Tag Archives: Hiring a big house

New Years Eve – only a few party houses left!

If you’re still undecided about your plans for New Years Eve, we might suggest you think about a house party!  Chances are good that your friends haven’t made any plans either and you could all have the most marvelous break in the countryside at a large manor or country house.

One of the best things about this New Years Eve is that it’s over a weekend, so if you aren’t keen to use up your holiday allowance there is no need.  However, why not make it a really indulgent long weekend and add a couple of days – it’s a great way to recharge the batteries ready for the start of 2018 and a whole host of other celebrations and parties you’ve probably got lined up.

Berry House

On the wild and windswept North Devon coast, it’s a time of year to fully embrace the idea of walks along the coastal path, lung fulls of fresh air and the prospect of a roaring log fire on your return to the house, perhaps followed by a gorgeous dinner.  Berry House is a super party house with a games barn for indoor fun if you don’t fancy venturing out – with a pool table, table football and TV room there is plenty to amuse you and your friends.  New Year price £5245.

 

Berry House

Berry House, perfect for a New Years Eve party

Devon Farmhouse

Set in the heart of rolling countryside Devon Farmhouse will give you a great venue for a party to remember.  The stylish design will be certain to delight your group and all the bedrooms are en-suite too.  The main house sleeps 16 and if your group size grows there are separate individual barns to hire that can accommodate extra guests.  The house is located in the South Hams so you might want to explore the delightful harbour town of Dartmouth, with it’s excellent pubs and restaurants.  New Year price £4500.

Devon Farmhouse

Devon Farmhouse, sleeping 16+

Wherever you will be for New Years Eve, we hope you have a wonderful time!

 

 

 

 

Proud to be an agent

The Big House Company logo

In the gig economy there’s a growing trend for going direct – supplying products and services straight to each other – you rent my parking space from me, I rent your holiday home from you.  Not dealing  with a middle man can often feel like a great way to go.  Direct contact, maybe the price will be more competitive, or just because that’s what everyone else is doing!

We started the Big House Company with just Tone Dale House – and so, essentially, that was what we offered our guests – direct contact with us, the homeowner.

As our business expanded we felt, and we still do feel, that as a business representing other home owners we add value to the customer experience by being the middleman.  We’re proud to be an agent!

So, here’s what we think we add to the whole equation when you book a large house via us rather than going direct to the owner?

Our knowledge

Every house we’ll ever talk to you about, has been visited by at least one member of our team.  If you have specific requirements, (accessibility, bedroom layout, secure garden for Fido, location) we will be able to recommend which house is best for you.

There’s no hard sell, because we aren’t just representing one property – we can remain unbiased in our recommendations.

Our relationship with the owners

We’ve met the owner, we work with them regularly, we revisit them and that all builds into a good working relationship that benefits our guests.

Peter makes the initial visit to see a new house, speaks to the owners and then takes a decision as to whether this is a Big House that would be great for our guests.  Although that sounds simple, there’s a lot of interaction with an owner before we represent them – any changes that we would like to see have to be discussed and implemented.  Currently, we are working with an owner on a 2 year renovation project – the end result will be a splendid 10 bedroom, all en-suite property in Somerset with plenty of fun facilities.

Constantly consistent

There are certain things that we think make a “Big House” experience and we look for those features in any house that joins us.  We want you and all your guests, for example, to sit and eat comfortably around the same table, we want you to enjoy a high standard of cleaning and comfort, we think your welcome should be extremely friendly and helpful, with any problems during your stay being attended to promptly.  The list is longer, but what we’re saying is that we know our houses will deliver that experience and that although you may choose a different house each time you have a different celebration you know that those fundamentals will still be the same.

Small enough to care big time

We are a small agent and always intend to stay that way, so that we can give our guests the advice they want, because we know all our houses and owners so well.  We are passionately committed to ensuring you have a great house that suits your needs.  We believe every aspect of your stay (from your first contact with us, to your final farewell) should be an outstanding, memory exploding house party that you never forget.

Our past guests give us the thumbs up!

We’re well established and have already eaten the 20th birthday cake to prove it!  So you can be confident that hundreds of guests before you had a great experience booking through us and partying at the houses we suggest.

Our past guests really recommend us, in fact some don’t leave.  Anthony, General Manager and often the first person you speak to, celebrated his wedding here in 2014 and joined the company 18 months later.  Peter & Caroline, partners in the business, took a similar route in 2004.

We listen to you

We love to hear what you think and we act on that.  We feed back to owners, so they can constantly improve what they offer.  We always want you to have a great time celebrating your special occasions – that’s the most important thing to us.  If necessary, when a house really isn’t working for our guests, we will take the decision to part company.  We don’t believe in keeping a house on our website so that we can keep taking bookings if it isn’t right for your needs.

 

So yes, we are an agent and proud.  Part of the rental charge you pay will be a commission to us, and we think you get a lot of bang for your buck!  Price doesn’t vary whether you go direct or via us, but you will get our level of customer service, our impartiality, our expertise from the last 20 years.

 

What’s great about a weekend away?

Party at a big house with your friends

Take a relaxing short break with friends this autumn

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What’s your favourite part about getting away for the weekend?  Is it one of these? …..

 

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Have a big group weekend away

 

A big group of friends having fun together at their weekend house party at The Big House Company

Hire a big house and have a great time catching up with friends!

With so many of us living at a distance from friends and family we often don’t see as much of them as we would like.  Jobs can take us to distant parts of the world even, where we establish new connections and new lives.  It’s great keeping in touch though, via technology and seeing what our loved ones are doing.  Sometimes too, the years can fly by and your twenties have suddenly become your forties!

Make a plan

It’s all very well, just thinking about the idea of getting people together and talking about the “if onlys” but the first step really is to get a date in the diary, however far ahead.  Get your group of family or friends to commit to the idea of meeting up and put it in the diary.  Organising a big group can be very rewarding and with any luck there is probably someone amongst you who just loves that sort of thing, it’ll be worth the effort for the fun times you have.

Think about a big group holiday

Deciding what will suit your group best is really your next step.  Maybe it’s just meeting up for the evening! But often, if it’s a milestone event to celebrate a birthday, anniversary or reunion a long weekend or a week’s holiday together makes for a very memorable time away.

Planning an extended break gives you all the chance to truly unwind, have fun and spend a significant amount of time together creating wonderful memories.  There’s no rush; meals can be leisurely, activities can be relaxed and even a couple of days away from your normal routine can have a really re-charging effect.

Large group accommodation

There is a whole variety of accommodation to look at.  Hiring a big house can work really well for a big group and be quite cost effective. It also gives you the flexibility to make your own schedule and the space to make your own fun.  Some of our Big Houses have great party rooms for dancing and wonderful games rooms that can become the hub of the house for competitive after dinner challenges.  Each of our houses are unique and we can guide you to which might suit your needs best.  But one thing they all have in common is exclusive use – you will not be sharing with another group on site.

Make it a tradition

We usually find with groups that have come to stay in one of our Big Houses there is an overwhelming desire to do it all over again. They’ve had such a great time, they don’t want to leave!  So why not make it an annual tradition? It gives everyone something to look forward to and keeps relationships with family and friends strong and those good connections can pass down through the generations.  It might make sense for your group to always holiday together at the same time of year or perhaps experiment and try a different season – you might find that low season works for you, in which case accommodation will be less costly too!

At the Big House Company we helped hundreds of guests to arrange their house party events, so do get in touch if you would like to know more.

 

Stunning large party house in Norfolk joins the Big House Company

large party house in Norfolk

We’re excited to welcome Cliff Barns as a new large house at the Big House Co. The owners originally stayed in one of our own houses (Tone Dale House) and loved the concept so much they decided to do the same thing for themselves – albeit a few years later!  The idea of having a ‘weekend’ place for big groups of friends and family to stay is no longer new but being able to offer clients a variety of properties with unique features to suit the needs of their group is a big part of what we do.  The stylish approach at Cliff Barns is certainly a superb addition to our portfolio.

Nestled next to a strawberry farm in Norfolk the property forms a quadrangle around a central courtyard with all the accommodation cleverly arranged on the ground floor.  The owners are interior and set designers to the stars and have put more than the usual ‘barn conversion’ formula into Cliff Barns.  The impression you get as you enter is one of rustic hunting lodge meets boutique hotel but with an overall feeling of squishy comfort.  The living spaces are generous and open out through folding glazed doors to the central courtyard which contains more seating, alfresco dining, hot tub and games area.

The Cabana bedroom at Cliff Barns, Norfolk, to rent through the Big House Company

Sumptuous Cabana bedroom

Up to 18 people can be accommodated in eight stunning bedrooms and everyone can sit around the dining table.  There are great self-catering facilities but you can also let the local caterers take the strain instead.  It is possible to hold larger events such as weddings by arrangement and the team can look after all your needs and manage the event for you.

Make an effort to leave the property at some stage and explore the beautiful coast line with miles of sandy beaches, or enjoy some of the many local attractions and fabulous gastro eateries close by.  Ideal for families, birthday groups, hen weekends and corporate away days.

Exposed wooden beams and brickwork in the sitting and dining area at Cliff Barns in Norfolk

Stunning open plan living area, perfect for large groups.

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!

Hiring A Big House

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.