Invitation
Grade II Listed Water Mills at the historic Priest House for the 80th Anniversary of VE Day
The co-founders of KuKu Connect and the Priest House Hotel request the pleasure of your company for a special Connect Reception to mark the 80th Anniversary of VE Day and VJ Day on Wednesday, 7th May in the presence of His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Derbyshire.
- Cocktails and canapés 6pm-8.30pm
- Smart dress or Service Dress, Decorations
KuKu Connect is delighted to invite you to a special Connect Reception where we shall be connecting an array of special guests and businesses together from across Derbyshire and the wider region. The reception will not only provide an excellent opportunity to network with a diverse array of sectors and people, but also experience the historic Priest House, which is under new ownership and embarking on exciting new developments.
The Priest House sits on the banks of the River Trent, offering a picture-perfect setting for any event. The reception is a valuable opportunity to make valuable business connections with business owners and senior decision makers, as well as leaders and entrepreneurs.
The event is free to attend and open to all organisations including those organisations who have attended a KuKu Connect Reception before. We also encourage you to share the invitation with your own business connections, who might like to benefit from meeting key businesses from our region as well as marking this national milestone anniversary for our country.
“Together, we honour the past and celebrate a future built on unity, hope, love and peace”. VE Day 80 – Pageantmaster, Bruno Peek, CVO, OBE, OPR
About our Host
The Priest House is a historic 4-star hotel set right on the banks of the River Trent, nestled in what feels like a hidden valley in Kings Mill. This picturesque location features a Grade II Listed Water Mill, providing a stunning rural backdrop to this independent heritage destination, which boasts a history stretching back over 1,000 years.
Originally part of the Donington Hall estate, the hotel is now independently owned and part of a small, family-run hotel group. So, if recent financial scandals surrounding Donington Hall come to mind, rest assured—the Priest House is under entirely new stewardship. Even more exciting are the upcoming developments aimed at enhancing the hotel and its guest experience.
Derbyshire locals may remember the Priest House as the place to be in the 1980s and early ’90s. Like any great building, it requires constant care and attention, and under the leadership of hotelier James Bowie, it is set for a bright future with hospitality and service at its heart.
Whether you’re looking for a breathtaking wedding venue, a special event space, a conference setting, a client dinner spot, or simply a beautiful place for lunch with friends or afternoon tea by the water, the Priest House is once again a rising star. With over 1,000 years of history, its future looks just as bright—so why not visit, especially now that the sunshine is here?
VE Day 80
On 8 May 2025, we mark the historic 80th anniversary of VE Day, with the peoples, families and communities of our great nation coming together to unite and celebrate 80 years of peace since the end of World War II in Europe that so many millions paid the ultimate sacrifice to achieve it.
VE Day 80 is not only a tribute to those who fought for the freedom we all enjoy today, but also a powerful reminder of the resilience and unity that have defined our country ever since – #VEHAPPY
“The national and Commonwealth VE Day celebrations and commemorations are a particularly poignant anniversary as it will be most likely the last time we mark victory in Europe whilst there are still living veterans and the Armed Forces families who served and took part in World War II, so this will be a truly historic gathering of businesses and the Armed Forces community, so we do hope you will join us for this special Connect Reception in Leicestershire.”
KuKu Connect – Co-Founder, Philip Brooks-Stephenson, KL, KStJA, FRSA, FCMI