rooms, bars and a Laser Quest in its basement. It is available for exclusive use, meetings for up to 200 delegates or overnight stays.
The fort was one of ‘Palmerston’s follies’, built along with Spitbank and Horse Sand Forts 150 years ago on the orders of Prime Minister Viscount Palmerston to combat the threat of a French invasion led by Napoleon III, which never materialised.
Venues and Events International founder and CEO Anita Lowe said: “International Moment of Laughter Day is a day to laugh loudly and laugh often. So what better way to spend it than discovering a fun new venue, which was the folly of its day.
“Today, however, it’s a serious option for event planners and one where delegates can have a lot of laughs and fun during their stay.”
Venues and Events International was set up last year by long-serving industry figure Anita Lowe after she left events industry giant Bluehat to service a growing roster of clients and new business wins.
The firm, based in Wanborough, continued its growth with the appointment of three more staff.
Nicky O’Sullivan and Ann Jones have joined as conference planning executives while Claire Smith has joined as operations and events administrator.
The firm expects its team to grow beyond 20 staff before the end of 2016, with a turnover forecast to exceed £6m. It recently added Allied Bakeries to its 30-strong roster of clients across a wide range of sectors.
Pictured: The Venues and Events International team with founder Anita Lowe, centre
