Jess says yes!

Boyfriend stages fireworks and fairy lights on Farncombe Estate.  Could this be the world’s most romantic wedding proposal?

Harvey Appleton, a 20-year-old student from Long Marston, wanted to stage a wedding proposal that would sweep girlfriend Jess off her unsuspecting feet.  So he spent months planning the day, the setting, the fireworks, the subterfuge cameraman… and his parents hiding in the bushes.  It was all to take place at sunset on the 400-acre Farncombe Estate near Broadway.

 “She said yes, no hesitation!” said Harvey, a first-year Media Technology student at Oxford Brookes University.  “It’s amazing – we are so happy.

Harvey’s proposal began months before with an email to staff at the private Farncombe Estate, home to Farncombe Conference Centre and the wedding/party venue Foxhill Manor.  He sent over detailed diagrams of his imagined Proposal Platform, complete with red carpet and fairy lights, and carefully marked the spot where he planned to pop the question.  Kerry Jones, assistant estates manager, took up the top-secret project.

On Friday 9^th May, Harvey took Jess up to the beauty spot which overlooks Broadway, the Vale of Evesham and the Malvern hills beyond. 

“Jess thought we’d just come up to see the sunset,” said Harvey.  “We even ‘bumped into’ my photographer, who pretended he was working on a project about couples in love!  Jess and I had talked about getting married, but she didn’t know this was the moment until I blindfolded her and led her to the little garden on the estate.

“She just loved it.  With all the lights it was magical. We walked through the archway to the garden and I went down on one knee at the pagoda by the pond.  She said yes immediately.”

Harvey had thought of everything.  His mother Vanessa was camouflaged in bushes nearby with a flask of tea, a set of binoculars and a flashlight.  On her son’s signal, she shone her torch to John, Harvey’s dad, who was stationed higher up the Estate on firework duty.  After a couple of attempts, the fireworks were finally lit – a signal that all staff on Farncombe Estate had been waiting for with baited breath.  Jess had said yes.

Keep Calm and Eat Cupcakes

Garden Party Cupcakes at Farncombe! 

Everyone loves cupcakes and also cookies, so what better way to dress up the summer table with a collection of both – perfect for a party, afternoon tea or just any excuse to dress up some pretty cakes and biscuits.  There are many skills you will learn in this class, including how to create the perfect dome-topped cupcake using fondant and dressing the cupcakes and cookies with an embossed effect, miniature roses, mini flowers and much more.  We share recipes to create ultra light cupcakes and crisp delicate cookies that you will use over and over again.

Run by the Creative Cake Academy, Garden Party Cupcakes will be running on the 1st June and 20th July at the beautiful Farncombe Estate in the Cotswolds. 

To book your place, please call 0333 456 8580

Rewarding Groups at Farncombe

Groups just love the location of our 400 acre estate near Broadway in the Cotswolds, centrally situated between Cheltenham and Stratford –upon- Avon, there’s plenty of surrounding activities to enhance your group’s stay. We have beautiful country views, long walks and 30 great gardens within 30 miles.

Our rolling countryside and picturesque Japanese Garden provide ultimate tranquillity to relax and unwind, escaping the stresses of day-to life. And if the weather is not on your side, bring your group inside to one of our 9 flexible meeting spaces.

There are now even more reasons to bring your group to Farncombe, we are rewarding organisers who brings groups of 6 or more. 

Oganisers who book and confirm more than one event with us throughout the year will receive the following perks...

-A section on our Group Partnership page on the website to promote your event

-One complimentary B&B stay prior to your first event, for planning purposes (subject to availability) 

-A dedicated Event Manager

-Bottle of house wine in the room on arrival on the first set of dates 

Now those are what you really would call perks!

To book your next event and to find out more about our rewards scheme, please contact our dedicated special group events manager, Abbi Yates on 01386 854293 or email abbiy@farncombeestate.co.uk 

Miss England Semi-Finalists Take On Xtreme Challenge at Farncombe

Beauty got a ‘beasting’ in Worcestershire this morning, as determined Miss England 2014 contestants took part in their first military boot camp.

Evesham-based Xtreme Boot Camps put the girls through their paces in preparation for the final of the competition in June.

James Evans, co-founder of Xtreme Boot Camps, the Official Boot Camp of Miss England 2014, said: “We wanted to give the Miss England contestants the chance to show they are more than just pretty faces and test their mental determination as well as physical abilities. They made it through a full-on military level boot camp and the girls did really well to push past their limits.”

The contestants, Chelsie Griffin (Miss Nuneaton), Holly Desai (Miss Leicestershire), Selina Singleton (Miss Rugby runner-up), Holly Steele (Miss Popularity Cheltenham) and Ruby Bowater (Miss Black Country runner-up) spent one hour running through lakes and woods at the Farncombe Estate on the Cotswold escarpment as well as military circuits and army crawls on the hills.

Xtreme Boot Camps will next be seen running the Official Boot Camp for Miss England 2014 at the semi-finals on 19^th May at Kelham Hall, Nottingham, where the last girl standing will win a place in the final.

As the Official Boot Camp of Miss England 2014, Xtreme Boot Camps will help crown Miss Sportswoman 2014 at the finals on 23^rd June in Torquay.

For more information visit www.xtremebootcamps.com

Make Farncombe Your Destination This Summer

This Spring/Summer make Farncombe your destination for the perfect Cotswold break....

The Cotswolds is a beautiful place to visit during the Spring/Summer months, and where better to stay than Farncombe Estate, nestled in the heart of the Cotswolds, set in 400 acres of rolling countryside. 

Here are just some of the reasons why you should make Farncombe your destination this summer.....

• With many fantastic walks just on our doorstep, it's the perfect chance to get exploring and get those wellies muddy! We have lots of different walking routes which will take you round some of the prettiest parts of the estate with breathtaking views across the Vale of Evesham.
• Batsford, Sezincote and Mill Dene (just to name a few!) are examples of the 30 gardens we've got located with 30 miles, not forgetting our own private Japanese Garden. 
• Why not let your little ones get up close and personal with farmyard animals at Adam Henson's farm - just a short journey away. 
• With Broadway Golf club just around the corner - why not get a round in....off and on the course! Reward yourself with a well deserved drink in our relaxing bar. 
• We are surrounded by beautiful villages full of history and most importantly great for shopaholics!
• We have plenty of onsite activities from our Nature Trail and archery, to our cycle routes - so get on your bike and try one of our cycle routes. 

Finding the Perfect Partner

Love Match Weekends cordially invite YOU to Farncombe Estate

Launch Day and Evening Party

Saturday 10th May 9am – 11pm

We are delighted to invite you to our Special Launch Day and Evening Party

During the day you will learn the following in single sex groups:

How to attract the right person into your life through effective and appropriate confidence and communication skills

Dressing to impress, is your style in need of a refresh or a total revamp?

Our Expert will work with small groups to ensure you are maximising all your assets!

How do YOU come across when you first meet someone, we will give you the tips and tools you need to make sure you are “giving off” the right signals!

Our team will watch you during the day when you get the chance to meet guests from the opposite sex during events and meals, and give you helpful tips to ensure you are making the most of who you are.

Are you unsure how to promote yourself online? For those who want to join us on Sunday morning, we will give you the tools to promote yourself online, help with photos, ice breakers and getting you started.

£195 for the Day and the Gala Dinner in the Evening (80 places available)

£295 for the overnight stay and the Sunday Workshop (20 places available)

To book email us at genevieve@lovematchweekends.co.uk

www.lovematchweekends.co.uk

Easter fun at Farncombe!

Spring has sprung at Farncombe!

Spring is our favourite season at Farncombe - the daffodils are in full bloom, wildlife is roaming across the Estate and the baby lambs are just emerging!

With Easter just around the corner, it's a beautiful time to visit the Estate and take part in all the local activities on offer.

Explore our onsite Nature Trail, designed by our Estate team to guide you round some of the prettiest parts of the Estate, with views of the Brecon Beacons, the Black Mountains and the Wrekin in Shropshire.

However if you want to venture away from our picturesque surroundings, why not visit the beautiful Batsford, just on our doorstep, they're lots of Easter activities to keep the children entertained:

• The Big Batsford Chicken Hunt: You've heard of an Easter Egg hunt - now find the chickens that laid them! 

• Easter weekend, Living Garden Days: Find out everything you've ever wanted to know about attracting wildlife to your garden 

Don't miss out on our special Easter offer, throughout April we are offering Buy One Get One Free deal!
So whether you are looking to extend your stay or simply add an additional room, we are offering it free of charge!

Half Term at Farncombe

This half term we are offering fun for all the family!

Farncombe is the perfect base from which to explore the Cotswolds! Set within 400 acres, there's plenty of wildlife to discover and woods to roam! 

While you're here, why not tick off that all important list of "50 things to do before you’re 11 ¾” from climbing trees to nature walks, we have plenty of activities to release the ranger, tracker and explorer in you! 

There are plenty of activities on the estate to discover, try our Onsite Nature Trail and look out for all the friendly Farncombe wildlife that are sure to cross your path. The Farncombe Nature trails will guide you round some of the prettiest parts of the estate, where you'll experience breathtaking views of the Vale of Evesham to the Black Mountains. 

How about a little friendly family competition as you all try your hand at Archery? Find the "Archer within" - we offer bespoke lessons on the estate. 

To book your last minute cotswold break this half term please call the team on: 0845 230 8580

Love is in the air at Farncombe.......

As it's the month of love, we are celebrating all the things we love at Farncombe!

With Valentines day just around the corner, fall in love with the Cotswolds again with our very special B&B rate.

Stay at Farncombe this Valentines weekend for an unmissable price of just £79 per night for two, including a full Cotswold breakfast.

Now there's something you're sure to love!

Farncombe Estate is perfectly placed for a short relaxing stay in the north Cotswolds. Our 400-acre private country estate is surrounded by picturesque market towns and gorgeous gardens; a great romantic setting.


We heart Cupcakes!

One of our most popular and requested workshops, is back!
Love our Flower Garden Cupcakes on the 23rd February.
You will produce a glorious boxed set of cupcakes all topped with an array of pretty flowers - just perfect for Spring and Summer (yes it's not too early to get in the summery mood!)

Why Farncombe is the perfect place to stay this new year.....

Are you already feeling the January blues?

Then start your new year off with a stay at Farncombe!

Farncombe Estate is set within 400 acres of glorious countryside with some of the best panoramas in the country. Long stunning views stretching over the Vale of Evesham and the Malverns to the Black Mountains of Wales.

You are perfectly placed for exploring the best of the Cotswolds. So if our Jogging and walking routes and beautiful Japanese Garden aren't enough to keep you occupied, then explore the picture-postcard village of Broadway, just minutes away.

All our 89 en-suite bedrooms, all rated 4* by VisitBritain, are arranged in a village style across the estate, to provide peace and quite. Perfect for relaxing after the busy Christmas period!

There is even more reason to stay this year. For the first two weeks of January we are offering a 2-nights stay for the price of one! The cost is £70.00 per room for 2 nights inclusive of a delicious full English breakfast. (Offer ends 19th January)

Give your home a fresh new look.....

Get creative this New Year with our "Room Style Interior Design" Workshop on the 12th April. 

This course is run by Klara Goldy, an interior designer, author and artist who has worked in the industry for 20 years.  This is the first time Klara is downing her design tools to give away some of her top design tips and insights to help you create top notch design in your home. 

Many people are overwhelmed with choice when it comes to designing their own interiors. This course is packed full of inspiration and creativity coupled with the freshest design concepts, to make creating your dream room a piece of cake!  

This is a day course, starting at 9.30 am, to allow you to pack in all the "creative flair" into one day. 

A three-course lunch is included and afternoon tea. 

To book, please call 0333 456 8580 or visit our website: www.farncombecourses.co.uk