Category Archives: News

Cheltenham gold cup fun

If you’re looking for a new experience to share with friends, or if you’re a seasoned race going, the Cheltenham Festival is a treat not to be missed.

With 4 days of great racing from 15^th – 18^th March 2016 it’s one of the highlights of the jump racing season. The prize money runs to an eye watering £3.8m for owners and jockeys to battle over.

Set in the beautiful Cotswolds, Cheltenham racecourse lies in a scenic amphitheatre below the Cotswold Hills and makes a fabulous backdrop to some great racing.

It has a wide range of facilities and tickets are still available for most of the enclosures. Dining in one of the course side restaurants makes it a very special day, but needs to be booked in advance.

There’s shopping too, if you’re in the mood, the Shopping Village has a large variety of trade stands to suit most tastes.

History

The Hall of Fame is definitely worth a visit, with winners’ silks and trophies from years gone by, fascinating information about the history of Cheltenham and a hologram of the great horse Desert Orchid.

Champion Day

The first day of the meeting and features the Stan James Champion Hurdle, won impressively last year by Faugheen, from the on form stable of Willie Mullins (8 winners during the festival!). Whether that run of form continues is questionable given Faugheeen’s last outing in November in the Morgiana Hurdle.

Ladies Day

A great excuse for the ladies to dress up and have a good time with your friends. There’s even a best dressed ladies competition!

St Patrick’s Day

Celebrate the day with plenty of Guiness on tap and live music flowing. Maybe watch some Irish winners too.

Gold Cup Day

Scene of Arkle’s historic 3 consecutive wins in the 60’s, this race is the highlight of the fixture list. Last year winner, Coneygree on only his fourth outing over fences, was the first novice horse in 40 years to win. Could he be following in the footsteps of the great Arkle?

Make a break of it

Why not make an occasion of it, get all your friends together and stay locally for the 4 days. Cotswold Manor is only 30 minutes away from the course. It’s a wonderful, elegant country house to enjoy after a day at the races.

Hire A Big House For Your Holiday

With families and friends spreading out across the country and beyond, these days it is becoming increasingly popular for large groups to meet together for a fun group holiday in one place. Rather than going to the trouble of booking multiple rooms and apartments to accommodate everyone, it can make far more sense to book one great big house.

Have you ever considered hiring a great big house for a holiday with a large group? Big houses are a great choice for family reunions, events and special occasions, but they are also the ideal choice for holidaying with a great bunch of your favourite people too. Here is why:

A Cost Effective Option

Sharing the cost of a large holiday property with your friends and family often works out to be a far more cost effective option than you might expect. Take Widcombe Grange for example; this luxurious stone built country residence is set in 22 acres of landscaped woodlands and at full capacity, 24 friends sharing the rental cost of this property in high peak season would pay less than £45 per person, per night (at current rates).

Hire in mid or low season and the rates are obviously considerably lower, so sharing the cost of your holiday as a group is undoubtedly a great value option for your well-earned break!

Private Access To All Facilities

Another great benefit when holidaying in this way with friends is the opportunity to gain private access to all of the wonderful facilities on site. Remaining with the example of Widcombe Grange in Somerset, you would benefit from a variety of fantastic facilities to help you relax, unwind and have fun, including:

Heated outdoor swimming pool
Games room with pool table, table tennis and table football
TV, DVD and Wi-Fi
Private boating and fishing lake
Badminton & Croquet

The spacious grounds lend themselves perfectly to all kinds of outdoor pursuits, (all of which can be arranged for you on site), including clay shooting, archery and more. With all of this room to yourselves to play and hang out in, you may well find that you have little reason to venture off site at all!

Meal Times Are Made Easy In Your Big House

Coordinating meals out when you are travelling with a large group can be a logistical nightmare. Organising everyone and finding a suitable eatery with a table for 24 is never going to be a straightforward task!

Hiring a big house can remove this hassle from your holiday; simply arrange for meals to be delivered or cooked and even served on site and you can all eat what you want, when you want, however you want, accommodating everyone in the group, free from any issues, or super long waits for large tables!

With full access to the entire kitchen and plentiful dining space, you will also have everything you need to cook up a storm and enjoy the luxury of long extended mealtimes together.

Complete Flexibility

With private access to the entire property and grounds, you and your group have the freedom and flexibility to plan your stay in any way you desire, giving you the unique opportunity to plan your holiday without any of the typical restrictions that apply to hotels, holiday apartments and so on.

This Could Be The First Of Many…

Take one stunning big house in a countryside setting, with relaxing and luxurious accommodation and plenty to explore in the surrounding area, add a great bunch of people and you may find that your holiday is so brilliantly successful that it is just the first of many fantastic group holiday experiences!

The Ultimate Murder Mystery Weekend

With darker nights and the impending arrival of winter, this is the ideal time of year to host a fabulous murder mystery party. The ultimate event would be organised with the help of a professional company, and hosted in a beautiful period property, creating the ultimate backdrop for your party.

Why not make a weekend of it? Hire an amazing character property in the country; gather up a group of your most outgoing favourites who will happily put their all into their roles and display their acting talent, then head off to create some unforgettable, (often hilarious), memories.

Plan Ahead

Plan your weekend well in advance to ensure that the property you desire is available and make sure that your friends will be free to attend. In the run up to Christmas, weekends tend to get increasingly busy so it is crucial to give your guests plenty of advance notice.

Shy Wallflowers

The best murder mystery parties rely on an enthusiastic group who are willing to let their hair down and play the role of the characters they are allocated with flair! This means that some friends may not be suited to participate in this type of event at all, due to their shyness and inhibitions.

Think carefully about which friends would be best suited to the bigger characters in the plot, keeping in mind that acting skills are not a prerequisite, all that is required is a willingness to take on the role of someone else for a few hours.

Allocate smaller roles to the shy wallflowers within the group, as this way they will have less to say and do during the evening, which will make sure they feel more comfortable, leaving them free to enjoy themselves and work on solving the mystery.

Murder Mystery Menu

Set the scene by combining your murder mystery activity with a ‘Whodunit’ style, glamorous dinner party. When hiring one of our Big Houses, we can arrange everything on your behalf, taking all of the hassle out of the planning so that all you need to do is dress up, get into your role and fully enjoy the storyline and mayhem!

Sitting down to enjoy a mouth-watering meal cooked by a talented local chef in the private space of your hired house is a wonderful way to enhance your event and make the evening even more memorable. With a team on hand to serve and clear each course for the evening, your entire group will be free to concentrate on the action and participate!

Winner Takes It All?

Bring out your guests competitive instincts with some desirable prizes. You may choose to allocate one prize for the person who manages to solve the murder mystery, but it can be fun to have extra prizes set aside for other important accomplishments too! Prizes for the most convincing performance, the best costume or the funniest participant are just a few ideas you could consider.

Getting everyone together at the end of the evening for prizes is great fun and creates a wonderful opportunity to reflect and giggle at the evenings events. Once everybody is able to reveal details of the secrets and schemes that were going on, you will all be amazed at what was going on right under your noses the entire time!

The Kind Of Party That Everyone Will Talk About For Years To Come…

If this is something that you have always wanted to do, why not take the plunge and give it a go? A murder mystery weekend is a great way to celebrate a special occasion or simply gather with your friends for something different and a whole lot of fun. The chances are that some of your friends will really surprise you with their antics and role-playing on the night, as this type of event has a funny way of bringing some people out of their shell in a way you have never seen before.

With some careful planning and a good dose of creativity, you could design and host your own murder mystery party anywhere. However, for the ultimate murder mystery weekend that everyone will talk about for years to come, why not get in touch with us at The Big House Company and let us help you to make a real success of your event!

Weekend Hen Party Houses

Hiring a big house for the weekend to celebrate your hen party in style is a popular alternative to a night out, giving you and your group the freedom and space to relax, enjoy yourselves and have a truly memorable weekend.

Hiring a private property gives you absolute privacy and enables you to tailor the weekend your way, by including all of the activities that you and your girlfriends love. There is no better way to enjoy your last few days of freedom, than by choosing the perfect big house, gathering up your girls and heading off for a fabulous weekend in the country!

The perfect blend of activities will of course depend on your group of friends and family, but often the best approach is to go for a balanced blend of lively activities and blissful relaxation.

If you are stuck for ideas, or struggling to choose the right activities for your hen weekend, why not take inspiration from five of our favourites:

Clay Pigeon Shooting

Perhaps not the first activity to spring to mind when planning a hen weekend, but this popular activity is incredibly exhilarating and guaranteed to delight the most active personalities in your party, because it is surprisingly physical!

Shooting is a popular country pursuit, a thrilling day out and an utterly memorable and unique experience for any hen group.

Horse Riding

Trekking off into the great outdoors on horseback with a group of friends is one of the most enjoyable ways to spend a few hours in the great British countryside. Relax, chat and have a giggle or two whilst taking in the scenery. You may even be able to tie this activity in with a delicious hearty lunch and a tipple at a proper country pub.

Arrange A Private Dinner Party

Enjoying a mouth watering meal, cooked by talented chefs then served and cleared by a local company in the privacy of your own space allows your group to concentrate on important things like looking utterly glamorous and enjoying each other’s company for the evening.

A formal, three-course celebration dinner complete with canapés creates a wonderful centrepiece for your hen party weekend.

Murder Mystery Night

Arrange a murder mystery night in the comfort of your luxury accommodation and make the night even more memorable by combining this activity with a ‘Whodunit’ style dinner party.

A professionally run, interactive murder mystery night packed with surprises and a great deal of laughter is a fantastic way to have great fun and make memories with a group of special friends.

Spa Style Onsite Relaxation

Book your group a relaxing massage on site, or perhaps indulge in a pre wedding manicure or pedicure. As a group of girls hanging out together for the weekend, it is essential to put aside some time to unwind. What could be better than a few precious hours of feel good relaxation and pampering?

Accommodate Your Entire Group In A Big Country House

Big groups are no problem when you are booking with The Big House Company. The majority of our luxurious big houses are based in Devon or Somerset and sleep anything from 20 – 50 comfortably. Our stunning properties are the perfect choice for your hen party, allowing you and your girls to enjoy an unforgettable luxury rural break.

We offer a large variety of fantastic activities that we will happily arrange on your behalf, either onsite or in the stunning countryside surrounding your big house, taking the stress out of organising and helping you to make the most of your weekend hen break. And once you’re done partying you can start looking forward to an incredible day in one of our wedding venues in the heart of the Somerset.

Gathering Your Big Group In A Big House

These days we seem to be spreading out further than ever before as new relationships, job opportunities and itchy feet lead us to other parts of the country or sometimes abroad where we establish new lives for ourselves.

The fantastic technology that we have at our fingertips makes it easy to keep in touch with much loved family and friends when we find ourselves living miles apart. Between the various social media platforms, the good old fashioned telephone and video calling, most of the time we are able to keep up to date with what is going on in each other’s lives and maintain regular contact with one another with minimal effort.

Somehow, whilst we are busy keeping up with our work and family commitments, the years seem to fly past at an alarming pace and large periods go by with no face-to-face contact and quality time spent together. Before we know it, babies have become teens and groups of friends in their twenties suddenly find themselves faced with the big 40!

Plan Some Quality Time Out Together

Nothing beats getting together as a group in person to rekindle our relationships and reconnect and it is therefore essential to put some time aside once in a while to get everybody together. Planning a big get together for a large group of family or friends can be a little tricky to organise, but it is well worth the effort as it is guaranteed to be a fun experience and a great opportunity to create some brand new memories as a group.

Create Your Own Special Tradition

Large group reunions and holidays are a great idea for bringing everyone together under the same roof and in many friendship groups and families, these events become an important tradition that everybody really looks forward to. The only trouble with having just a few hours over an afternoon or evening to catch up with all of the people you love is that there is never enough time to get around the entire group and have the kind of lengthy, meaningful conversations you would perhaps like to…

A Large Group Holiday May Be The Answer

When planning a large get together to celebrate an anniversary, a milestone birthday or simply to get everyone in the same location for a well overdue catch up, why not make the most of it by arranging to spend a long weekend or a week together and make it a truly memorable gathering!

Planning an extended break gives everybody the opportunity to fully rest and relax, away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and gives you all plenty of time to enjoy each other’s company over extended meals and activities without having to rush.

Imagine all the fun you could have breathing new life into those hilarious tales of days gone by, reminiscing, laughing and strengthening the special bonds you share.

Accommodating A Large Group

When looking for a large property to accommodate your group, the best place to start is with an accurate headcount, as this will allow you to narrow down the sort of properties that will be suitable for putting up your entire group. With a large headcount, your pool of properties will understandably narrow, but nonetheless, you will be surprised at the number of incredible properties you can hire to sleep groups of anything from 20 up to 50 people!

Hire A Big House In The Country

The Big House Co have a great selection of five star properties to hire in the countryside, providing your large group with a luxurious backdrop for any holiday or event and giving you plenty of space to relax, play and dine together in style.

Each property boasts its own unique features and provides plenty of scope for organising some fun activities on site or in the surrounding area. With free reign over the entire property as the only guests, your group will have the flexibility to organise yourselves and use the space exactly as you wish.

Coordinating A Large Group Holiday Can Be Tricky

Planning any event or holiday with a large group can be a little tricky in some respects, but providing you give yourself plenty of time to iron out all of the wrinkles in advance you will be fine! The moment you arrive and see everyone together under the same roof, you will know without doubt that your hard work was worth it and who knows; it may be just the first of many memorable gatherings.

Planning a large group holiday, hiring a large property in the country, group holiday in the country, hiring a large country house, large group accommodation,

Hiring a large country home to accommodate your family and friends is a great opportunity to get everybody together under the same roof for some quality bonding time…

Have A Go At… Clay Pigeon Shooting

Clay pigeon shooting is a hugely popular activity for corporate events and team building events, big weekender parties and all kinds of other occasions including stag and hen weekends. It’s a fun sport, which can be enjoyed by anyone aged 14 and over and even a complete novice can get to grips with a little guidance through their first few shots…

The First Clay Pigeons

During the nineteenth century, the sport of game shooting really took off. Shooting parties hosted at great estates throughout the UK became events to be seen at. The only way to bag an invite to the best parties was to be of excellent social standing and preferably an excellent shot, so consequently the Victorians and Edwardians spent a great deal of time practicing prior to attending an event.

Needless to say one way to do this was to shoot clays. During the 1800’s the first clay targets were developed, leading to the introduction of clay pigeons. These clay targets simulated bird flight, making them ideal for anyone wishing to refine their shooting skills.

Big House Clay Pigeon Shooting

Clay pigeon shooting is an activity that can be arranged for you during your stay at several of our Big Houses including Tone Dale House, Berry House and Widcombe Grange. In fact, at the latter two properties we can even arrange for you to do this activity on site.

Basic Instruction

When participating in this activity, you will receive guidance from a fully trained instructor who will assist you in grasping the basics so that you can achieve the best possible shots and get the most from your experience. You will soon get the hang of it; ready for some competitive fun with the rest of your group! Watching a clay you’ve just shot explode in a shower of fragments for the first time is a brilliant feeling.

Getting Prepared

If you want a bit of a head start on your pals then swot up with a few useful pointers by reading our handy guide. Get a few tricks up your sleeve, then lull your mates into a false sense of security by making out that you do not have the first clue about what you are doing!

Our little guide will get you started on the right foot…

Perfect Your Stance

Talking about feet… getting your footing right will help you to maintain your balance, which is an essential part of becoming a good shot. If you shoot with your right hand, your left foot will be your leading foot (and vice versa) so work out which foot is your leading foot and make sure that this foot is always pointed in the direction you are shooting.

Place the majority of your weight on your leading foot and keep your feet spaced at a shoulders width apart for optimum balance.

Don’t Make The Mistake Of Aiming Directly At The Clay

This is the most common mistake made by beginners, but to have a chance of hitting the clay, you must aim slightly ahead of it. It takes time for your cartridge to reach the area you have shot at, so it is all about perfecting your timing and anticipating where the clay will be.

Focus on the spot where your eye first sees the clay and concentrate on the arch of its movement, this way you will soon suss out the best place to aim.

Learn To Trust Your Dominant Eye

Your dominant eye will always give you the correct line of fire, so before you start clay pigeon shooting you should work out whether it is your left eye or your right eye that is the dominant one.

To find out which eye is dominant:

Extend your arms and make a triangle using your index fingers and thumbs.
Focus on a stationary object, looking through this triangle with both eyes.
Close your right eye, if the object remains in view you are left eye dominant
If the object remains in view when you close your left eye, you are right eye dominant.

Positioning Your Gun

You need to feel both balanced and comfortable prior to taking your shot and the trick to this is finding the ideal position for your gun. Place the butt of the gun into the groove between your chest and shoulder and then rest your cheek comfortably on the stock.

In this snug position, you prevent the gun from kicking back when you fire it, which is important because this could result in a bruised shoulder or cheek.

Remember To Follow Through

Just as in many other sports, when clay pigeon shooting it is important to follow through with your movement so that after the shot, your movement continues smoothly. This smooth movement will help you to maintain the best possible control over the gun, which will ultimately improve your shot.

Big House Activities

This activity is always an absolute blast (excuse the pun!) and armed with our top tips, you are bound to do really well at it and get a brilliant score! But remember; don’t tell your friends that you had a few tips from us. Shhh….

Find out more about the range of activities available by checking out the activities page on our website. There is something for everyone!

The Big House Co Wedding Checklist – Part Two

Last week in part one of our mini series about wedding planning we set out some of the biggest wedding decisions and got them out of the way. We covered everything from working out the budget to drafting a guest list and booking the wedding venue. We also discussed the importance of getting on the case with the search for the perfect dress and identifying your photographer, florist and wedding cake supplier early on, as the most talented and popular suppliers tend to be booked up well in advance.

Finalise bookings with the suppliers mentioned above and if your wedding catering is not being taken care of in house, you should be finalising your booking with the caterer of your choice early on too.

OK. That’s the tricky stuff sorted. Now to focus on some of the fun details…!

– Your Bridesmaids & Their Outfits

Whether you are organising a small and intimate wedding and have chosen just one or two bridesmaids or you are planning a larger bash with a bigger group of ladies in waiting by your side, once you have the dress, it is time to turn your attention to the dresses your bridesmaids will wear.

Our three top tips for this task are…

Take inspiration from your own dress, making sure that your bridesmaids dresses coordinate with the style and vibe of your own outfit and be sure to take the time of year into account too!

Give your choice of colour some serious thought. Different skin tones and hair colours look best when paired with different colours so be sure to choose a palette that will compliment all of the girls. These days it is not unusual for bridesmaid’s outfits to be picked out in a two-colour palette or even in completely different colours.

Having chosen the colour, (or colours), it is time to think about the style of dress that would best suit your bridesmaids. A great option for a group of girls with very different body types may be to go for similar dresses with varying necklines and cuts to keep everyone happy!

– Getting Your Men Kitted Out

Your next task is to organise formalwear for your groom and all of the men in your bridal party, choosing a style and accessories that compliment the rest of your colour scheme. Again, it is crucial to take the time of year into account, as heavy formalwear can be particularly uncomfortable in warm weather and you do not want your men looking all sweaty!

Our two crucial top tips to remember here are…

Make sure that your grooms outfit is unique in some way so that he stands out clearly from the rest of the men on your big day.

Make sure that all formalwear has been tried and fitted well in advance of the big day to eliminate excruciatingly embarrassing scenarios like huge shirt collars and ankle swinging trousers. This way you have plenty of time to iron out any wardrobe glitches so that all of the guys in your bridal party look their absolute best.

– Organising Your Wedding Stationery

Your wedding stationery sets the tone for the event, after all, there is nothing like a gorgeous invitation arriving in the post to build the excitement for your guests. Your stationery design gives guests their first glimpse of the style of your upcoming event, be it chic and elegant or a wild barn dance style hooley!

There are lots of different bits and pieces of wedding stationary that you may or may not need, depending on your plans, some are fairly essential, for example; save the date cards and invitations, your RSVP cards, directions, order of service, table numbers, menu and place cards.

There are many other items that you may also want to consider, for example; signage, wedding favour tags and your gift list. You will of course also need to think about your thank you cards to send out following the event.

Sending out save the date cards as soon as you have a date set gives people plenty of time to plan time off, transport and accommodation, pet boarding and such like. Then traditionally you would send your invitations out approximately 8 weeks before the big day, allowing plenty of time for the return of the RSVP’s and the finalisation of numbers with your caterers.

Like all other aspects of your planning, the key to choosing your stationery is coordination. There are so many fun styles and quirky ideas to choose from, just be sure to order well in advance, so that all of those bespoke details can be printed and checked with plenty of time to spare.

– Wedding Transport

If you’ve booked a Big House Company venue like Tone Dale House or Widcombe Grange, your wedding ceremony and the reception are to be held in the same place so you may not need to worry about wedding transport at all. (Although if this is the case, you could consider setting aside some of your budget to book something gorgeous like a classic or vintage car to make a stylish exit in instead)!

There are so many wonderful options to consider for transport to the ceremony plus it’ll make for a great photo opportunity… You are sure to find something right up your street, be it a vintage Rolls Royce, a shiny tractor, a tandem bicycle or even a motorcycle and sidecar!

The Big House Co Wedding Checklist – Part One

At the Big House Company we’ve seen our fair share of weddings over the years whether it be attending as a guest, being the bride or groom or hosting them at one of our properties.

Wedding planning is an incredibly exciting process; giving you plenty to look forward to. We thought that it was time we put our collective heads together here at Big House Company HQ and came up with our own handy checklist of things to do you can get planning straight away.

In the first part of this series we’re going to run through some of the tasks that you can get started on straight away and get the get the ball rolling making some key decisions. Before you know it you’ll start to see everything taking shape right in front of your eyes…

First Things First – Set Your Wedding Budget

The last thing you want to do is start your married life with a huge debt looming over your heads, so a wedding budget is essential, to keep your spending on track in the run up to the big day.

Take a realistic look at your finances to establish what you can both afford to spend and verify if any family members are planning to contribute.

Times have changed and whilst traditionally the parents of the bride would foot the majority of the bill in the past, these days this happens far less frequently. If it feels awkward to approach your parents for money, a different approach could be to ask them to pick up the tab for your dress, or your wedding cake, to relieve the financial pressure and stretch your budget that little bit further.

Once you have set your budget, you will need to be disciplined and stick to it. Opening a dedicated account for your wedding expenses is the best way to track your spending and avoid mixing up your everyday money with the money you have allocated for your wedding.

Prepare A Draft Guest List

Many couples will tell you that this is often the hardest task associated with organising a wedding, but getting a good idea of the numbers you are looking at is crucial as it will help you to choose an appropriate sized venue for the occasion and your numbers will have a key impact on all of your budgetary decisions. This task can be fraught with complications, as you cannot invite every single person you know and there will always be that one family member who is an absolute liability to worry about!

Just remember that sad though this is you cannot please all the people all of the time. It is your special event, so be selective and invite the people you really want to be surrounded with on the day. Every married couple has faced this dilemma to some extent or another. It isn’t easy…

Choose & Book Your Wedding Venue

With your budget and draft guest list in hand; you are now in a position to turn your attention to the wedding venue. You may already have a venue in mind, such as the local church where your parents tied the knot, but if not, there is such a fantastic choice of unique licensed wedding venues throughout the UK that you are certain to find just what you have in mind.

These days wedding venues are anything but boring, you could decide to get hitched on a boat, in a zoo or opt for a stunning period property in the countryside! The Big House Company is very pleased to be able to offer two beautiful houses for hire as wedding venues – Tone Dale House and Widcombe Grange both in Somerset.

If you are able to find a venue you love that is able to offer you an inclusive package with catering, music and accommodation this can be an excellent option, but the most important thing is to choose a location that you both really want, after all this will provide you with the blank canvas for building the perfect event.

Remember to ensure that there will be sufficient local accommodation to put all of your guests up.

You will probably need to make provisional bookings at this stage as you need to juggle a little until you have secured a date with the registrar or minister and any other professionals or supplier you have your hearts set on. Once you are sure that everyone is available on the same day, you can go ahead and confirm all of your bookings.

Arrange Your Leave

Put in your annual leave request as early as possible to secure time off for your wedding and honeymoon. If you usually have a tough time arranging holiday leave for the dates you need, the earlier the better. You may even want to submit some provisional dates before you have finalised all of the bookings to be on the safe side. You can also let your loved ones know to SAVE THE DATE!

Now The Real Fun Begins!

Good wedding photographers, florists and wedding cake suppliers all tend to get booked up way in advance so make it a priority to get on the case with looking for and securing dates with suppliers whose style appeals to you.

It’s also time to start thinking about that all-important dress, particularly if you are going to have it made to measure. It is wise to leave yourself a minimum of six months to allow for the design, making and fitting of a made to measure dress. Even if you are going to opt for an off the shelf designer number, leave yourself a similar amount of time to find the perfect one as you would not believe the quantity of dresses brides to be usually try on in the run up to their wedding day.

Try To Relax…

Don’t worry, you are going to have a heap of fun in the process and there is still so much more to look forward to! Keep an eye out the next two blogs in this series as we move through the steps on route to the big day itself!

Tone Dale House – House Of Fox

It used to be the done thing for successful merchants and manufacturers to build themselves fine houses in the countryside where they could proudly display their wealth and enjoy the country life. In the late 1780’s, when Thomas Fox became partner of his families successful textile manufacturing business in Wellington, Somerset the natural thing to do was just that!

So, a few years later in 1797, he and his wife Sarah began to create their own country residence, Tone Dale House. The Fox’s chose to embrace the Palladian style of architecture that was so popular at that time, heavily influenced by the architecture of the Ancient Greeks and Romans and built their home adjacent to their thriving woollen mill.

Tone Dale House is an elegant grade II listed property, set in four acres of beautifully landscaped, immaculate gardens, centred around the millstream. The mill, which once played a key role in the family business, Fox Brothers & Co, is no longer in use.

Today this fine, 16 bedroom country property is owned by Ben and Victoria Fox and often referred to by the locals as ‘House of Fox’. Following its careful restoration by the Big House Co, the Fox´s unique country home is available for hire and has proven to be an incredibly popular choice for weddings, group holidays, corporate events and of course, parties.

Bags Of Character, Oodles Of Room

Between the main house and the renovated stables, this vast property is fully equipped to sleep a maximum of 31 guests. Inside the property, you will find plenty of space for dining, partying, relaxing and unwinding, amidst the Fox family portraits and antiques.

Tone Dale House simply oozes charm and whilst the renovation keenly observes the style of this period property, the overall design is incredibly sumptuous and comfortable, creating the perfect getaway pad for families and large groups.

With its south facing aspect, guests can enjoy the marvellous views, looking out across the landscaped gardens and babbling millstream in the foreground, to the beautiful Blackdown Hills beyond. Put simply if you’re looking for somewhere that ticks all the right boxes in then Tone Dale House and gardens are top of the list.

The Local Area

Wellington is a small market town, just 7 miles from Taunton, situated between the River Tone and the stunning Blackdown Hills. The rich heritage and thriving local economy make this welcoming little town an absolute pleasure to visit. You will notice that in addition to the larger chains you would expect to find, Wellington boasts an impressive and diverse selection of independent stores. In fact, to this day, Fox Brothers & Co are still producing fabrics including fine wool and cashmere, which is purchased by designers all over the world including Louis Vuitton.

The Blackdown Hills on the border of Devon and Somerset were first protected as an Area of Outstanding Beauty, (AONB) in 1991 ensuring that this unique and tranquil landscape, which is dotted with ancient features and home to a variety of rare flora and fauna, is preserved for our future generations.

Whilst relatively isolated, the hills are dotted with country pubs, charming villages, and farms and in this special part of the world working communities and wildlife coexist harmoniously.

The Wellington Monument sits on the highest point of the Blackdown Hills and this famous landmark, which was built to commemorate the Duke of Wellington’s victory at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, is well worth visiting. From this point, the views are simply astonishing, looking across the Vale of Taunton and Exmoor National Park to the Bristol Channel and across to south Wales.

Activities

It is not unusual for guests staying at Tone Dale house to prefer to spend the majority of their time resting, playing and being pampered on site, but the surrounding area is a great spot for all kinds of fun outdoor activities, including:

Horse Riding
Paint Ball
Archery
Clay Pigeon Shooting
Quad Biking
Off Roading
Fishing

Tone Dale House is an excellent choice for anyone looking for an exclusive five star property for hire in the beautiful countryside of south west Somerset. The Big House Co can help you to plan and cater for your event and have all the tools you could possibly need to create a magical break or unforgettable event. For more information about the house and its many features then just take a look the section on our website where you’ll find everything you need.

The Big Hen Party – A Rite Of Passage!

Hen parties have been an integral element of wedding culture in the UK for some time now after their popularity really took hold during the 1990’s. Many of our parents did not have one but these days a hen gathering is on a level par with the wedding cake and dress in terms of its importance when getting married.

This isn’t any old celebration, it’s a rite of passage and a great opportunity for you to gather all of your favourite girls together in one place to celebrate your last days of single life before tying the knot and making the transition from Miss to Mrs!

Make A Weekend Of It

We all know how quickly a night out is over, so planning an extraordinary hen weekend is the ultimate way to maximise a golden opportunity to reconnect with the girls, extending the celebrations and making the most of your hen experience.

Hiring a big house as a base for your hen weekend is an unbeatable way to start planning a hen do with a difference. With your own luxurious home from home, you will enjoy plenty of privacy for your girly shenanigans as well as complete freedom to create your ideal heavenly hen weekend, by hand picking all of the ingredients and activities that best suit you and your girlfriends.

Organising & Planning

Once the bride has put together a guest list of girls for her celebration, the arduous task of planning the event traditionally falls into the lap of the maid of honour. Swotting up on the guests and getting to know a little bit about them is a useful place to start!

Arming yourself with a little info and insight about the guests from the bride to be will prove invaluable when it comes to putting the right personalities together when allocating rooms, (the right pairings will ensure that all of the hens feel comfortable and happy). A little homework will make all other aspects of your planning easier too, from the choice of activities to the catering arrangements.

Break The Ice With Some Activities

Invariably there will be girls who do not know each other within the group, so a great way to break the ice is by planning an activity to bond the group and bring everybody out of their shells early on in the celebration with a shared experience.

This could be anything from a pampering experience to a horse riding session; you may even decide to arrange something a bit more nuts for a good old giggle, like a sumo wrestling or gladiator duelling experience.

Do keep in mind that some activities may not be suitable for the entire group. If one of the girls is pregnant for example or if the bride to be has invited her great aunt Matilda to the party, you may need to adjust your plans accordingly so as not to leave anyone feeling left out of the fun.

We have an extensive list of activities to suit groups of all kinds so if you are stuck for inspiration or ideas, we are happy to help and can make arrangements on your behalf.

And once your final days of freedom are all said and once, you can look foward to getting married in one of our stunning Somerset wedding venues.

Make It A Big House Bash

Whether the fun takes shape with gallons of Prosecco and L-plates, a weekend of relaxing and pampering, action packed activities or a unique combination of all of the above, the Big House Co have all of the tools you need to create an unforgettable and luxurious bespoke package for the lucky bride to be!

A favourite day out in Somerset

Tarr Steps to Withypool along the River Barle

Combining 3 of our great interests in life – food, the countryside and walking – this is a popular day out at Big House HQ.

Tarr Steps

Although only a 45 minute drive from Wellington HQ, we like to break the journey for coffee and cake in Dulverton. You can even do the same on your return journey with evening fish and chips by the river & a pint from the pub, but we leave that to your conscience and your cardiologists’ advice!

Wonderful scenery all the way to Tarr Steps, snaking along the river, through the narrow, quaint streets of Dulverton, up onto the moor with wild ponies roaming and then dipping down again into the wooded valley.

Park either at the top in the designated car park for Tarr Steps and walk down to the river or if you’ve got 4 x 4 going down to the wide (sometimes quite deep) ford and driving through is fun; your kids/the kid in you, will love it.

The ancient stone clapper bridge known as Tarr Steps possibly dates to around 1000 BC. It’s 180 feet long with 17 spans and according to local legend, the stones were placed by the devil who still has sunbathing rights over them! In the winter of 2012 half of the bridge was washed away by the heavily swollen river. All of the pieces were found, brought back upstream and re-assembled. Good as (1000 year old) new.

After you’ve admired the bridge, walk along the marked path (car park side) signed to Withypool (GR844354), this runs mainly beside the river, so easy on the map reading skills. Such a pretty walk, along the way you’ll pass in and out of peaceful woodlands where deer roam and there’s plenty of birdlife too.

River Barle

It’s worth sitting by the river at some point and just listening to the water, watching out for fish jumping or the occasional kingfisher. Currently (summer 2015) there are poetry boxes through the woods, to encourage the laureate in you to leave a verse or two.

Once you’ve reached Withypool, a picnic lunch is great or feast at the 300 year old Royal Oak pub. Try the monkfish goujons; finer, we have not tasted! On your return journey, either retrace your steps or add in a loop that takes you along the ridge of the hill with far reaching views of Exmoor. Worth it, but a steep climb.

Back at Tarr Steps, the tea rooms by the bridge serves all manner of refreshments, cream teas and ice-creams for the weary walker in need of a recharge.

The entire walk should take you 3 hours, but we like to dilly dally and maybe you do too! Enjoy.

FYI

The Copper Kettle, Fore Street, Dulverton, 01398 323697. Great views from the tea garden, conservatory or indoor seating and ambitious size pieces of cake.

The Royal Oak, Withypool, 01643 831506. A charming old pub. Good food & beer, Sunday roast too.

A Big House Stag Weekend

Rather than heading off to Europe or Vegas for your stag weekend, why not stay in the UK and hire some fantastic group accommodation where you can bring of all of your mates together for a great weekend?

Planning a stag trip in the UK makes it much easier for everybody to participate; therefore, it will usually result in a much better turnout out of friends and family. Hiring a big house where your group will be the only guests enables you to relax in style and gives you the flexibility tocreate the exact kind of stag party that you have in mind.

Once you have your guest list sorted, select a venue that suits the size of your group and the type of activities you wish to indulge in and you are already well on your way to organising a stag do to end all stag do’s…

Organise Some Outdoor Activities

Hosting your stag weekend in the UK presents you will all kinds of possibilities for some great outdoor activities that will help to make your event unique and unforgettable. In addition to being a lot of fun, there is nothing like an outdoor activity to break the ice if there are people within the group who do not know each other.

Here are a few great suggestions for activities that we can either organise on your behalf or you could arrange independently. However, if you just fancy loafing around for the weekend and simply enjoying the space and setting to liven up your stag weekend then what better place to do it than a beautiful house and garden. Drinks on the terrace. See you there.

SHOOTING – There is nothing like a bit of shooting at a bachelor party! Clay pigeon shooting, archery, or pistol shooting are all options we can sort out for you. Fun, friendly competition and an ideal activity for groups.

GOLF – Golfers could can choose a house within striking distance of a great golf club and spend the afternoon out on the course.

SURFING – It’s not often you get the opportunity to have all of your favourite blokes in the same place at the same time. What could be more memorable than donning a wetsuit and setting out for a surf together? Magic memories.

FISHING – Depending on your location, you could opt to go fly-fishing or sea fishing together. A great choice for a lad’s day out and with a bit of luck you may have something to put on the BBQ at the end of the day.

ADRENALINE – Get the adrenaline pumping with a paint balling excursion or a quad biking experience.

You May Also Like To Organise Some Activities On Site

The great thing about having a big house and garden for your event is that many different activities can be conveniently brought to you. For example:

THEMED NIGHTS – How about booking a Casino night at your big house? Black tie and cocktails. Glamorous and fun and perfect for a casino mad stag.

RELAXATION – Boys like a bit of pampering too occasionally. Why not book yourselves a session at the spa. Not all stag weekends have to be adrenaline fuelled.

MUSIC – Arrange your own karaoke night, book some live musicians, or listen to your favourite tunes from the 80’s all night long…

A GOOD OLD FASHIONED LAUGH – You are never too old to have a right old giggle being silly with your mates. Arrange a fun activity like sumo wrestling or gladiator duelling and you will all be laughing until there are tears. Lots of them!

Catering For Your Group

When you hire a property through The Big House Co, you can opt to fend for yourselves in the kitchen or take advantage of our wonderful menus and catering options for some, or all of your meals during your stay. Options Include:

Breakfast hampers – No need to worry about getting breakfast organised, simply arrange to have a hearty hamper waiting for you when you arrive.

Picnics & BBQ’s – Take the stress out of mealtimes by ordering a group picnic for your outings or having everything you need for a delicious BBQ brought in for you.

Meal deliveries – Wonderful suppers prepared with local ingredients, delivered to the door.

Casual dining – With this option the table is laid for you, supper is served and all the washing up is taken care of. All you have to do is arrive at the table to enjoy an incredible group meal.

Thai banquet – A two course banquet prepared on site for your group by two talented Thai chefs

Dinner party – A formal three-course meal and canapés, served to your group, for a stylish and unforgettable highlight.

Leave Your Passport At Home

Who needs to travel half way across the world when there is the potential to create an unforgettable stag weekend right on your doorstep? Take one big house in your ideal setting, add your buddies and create your very own bespoke package with just the right blend of mischief, adventure and laughter.

Four Reasons Why Hiring A Big House Is Frankly Brilliant

When hiring a big house your entire stay is tailored to fit your exact requirements. Here are four examples that demonstrate how hiring one of our houses can be an unforgettable and frankly brilliant experience!

The Wedding That Everyone Remembers

Time and time again, you will hear people say that they could not believe how quickly their wedding day went by, so what better way to maximise the experience and your memories of your special day than to hire a country house for your wedding and spread the occasion out over a few days?

One of the best things about weddings is the opportunity to have all of your favourite people in the same place at the same time, an opportunity that sadly does not present itself often in life. Hiring a big house for your event allows you to spend quality time with your guests in a luxurious environment where you can reconnect, bond and enjoy each other’s company at your own pace; making your big day even more intimate, enjoyable and memorable.

Widcome Grange, near Taunton in Somerset is a popular choice for country house wedding. Situated in the heart of the Blackdown Hills, an area of outstanding natural beauty, it is easy to see what makes this large and spectacular property with its beautiful grounds and lakeside setting the perfect choice for a very special event.

Organise A Large Group Holiday

Families and friends tend to find themselves spread out across the country and abroad these days, as people move and establish new lives for themselves elsewhere due to new relationships, career opportunities or the basic desire for travel. This can make it incredibly difficult to maintain relationships because of the difficulty in getting everybody together in the same place at the same time.

Getting everybody together under the same roof for a group break, far from the stress of your usual busy schedules gives everyone plenty of time to reconnect, whilst enjoying the luxury of extended mealtimes and shared activities.

With a weekend or longer together in a large property of your choice, you have oodles of time to relax and enjoy your own space, as well as the opportunity to catch up with everyone in your group at your own pace during your stay.

Celebration Time

Have you got a milestone celebration like a birthday or anniversary on the calendar or are you simply planning to hold a large party? Either way, entertaining your guests in a large character property is a great way to create a unique event that will be remembered for years to come!

Corporate Events With A Wow Factor

Hiring a big house for your corporate events gives you absolute flexibility to plan your event, your way.

With full exclusive access to one of our properties and grounds, you have the opportunity to create unique experiences for your staff training days, meetings, teambuilding events and conferences, free from any of the typical restrictions that are associated with hiring hotels and conference centres.

So forget about hiring another identikit drab venue and go for something with some personality and originality that’ll reflect well on your company and brand. If you start with an inspiring location then you’re half way to creating a buzzing event that’ll have people lining up to attend next year.

Woolacombe Beach North Devon

Life’s a beach…

We’ve always loved Woolacombe beach North Devon. Now lo and behold it’s won the Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Award for UK beaches. But not only that, it’s been voted fourth best in Europe and thirteenth in the world. Woolacombe beach also holds the ‘England for Excellence Gold Award’ for best family resort and was voted the Best British Beach in the Mail On Sunday. Our guests staying at Berry House love it too!

3 miles of sandy beach to enjoy; sandcastle heaven! Or if you’re into water sports this beach has so much to offer – it’s been a firm favourite with locals for years and is renowned for its high water quality. When the North Atlantic waves are rolling in the surfing and body boarding are excellent and even on calmer days the kayaking and paddle boarding are really fun. The beach has life guards on duty to ensure safe family swimming usually from Easter to the end of September.

With so much space the beach is perfect for boisterous family beach games and then perhaps for something quieter we’d suggest a stroll along the dramatic coastal path and you may be lucky enough to spot the seals. All the traditional beach favourites are here too, with rock pools to explore for marine life, ice-creams to be enjoyed and deckchairs to be relaxed in.

Woolacombe beach is dog friendly too, so Fido is welcome to join the family fun.

The nearby village has a relaxed and friendly atmosphere with shops, cafes, several pubs and places to buy or hire beach kit, as well as at the beach. Turning to the more practical matters, there is a chemist, a post office and a bank with cash point.

So if you’re in North Devon, or starting to plan your summer holiday this is definitely one place to visit, we love it summer or winter.

Period Drama Inspired Holidays

Ever wondered what it would be like to be a lord or lady of the manor? Many of us love to indulge in period dramas from the ever so popular Downton Abbey to the wonderful stories of Jane Austin. We think of beautiful properties with sweeping lawns and lavish parties to entertain our friends. (more…)