Category Archives: News

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…)

A ski-ing connection

It’s no co-incidence that our historic Tone Dale House has a bedroom named the Ski-ing room. So, in the interests of research, we went to Switzerland to investigate these past connections. And it was pretty cool…. (more…)

Weekend Activities to Enjoy

Activities (house based) to enjoy during your weekend.

Although a weekend away is a lot about doing nothing, we think it’s a good idea to organise at least one activity during your houseparty. (more…)

Visit the youngest castle in England

Visit the youngest castle in England (our suggestion: take a picnic lunch)

A National Trust visit with a difference at the Lutyens designed Castle Drogo in Devon. It’s undergoing major refurbishment work (cost £11m) and rather than detracting from the visit, this made it very fascinating. (more…)

Afternoon Tea with Visit Somerset

Basking in the glorious Somerset sunshine, Tonedale House was full of excitement and smiles at our Afternoon Tea Party. With the gardens in bloom and smell of freshly cut grass in the air, a full afternoon tea was the perfect activity for a late summer’s afternoon. (more…)

Why You Should Holiday in North Devon

Devon is one of the most beautiful counties in England and we are very lucky to have the stunning Berry House for you to rent in North Devon for big parties, holidays and corporate events. But why should you stay in North Devon? (more…)

5 Tips for a Stress Free House Party

A country house party is a great way to get family and friends together, enjoying each others company and having downtime. But, with a large group, the organizer can end up feeling they’ve got a lot on their shoulders. So, having organized house parties for 20 years, here’s our 5 tips for a relaxing weekend. (more…)

5 Attractions to Visit in Somerset

We are so lucky at the Big House Co that our country houses are situated in such beautiful parts of the world. Today we are going to share 5 attractions that are definitely worth a visit in beautiful county of Somerset, where we have stunning country houses to hire. (more…)

3 reasons to have a wedding weekend

Your wedding day is going to be one of the most important and memorable days of your life, with months even years spent on planning it to perfection. But isn’t it a shame that is goes quicker than a blink of the eye?

Having a wedding weekend could be the ideal solution and even though it may cost a little bit more, those extra few days will be precious for you and your loved ones. So here are 3 reasons why you should think of hiring a country house for your wedding:- (more…)

Press coverage

Well, we seem to be capturing the media attention with our big houses recently.

Tone Dale House was featured in the ITV antiques show “Secret Dealers” which was aired this week. It featured Ben Fox who is one of the partners of The Big House Co discussing his family treasures – and parting with a few! More details here http://www.itv.com/beontv/secretdealers/ (more…)