The Willcox Est. Prior to 1930

100 Colleton Ave SW, Aiken, SC, United States

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The Willcox
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Our idyllic setting and Southern charm provide the perfect backdrop for romance.
The Willcox specializes in pairing the ultimate atmosphere with impeccable service, from exclusive board meetings and corporate retreats to private dinners and large celebrations.
The Lowdown
Type
Boutique Hotel
Historic Building
Hotel / Resort / Spa
Restaurant / Private Dining
Views
Street
Water Feature
Style
Classic
Elegant
Romantic
Worldly
BEST type of CELEBRATIONS
Anniversary / Engagement Party
Birthday Party
Bridal Shower
Charity Event
Corporate Event
Dinner Party
Product Launch
Elopement / Vow Renewal
Group Getaway
Holiday Party
Rehearsal Dinner / Welcome Reception
Retreats: Corporate, Spa, Wellness, Etc.
Social Event
Wedding Ceremony
Wedding Reception

Venue Setting

The Willcox specializes in pairing the ultimate atmosphere with impeccable service, from exclusive board meetings and corporate retreats to private dinners and large celebrations. Our well-appointed rooms and onsite professional event planners can organize every element of an amazing experience for your guests. Whether it’s a gala banquet everyone talks about for months or the right snacks for mid-morning munchies, we’ll work with you to create the perfect event.

Inspiring generations of storybook weddings, The Willcox offers uncompromising personal service, signature attention, and the experience of a certified Southern Living wedding planner. Our experts will custom design the entire experience with you, from the ceremony to the perfect wedding reception, to additional celebrations including bridal showers, afternoon teas and rehearsal dinners. We offer wonderful ideas for taking special care of your out-of-town guests and making them feel welcome, too.

Our idyllic setting and Southern charm provide the perfect backdrop for romance.

Fees
(Prices listed here are estimates only & are subject to change)
Price Range

Does this include catering fees?

Yes

Estimated Price Per Head

from $30 to $150

Additional Charges

All applicable current sales taxes and a 20% service charge will be additional. Our event food and beverage minimum for parties over 50 is $3000. To include entire hotel and public spaces or a "buy out" the food and beverage minimum is $12000. Please contact us directly to check for off season rates.

Insurance

Additional Insurance Is Not Required To Host An Event Here

Capacity

Seated
150
Buffet
150
Standing
225
Celebrations Hosted Here Since
Prior to 1930
Curfew
11 PM
Venue Spaces
Indoor & Outdoor Venue Spaces Available
Catering
Client Must Use The Catering Provided By The Venue
Alcohol
Provided By Venue For Fee – You Must Use The Venue For All Alcohol Services
Corkage/Bottle Fee – You Can Bring Your Own Alcohol For A Fee
Music
Indoors & Outdoors
Smoking
Designated Smoking Areas Only
Accommodations
ACCOMMODATIONS

Guest rooms at The Willcox are comfortable retreats luxuriously appointed. All are quiet and sumptuous with high ceilings, crown moldings, and restful, cloud-soft beds blanketed in cool, crisp linen. Most have crackling fireplaces, and each has its own character. The marble and white tile bathrooms hold deep-soaking tubs, stacks of thick towels and plush robes to cosset and comfort — just a few of the many lavishes that landed The Willcox on Travel + Leisure and Conde Nast Traveler magazines’ exclusive lists of the world’s best hotels. Whatever the room, when you are ready to retire, it will have been straightened, your bed turned down, a cashmere hot water bottle tucked under the sheets, if you wish, and a small, sweet gift placed on your pillow. 

Eco/Green Events
Yes
Pet-Friendly Events
Yes
Kid Friendly Events
Yes
Handicap Accessible
Yes
Inside Scoop

The Restaurant has one of the best hamburgers in the world! I love the chef's garden, ask your server for a quick peep! Have Matt or Brian at The Lobby Bar make one of our signature Parisians cocktails for you or try our house-infused vodka. The Churchill Suite is my favorite. It has a fabulous bathroom and I love the private balcony. Your favorite four-legged friend is welcome to chill with you poolside or in our lobby.

Amenities
  • A/V Equipment
  • Bridal Suite/Changing Rooms Onsite
  • Street Parking
  • Wifi
  • Ample Parking Onsite
  • Dining Chairs
  • Dining Tables
  • Onsite Restrooms
Venue Features
The Scene:

Reflecting the influence of Both Second Empire and Colonial Revival architectural styles, The Willcox was established in the last years of the 19th century by Frederick Sugden Willcox. It assumed its present form in 1928 when the last of several additions was made to the hostelry.

Frederick Willcox came to America in 1891 from Cheshire, England, with his Swedish wife Elise. He made his way to Aiken to be a cater for the Old Highland Park Hotel, where he soon formed lasting friendships with social leaders from the East Coast, among them Mrs. Thomas Hitchcock, who visited Aiken each winter. After a fire destroyed the Highland Park Hotel in 1898, Willcox opened a small hotel of his own with encouragement from influential friends. The Willcox Inn welcomed its first guest in 1900.

An increasing demand for accommodations led Willcox to add to the inn in 1906, when an adjacent two-story house at Colleton Avenue and Newberry Street became part of the hotel. In 1928, further expansion was undertaken, including alterations in the west wing. The Willcox inn was said to have had the first bathtub in the South connected with hidden plumbing. It was reported that at the height of the winter season the bellman would shake his head “no” as he escorted a would-be guest to the registration desk. Owner Frederick Willcox knew that was his signal to tell the caller there was no room at the inn. One day Willcox asked the bellman, “How the devil do you know whether I should register a guest or not?” To which the employee replied, “His shoes, Mr. Willcox. If they don’t wear shoes by Peel or Maxwell of London, we don’t want’em.”

Design:

The Lobby invites you to experience the easy-going elegance that so appropriately defines The Willcox experience. With walls wrapped in curly pine, the room anchored by large stone fireplaces is furnished with large sofas and chairs, clustered in small groups to create intimate gathering places for drinks and meals.

A massive bar of solid oak, crafted the same year The Willcox was built, now graces the lobby, adding to the natural hospitality of the atmosphere. Whether your choice is a glass of wine from our award-winning wine list, a hand-crafted cocktail or an ice cold beer, immerse yourself in our living room, relax and enjoy true Southern hospitality.

Live entertainment is available Tuesday, Thursday and Friday evenings, Sunday morning and Sunday evenings.

The Willcox has inspired generations of love stories. That’s why we’re so good at creating magical, romantic moments for our guests. From planning a romantic dining experience to creating the perfect setting to pop the question, it’s our privilege to make dreams come true.
Standout Venue Features:

Explore new worlds, master new skills, heighten romance, relax and recharge. 

GUESTS ALSO ENJOY COMPLIMENTARY
Continental breakfast from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. daily
24-hour concierge
High-speed internet access
Business station equipped with a desktop computer and printer
Evening turndown service (cashmere hot water bottle turndown, available upon request)
Shoe shine from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. daily
Library of DVD’s, board games and Stave puzzles for use while our guest
Salt water pool (assistance getting in and out of pool available through Guest Services)
Cardio room and bicycles
In-room fitness
Off-site fitness
Horse concierge
Dog concierge

Extra Perks:
All on-site events have use of our event tables, 60 chairs, white linens, cutlery, plates, and glassware. Extra or additional rental items are at the expense of the renter.
Awards & Notables

Top 50 in the World – Condé Nast Traveler Magazine, 2015

Top 5 in the USA – Condé Nast Traveler Magazine, 2015

No. 1 in the South – Condé Nast Traveler Magazine, 2015

Certificate of Excellence – Tripadvisor 2015

Executive Chef Regan Browell – Best Chefs America 2015

Award of Excellence – Wine Spectator 2015

Featured in “1,000 Places to See Before You Die,” written by Patricia Schultz

Exemplary Patriotism in Displaying the American Flag –Sons of the American Revolution

Certificate of Appreciation -– Aiken Young Professionals and Aiken Chamber of Commerce

Greenleaders GOLD – Tripadvisor 2015

Good Earth Keeping Award – South Carolina Hospitality Association

Certified as a Sustainable Seafood Restaurant – SC Sustainable Seafood Initiative

South Carolina Smart Business Recycling Program – South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control and the South Carolina Department of Commerce

Three Palmetto Certification – The Willcox Hotel – South Carolina Green Hospitality Alliance

Three Palmetto Certificate – The Restaurant – South Carolina Green Hospitality Alliance

FIDO’s FAVORITE AWARD – BringFido.com 2016

Culture Trip Aiken Local Favorites – 2016 Award

Best Hotel – Aiken Standard 2015

Best Romantic Restaurant – Aiken Standard 2015

Celebration Locations
The Hunt Room:
The Hunt Room, lined with books and warmed by a fireplace, has a British country house feel with subtly striped green wallpaper and plaid silk curtains.
- View: Private
- Max Capacity: 700 square feet, 60 seated, 75 for standing cocktail party
- Price: Join the party and sign in to view pricing
The Pub Room:
The original Pub room has the feel of an Old English club with a unique double-sided walk around fireplace and rich wood paneled walls.
- View: Private
- Max Capacity: 460 square feet, accommodates up to 20
- Price: Join the party and sign in to view pricing
The Pool:
The lovely landscaped pool area, with flowing waterfall and luscious native plants, glows in the evening with strings of beautiful lights.
- Max Capacity: 1700 square feet, accommodates up to 150
- Price: Join the party and sign in to view pricing
The Roosevelt Suite:
The Roosevelt Suite, the largest suite in the hotel with a 58 foot balcony, is a favorite for groups wishing more privacy. The living room and dining room can be set up for meetings, cocktails and dinner parties.
- View: Gorgeous Balcony View overlooking the front of the hotel.
- Max Capacity: 500 square feet, 25
- Price: Join the party and sign in to view pricing
Hunt/Pub/Pool:
The combination of one or both indoor spaces or both and with the outdoor pool area gives guests the feeling of being enveloped in the warmth of a grand private home. Guests can flow freely from the lovely outdoor space to the elegant rooms inside
- View: Enjoy all three
- Max Capacity: 125
- Price: Join the party and sign in to view pricing
Eats & Drinks
Food, Restaurants, Cafes, Bars & Lounges
Food, Restaurants, Cafes:
THE RESTAURANT

Open Monday through Saturday 11:30 a.m. until 10 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m, until 10 p.m.

Our kitchen enjoys an exceptional reputation built on the creative talents of our chefs. The menu is American, although our executive chef Regan Browell draws inspiration from her native New Zealand and international travels. Whether you’re enjoying Southern breezes poolside, the cozy club setting of our lobby or relaxing in our dining room, rest assured that your meal is memorable and your service is prompt and cheerful.

The Willcox has received high honors for sustainability and is routinely recognized by Wine SpectatorBest Chefs of America and our community for our food, cocktails, and staff. Come break bread with us. The experience is unpretentious and remarkably delicious.

Bars & Lounges:

The Lobby Bar invites you to experience the easy-going elegance that so appropriately defines The Willcox experience. Whether your choice is a glass of wine from our award-winning wine list, a hand-crafted cocktail or an ice cold beer, immerse yourself in our living room, relax and enjoy true Southern hospitality. Enjoy one of our award-winning Parisians and relax on one of the couches scattered throughout the lobby.

Live entertainment is available Tuesday, Thursday and Friday evenings, Sunday morning and Sunday evenings.

THIS VENUE DOES NOT HAVE ANY REPORTS AT THIS TIME.

Check back again soon!