Every year, in August, we host the Big Chill festival using the deer park. Its a very popular mid sized family festival with many side shows and events. There is quite a bit to post about the festival, both past ones and the next one on August 7th, 8th and 9th 2009.

So maybe the headline facts and figures as a start?

Who plays at Big Chill?

Well, there is lots of variety. Last year, 2008, our headline artist was Leonard Cohen who provided a wonderful finale. However, there is plenty of variety and other performers included Roots Manuva and Roisin Murphy. The full list for 2008 is here.

These photographs of Leonard Cohen and Roisin Murphy are courtesy of Alan Davies and Dan Goodfellow respectively.

What else is there at the festival?

Well in 2008 we had the Art Trail, which was a mixture of storytelling, theatre and games all interwoven within the marvelous Eastnor landscape.

Then there is Body and Soul which is created within their own enchanted garden. They offer a wide range of activities from massages through pottery , laughter workshops, pilates and yoga.

There was a Victorian fair with carousel rides and plenty of helpers all dressed up in period costume.

New in 2008 were

The Big Warm.…basically bonfires and story telling around the lake

A moonlit picture house…….or outdoor cinema after dark

A comedy tent and a family playground specifically for small children.

So all in all there was plenty to see and do in 2008. There will be more postings, both about what you can see and do as well as news for 2009.

Have fun

Eastnor is very much still a family home, so our visitors come across our pets as they wander about the house and grounds.  I am fond of cats as we always had one here when I was a boy, so when Rosemary, our housekeeper, suggested it might be a good idea to get a couple of cats to patrol the cellars to keep the mice away, I readily agreed.

Here is an image of one of them, Nutkin, relaxing in the February sunshine on the bonnet of a car.  She is very much not on duty, but I assume she is building up her energy to do so later.  She is a good mouser, at least outside, and I fear the owls may be short of food as a result of her activities.  Although we clearly understand why she was recruited to the house team, she often misses the point herself, bringing mice into the house rather than driving them out!  We keep her away from the soft furnishings in the public rooms, otherwise she scratches the material as she stretches her claws, but she and her sister are very welcoming to our guests and enjoy their company.

In the winter, when the sun is not shining, which is most of the time, Nutkin likes to come into my office and sit on paper that we want to file or put her wet paw marks on letters we are about to send.  When my back is turned, she will sit on the relatively-warm keyboard of my computer (if it is on), which is not conducive to productivity and modern working methods.  Until I swapped my monitor for a flat screen, she would sit on that, her tail occasionally flashing across the screen.  So far, she has left the mouse alone.
J H-B

Eastnor Castle has been privileged to play host to many couples’ weddings over the years and is today one of the most well regarded, premier wedding venues in Britain. Located in a dramatic setting of the beautiful Malvern Hills and surrounded by its own deer park, arboretum and lake, Eastnor Castle is a truly romantic wedding venue.

It is perhaps not surprising then to learn that Valentine’s Day and the ensuing week always sees a marked increase in enquiries to the castle from couples wishing to book their wedding day here. Clear confirmation that the age old tradition of making a wedding proposal on 14 February is still very much alive and kicking - and successful!

The romance of Valentine’s Day is not just confined to new proposals of marriage however. Many couples who married years ago on 14 February (or during that week) choose to hold their wedding anniversary celebration at Eastnor Castle. Usually, a small, private affair with close friends and family, the happy couple can enjoy a truly ‘romantic’ dinner and enjoy the wonderful atmosphere that only Eastnor Castle can conjure up on such special occasions. This very weekend in fact we have such an event and our guests will be assured of the highest level of service in order that their stay with us is a truly memorable one.

So if you are planning to ‘pop the question’ this Valentine’s Day, you might be well advised to be prepared with a romantic wedding venue in mind BEFORE your partner says ‘yes’. We have already been taking calls this week from people not wanting the risk of disappointment due to non-availability, so next week may well see a rush on wedding confirmations!

Download our wedding brochure today and read some of our wedding testimonials