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Archive for March, 2011

The best Holiday Cottages for an Easter Break…

Tuesday, March 29th, 2011

Nothing compares to a wonderful short break over Easter with family and friends in a lovely cottage in the beautiful countryside.  Here at Eventful Stays we have a number of properties perfect for this very occasion. From small thatched cottages to large unique homes and mansions, Eventful Stays are here and willing to help you find the best place to stay during the Easter break.

If you want to experience lovely long country walks, visiting places of historic interest, and lovely country pubs that serve fine ales and great ‘pub grub’ then visiting Oxfordshire and the Cotswolds could be the place the place for you.

Charming thatched cottage

Charming thatched Cotswold cottage.

Cotswold Cottage

This beautiful thatched cottage still has dates available for the Easter break and offers cosy accommodation for up to four people. Not only is this cottage the perfect place to stay for a relaxing country retreat, it is also within travelling distance for Oxford, Birmingham, Warwick and Stratford upon Avon, where you are bound to find something to do that will entertain both the children, and the big kids! This property is not far from Junction 11 of the M40, so it is easy to get to, and you will find a number of different activities and places to visit whilst staying in this beautiful village. Read the rest of this entry »

Post by Georgina Wadein Event & Holiday Locations, For Those Special Occasions..., Our Favourite Places to Stay...

Eventful Easter!

Monday, March 28th, 2011

Meandering through the rolling Cotswolds countryside to work, roadsides adorned with daffodils and the bleating of lambs in the fields creates a true reminder that spring is here. No time for marvelling the scenery inside the Eventful Stays office however, with the phones ringing off the hooks with bookings for self-catering accommodation in time for the Royal Wedding. It seems that Kate and William’s ’spring fever’ has made love blossom nationally – we have been inundated with group stay requests for guests attending Easter weddings up and down the country.

With summer around the corner the flowers are starting to bloom!

Finding that truly special accommodation for your wedding celebrations can be an enjoyable task.  The job of finding the perfect location close enough to the wedding itself, whilst finding a property with features that will make a truly memorable stay, can be very fulfilling.  Self-catering lets make such good sense when it comes to booking wedding accommodation. It is a far more personal way to enjoy the company of friends and relatives, and sharing a property makes financial sense too!

With Easter less than a month away, the Events calendar really starts hotting up!  The festival and outdoor shows season is fast approaching and we have had many requests for weekend stays around the flower shows in Cardiff and RHS shows in London and Harrogate.  In addition to this, the Ideal Homes Show is currently running and Grand Designs Live is on the horizon, both held at the Birmingham NEC. Read the rest of this entry »

Post by Joanne Thompsonin Event & Holiday Locations, For Those Special Occasions..., Our Favourite Places to Stay...

The Cheltenham Jazz Festival: less than a month away!

Monday, March 28th, 2011

The Cheltenham Jazz Festival hits Cheltenham from 27th April until 2nd May, and it promises to be a week of musical sensation – with Andreya Triana, Pharoah Sanders and Jamie Cullum headlining among many others. I have already decided that I am going to book myself some accommodation or perhaps a cosy B&B and attend the whole festival! Here at Eventful Stays we have an ever-growing catalogue of premium accommodation for the many events that Cheltenham hosts throughout the year, and the Cheltenham Jazz Festival is no exception to this.

As the festival is held outside, this enables festival goers to embrace the spring sunshine and glorious atmosphere. The sun has already come out and the with the start of British summertime, the Cheltenham Jazz festival is the ideal way to spend the day with some friends. Why stay cooped up in a hotel when there are many charming holiday cottages in the Cheltenham area that are perfect for relaxing in with private gardens and BBQ’s! Read the rest of this entry »

Post by Samuel De Thierryin Entertaining the Kids..., Musical Musings...

British Summertime Begins!

Monday, March 28th, 2011

At last, the Summer season begins!  Awaking to a touch of fog but with the expectation of sunshine was such a delight on Sunday morning.  And lo and behold, the sun started to break through about 11.00 am to herald the start of British Summertime!  Hallelujah! The Spring and Summer season at last.

So now starts the planning, where are we going this season and who shall we invite?  Shall we do the corporate entertainment bit or shall we make a short break of it? If we do, we will need to find a place to stay so we better get organised!

Wimbledon

Wimbledon is one of the Summer's best loved events.

So, here I am writing on a Sunday evening, with my Eventful Stays calendar in hand, internet access and search engines whirring away to find our favourite British Summertime events.  The problem is in deciding which events we should attend! My favourite has to be the Cartier International Polo Event at Windsor Great Park, although there again the Veuve Cliquot Polo tournament is just as entertaining.  Then there is Royal Ascot, and having bought the ultimate in hats just last year, Ladies day has to be a must.  Then again, there is always Glyndebourne, a picnic prelude, champers and more eats in the interval, and a gorgeous manor house to stay at yet again this year. It really is the ultimate Summer outing!

This year’s Oxford and Cambridge boat race re-kindled my passion for rowing, or is it rowers (!), and the exciting event saw Oxford take home the trophy to close the gap on Cambridge’s lead to 4, with the overall result standing at 76 – 80. The Henley Regatta is a personal favourite so I shall have to beg steal or borrow tickets for the enclosure.  Last year the weather was so fabulous that some of the guests were passing out in the heat – not me with the ultimate in sombreros!  Harvey Nics eat your heart out! Read the rest of this entry »

Post by Camilla Shaughnessyin Entertaining the Kids..., Events We love.., Musical Musings..., Sporting Events

Eventful Days – the Eventful Stays Newsletter. March 2011.

Monday, March 28th, 2011

The Sun has come out and accommodation is in high demand!

The sun is shining, phones are ringing and demand for weekend breaks and special events is as its highest level.  From Castles to contemporary apartments, houses to houseboats, bookings are rolling in.  So whether you have a wedding to attend or just want to escape London, find a place to stay quickly and book your accommodation now!  Spring is here at last and we have the summer to look forward to. Our new destinations pages should help you to find a place to stay easily if you are looking to book a holiday break!  If you don’t have time to browse just call us and we will do the looking for you 0845 519 1140.

Luxury Accommodation

Beachside Accommodation

Wedding Season

Wedding season has well and truly kicked off here at Eventful Stays as well – we have taken countless bookings for groups of hens looking for a ladies weekend away and also for wedding parties themselves! We’re not surprised as we do have some very special properties for larger groups, from castles to water mills! Do have a look and, if you are attending a wedding or special event this summer, remember to book your accommodation with Eventful Stays. We’ll be happy to help you find exactly what you are looking for to make your stay special.

Read the rest of this entry »

Post by Camilla Shaughnessyin Events We love.., For Those Special Occasions..., Our Favourite Places to Stay...

Eventful Stays top 5 events of the month: March.

Friday, March 25th, 2011

So here in my opinion are the top 5 events that occurred in the month of March.

  1. First off Ladies Day at Cheltenham.  I’ve already blogged about this explaining my day, but all in all a really fun day! Great opportunity to get all glammed up with your girls and have a drink and some giggles.  This event is always a highlight in the calendar because even if you don’t understand horse racing, and wouldn’t have a clue what to bet on, it’s a fun day for all.
  2. St. Patrick’s Day.  This may have something to do with the fact I have some Irish roots in there somewhere!  St. Patrick’s day provides a great opportunity to go out with your friends and drink lots of Guinness and wear your silly oversized green hats! Who could possibly ask for more?
  3. Country Living Spring Fair.  This is a great way to say goodbye to the winter months and introduce spring with open arms.  It is the perfect place to go when looking for ideas to brighten up your home, do up your garden ready for the summer months or refresh your wardrobe.  There is so much to do and see at this event, ranging from inspiring interiors and outdoor living, to a great food and wine section that is bound to tickle your taste buds. Read the rest of this entry »

Post by Alysia Kearnsin Entertaining the Kids..., Events We love.., Exhibitions and Shows..., Our Favourite Places to Stay..., Sporting Events

Olympics Tickets: A quick guide to buying your tickets for London 2012 and some frequently asked questions answered!

Tuesday, March 22nd, 2011

There are 493 days to go before the start of the Olympic Games in London…it may seem like a long time but I can assure you that speed is the name of the game when it comes to putting your name down for some tickets; you’re competing with the rest of the world after all! Tickets officially came up for grabs exactly a week ago, so if you haven’t done it already, here’s how to apply for your tickets for the London Games!

1) Be focused

Work out exactly which events you would like to see, your preferred days and also your budget. It probably won’t happen, but you might get given all the tickets you apply for! There is a re-sale scheme in operation if this happens, but you are obliged to buy the tickets you have applied for if they are offered to you. That’s why they ask for your Visa debit or credit card details! Payment will be taken from you in May or June 2010 if you are successful.

2) Where do I get my tickets from?

Tickets can be applied for at www.tickets.london2012.com. You can also do it the old fashioned way by filling in a paper form and sending it with a cheque. You can get your form from Lloyds TSB banks, the Bank of Scotland in Scotland or Libraries in Northern Ireland. If you live outside the EU, you have to obtain your tickets from the National Olympics Committee in your country. Read the rest of this entry »

Post by Fran Langdonin Events We love.., For Those Special Occasions..., Our Favourite Places to Stay..., Sporting Events

Eventful Stays’ Day Out to Ladies Day at the Cheltenham Festival

Tuesday, March 22nd, 2011

As you might have read before in one of my earlier posts on Ladies Day, I was fretting about what to wear!  However, after lots of preparation, my outfit was sourced!  I went for exactly what I said I would, dress and heels, and I have to say that my feet didn’t hurt too much by the end of the day due to the fact I chose the least ‘killer’ heels to avoid having to go home early after giving in to the pain!

The weather wasn’t as nice as I would have hoped, but the rain held off which was a plus – unfortunately it wasn’t the best setting for photos…hence why I’m not including any on here! In spite of the grey cloud, the whole place was completely buzzing with both the men and women dressed up to the nines ready to bet all their money away on the races, and of course keep the bars busy! Read the rest of this entry »

Post by Alysia Kearnsin Event & Holiday Locations, Our Favourite Places to Stay..., Sporting Events

Our Six Nations Review

Monday, March 21st, 2011

The 2011 6 Nations tournament has now come and gone, and if you are anything like myself (i.e. an England fan), then you will not have been too disappointed with the way it turned out. There was some exciting rugby and shock results, most notably the Italians beating the French by just 1 point in a hard fought battle held in Rome. Final score: 22-21. The reformed and exciting England team lead by stand in Captain Mike Tindall displayed flair and tenacity against the Welsh on the opening day of the tournament and again when a difficult win was needed against a strong France team. The Irish will feel like they earned a consolation victory against England however, beating them 24 -8 to deny England the Grand Slam title; something which has not been achieved by England since the 2003 season, in which the now Coach and Manager Martin Johnson was in fact a player. I will even go as far as to say that the appalling performance resulting in a loss against the Irish in Dublin might well be a blessing in disguise, with an obviously very talented, but very young England team perhaps earning a few much needed battle scars before the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand at the end of the year. Read the rest of this entry »

Post by Tom Kingin Events We love.., Sporting Events

Being a Spectator along the London Marathon route

Monday, March 21st, 2011

For all those training and working hard for it, this year’s Virgin London Marathon is just 26 days away! That gives you less than 4 weeks of waking up at 5 in the morning to take on a gruelling 20 mile run before heading off to work, and as you are all disciplined and entering the last stages of your intensive training programme, there is no need for me to tell you how to best prepare for the big day. If, however you are more like myself and would much rather be standing at the side and watching all the crazy people in costumes run through the streets of London, then do not go anywhere as I am about to supply you with some key information that will help make your day out in London a special one.

London Marathon Runners

London Marathon Runners

As an ex-marathon runner myself, I know the positive impact that the support and motivation the spectators provide can have. I was silly enough to register for the Bath Half Marathon in 2005 and this would have been a far greater challenge if it was not for the glorious people of Bath cheering me and my partners in agony on, as we laboriously ran through the historical streets of Bath in giant teddy bear costumes each holding a charity bucket filled with over £100 worth of change. We were also young and arrogant enough to believe that 13.1 miles was an easy task with no training, so decided to just turn up on the day and see how it went. I still today feel that my time of 1:52 is rather good considering the circumstances! What I am positive about however, is that this would not have been achievable if it was not for the hundreds and thousands of people lining the streets and cheering us on, and I will never forget the little girl who begged her mummy for a pound to give to the teddy and then gave me a hug afterwards. That definitely kept me going!

If you are intending on supporting a friend or loved one during the Virgin London Marathon, then why not turn it into a day out in London and take the opportunity to visit some of the main attractions along the way? The route for the Marathon is perfect for this as there are many sights along the course that are must see attractions. The first of these is at mile 6, where the National Maritime Museum and the famous Cutty Sark ship is found. This mile is also important as you cross the Prime Meridian Line, which separates the East and West Hemisphere, making the London Marathon the only one in the world that is run across both sides of the world. Read the rest of this entry »

Post by Tom Kingin Events We love.., Our Favourite Places to Stay..., Sporting Events

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