Business Walks – Goodnestone Park

Spending time outdoors is proven to support both mental and physical wellbeing, so why not network while you walk?

Join us at Goodnestone Park for Business Walks, an informal networking event designed to help you connect, collaborate and support other business owners, professionals and employees in a relaxed, friendly setting. It’s a great opportunity to promote your business, build valuable local connections across Kent and enjoy some fresh air while getting your steps in.

Each month we’ll visit a different location around Kent, making it accessible for businesses across the county. Connect, collaborate, walk!

This special event offers guests the opportunity to explore the stunning walled and woodland gardens at Goodnestone Park (covering roughly fifteen acres of the Estate), guided by Head Gardener Paul Bagshaw, whose passion and knowledge bring the gardens to life. As you walk through the grounds, Paul will share insights into the planting, seasonal highlights and the sustainable gardening principles at the heart of Goodnestone’s approach, including no-dig beds, careful cultivation methods and the estate’s commitment to biodiversity and growing in harmony with nature.

Guests will also discover how many of the vegetables, herbs and edible flowers grown in the gardens make their way directly onto the menus at the much-loved Old Dairy Café, creating a true garden-to-table experience.

Along the walk, guests can also enjoy Goodnestone’s sculpture trail and walk in the footsteps of Jane Austen, who spent time at Goodnestone when her brother married into the owning family. It is widely believed that the estate’s beauty, society and atmosphere helped inspire elements of her writing, including Pride and Prejudice.

The morning will begin and end at the beautiful Old Dairy Café, which will be reserved exclusively for Kent Invicta visitors during the event. Guests will enjoy refreshments including tea, coffee and cold drinks, alongside the opportunity to connect with fellow members in a relaxed setting.

There will also be time to learn more about the gardens, ask questions and explore the benefits of individual and corporate garden memberships, which allow year-round access to this remarkable historic estate and its ever-changing gardens.

Set in the heart of the Kent countryside, Goodnestone Park offers a rare combination of natural beauty, heritage, sustainability and calm, making this a wonderful opportunity to step away from the working day, connect with others and experience one of Kent’s most enchanting garden settings.

About Goodnestone Park: 

Set in the Kent countryside, just an hour from London, Goodnestone Park is a historic estate centred around a stately home built in 1704. It has a long and interesting history, including a close connection to Jane Austen, who was a frequent visitor in the 1790s and early 1800s. She stayed with her brother Edward nearby and with the Bridges family at Goodnestone. After a visit in 1796, she began writing Pride and Prejudice, drawing on the surroundings and social life of the estate.

Today, the gardens are a defining part of Goodnestone. Carefully restored and maintained, they’re considered among the finest in Kent and provide a beautiful, seasonal setting throughout the year. Whether you’re planning a strategy retreat, team-building getaway or client gathering, the house and its grounds provide space to think, connect and unwind. With exclusive use of the 12-bedroom manor, elegant meeting spaces, beautiful gardens, and thoughtful support from our team, everything is in place to help your event run smoothly and leave a lasting impression. The Orangery sits at the centre of the estate’s event offerings, a light, elegant space overlooking the gardens, well suited to weddings, corporate events, and private gatherings. The estate works equally well for larger celebrations or smaller, more focused events such as team away days and workshops.

There’s also an on-site café serving seasonal, locally sourced food as well as our in-house caterers, Judith’s Kitchen, and accommodation available for those who want to stay and spend more time on the estate.

Overall, Goodnestone Park offers a setting that combines history, gardens, and a sense of calm, suitable for events, visits, or short stays.

• Pictures may be taken at this event. If you do not wish your picture to be taken, please let us know ahead of the event.
• Bookings will remain open until the event itself, but please note that if you book with less than 24 hours to go, your name won’t be on the “List of Attendees” or the “Signing in Sheet” and you won’t have a “Name Badge” on arrival.
• As a Chamber Member, you will have exclusive access to the “List of Attendees”.

Please see our full list of our event Terms and Conditions