Learn in Luxury at Dormy House

This month Farncombe saw the re-opening of the Dormy House Hotel, located on the top of the 400 acre estate and part of the Farncombe family of businesses. 
After a multi-million pound refurbishment of the entire hotel and the creation of a stunning new spa due to open early 2014, Dormy House remains one of the Cotswold's best loved luxury hotels. 

High above the picturesque village of broadway with a stunning rural setting on the edge of the Cotswolds Escarpment and jaw-dropping views over the Vale of Evesham to the Welsh Hills. 

Built around a 17th century farmhouse, Dormy House is the perfect rural retreat. Think intimate lounges and cosy corners where contempory design meets Farmhouse chic in the Cotswolds. 

Dormy House guests are welcome to book on a Farncombe Course – which range from painting and singing to cupcake decoration and music appreciation. 


So make your leisure course here at Farncombe just that little bit more special with a stay at the fabulous new Dormy. 

Lets Get Quilting

The Festival of Quilts 

Join Farncombe at the Festival of Quilts this week! 

One of the largest exhibitions of its kind, displaying around 1,000 competition quilts and offering the largest range of patchwork and quilting supplies, this is one festival not to be missed! 

Taking place from Thursday 8th August until Sunday 11th August at the NEC, Birmingham. 

Farncombe, located in the heart of the Cotswolds offers a wide range of fully catered, residential craft and textile weekends.

So why not bring your group for a crafty retreat? We welcome sewers, quilters, lace-makers and craft-lovers of every kind.

For more information about the courses we offer then come along and visit us at stand F40 or visit our website for a full list of courses. 

www.farncombecourses.co.uk  

Dormy House re-opens its doors tomorrow!

Dormy House Hotel near Broadway re-opens to guests tomorrow  (2 August) as the first phase of its transformation is successfully completed. The popular Cotswolds hotel will open from midday, ready for lunch.

A £10 million refurbishment programme by Cotswold architect Tony d’Alton and construction company Zenith has been underway since March. It will also see the creation of a brand new House Spa, due to open in January 2014.

In time for Friday’s re-opening, guests will be able to enjoy a new restaurant, the Garden Room, with seating for up to 70 and a new bar, The Potting Shed, which will serve traditional rustic British fare with the best of local ingredients. 

Twenty-three of 40 new bedrooms have been specially designed by key partner, the acclaimed interior designer Emily Todhunter of Todhunter Earle.

Emily has created bespoke fabric designs and one-off pieces of furniture with a hint of retro and a touch of Scandinavian chic throughout the hotel.

Her designs include three large lounges to welcome guests, The Red, The Blue and The Yellow, which feature wood burning stoves, wood panelling and antique mirrors.

The Garden Room restaurant, meanwhile, will look onto a new flower garden being created for the Dormy by the award-winning gardener and TV presenter Chris Beardshaw. The restaurant’s à la carte menu will provide a choice of starters, mains and desserts from a set price of £40, along with a `Trust Me` menu with wines to match. 

A Right Royal Knees Up!

Farncombe Courses celebrates its 10^th anniversary this September with an event fit for Kings and Queens.

The centre for leisure courses has spent a decade teaching visitors everything from bee-keeping and belly dancing to cupcake decorating and British history – all on a 400-acre estate between Cheltenham and Stratford-upon-Avon.

The celebration on September 15^th features talks from prominent royal historians as well as a selection of royal artefacts on display.

Historian and television presenter Kate Williams will lead the day with her talk ‘A Baby in the Palace: the Infancy of Princess Victoria’ focusing on the early years of Queen Victoria. Kate, a specialist in royal history, was a key commentator for both the 2011 Royal Wedding and the recent birth of Prince George Alexander Louis and works regularly on programmes with the BBC.

The afternoon will also feature a special presentation from Victoria McGuinness, historian and Projects Manager for the Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology in Oxford. The museum is soon to open a new wing in Broadway and Victoria will feature a selection of royal items from its collection.  

Says Mandy Morrison, Programme Manager at Farncombe Courses, “We’re thrilled to welcome Kate and Victoria to lead our 10^th anniversary celebrations! With the arrival of the Prince of Cambridge and 60 years since the Queen’s Coronation, 2013 is very much a celebration of the Royal Family as well as Farncombe Courses. We’re looking forward to the day itself and another 10 years dedicated to providing interesting leisure courses in the Cotswolds.”

Guests can choose from two tickets options for the day, Talk and Tea for £25 including both talks plus afternoon tea and cake from 3pm or The Full Works for £40 with the added Great British lunch from 1.30pm.

For more information or to book your place call 0333 456 8580.

It's competition time at Farncombe...

To mark the re-opening of the Dormy House Hotel, one of Cotswolds' best loved boutique hotels, we are offering a chance to win an all-inclusive stay by entering our Facebook competition. 

Dormy House Hotel is set within Farncombe Estate's 400 acres and is part of the Farncombe family of businesses. 

The Dormy House Hotel is now set to re-open on the 2nd August after a £multi-million luxury renovation. 

As we countdown the exciting new opening, we are offering one lucky person the chance to win an all-inclusive stay to sample the new Dormy delights! 

The Prize will include the following: 
-DB&B stay in one our comfy rooms with in-room complimentary champagne. 
-Three-course dinner with a bottle of house wine in The Garden Room followed by a private kitchen tour, with a chance to meet head chef Paul Napper. 
-A hearty two-course lunch in The Potting Shed, our rustic dining bar. 

All you have to do to be in with the chance to win is to enter our Facebook competition

Farncombe's 10th Anniversary

As we wait with baited breath for the arrival of the newest addition to the royals, Farncombe is getting ready to host a royal celebration to celebrate its 10^th anniversary of study breaks in the Cotswolds.

To celebrate a decade of life-time learning and new friends made at our 400 acre Cotswold Estate, Farncombe will host an afternoon of talks and teas.

Taking place on September 15^th, Farncombe will welcome royal historians as guest speakers to share their insights into the royals.

Tickets start from £25, to book your place, please call us on 0333 456 8580

Visit Farncombe at Olympia

Farncombe Courses is very excited to announce that we will be an exhibitor at this year’s 50 plus show.

Taking place on 11^th – 13^th July at London Olympia, the show is Britain's biggest show for the active over 50's. 

The 50 plus show is all about making the most out of life: Positivity, Activity and Creativity! 

Here at Farncombe we uphold these values.

Positivity: Our regulars know that we work hard to give you the warmest welcome and a memorable stay.

Activity: Our learning spaces and 89 bedrooms are brought alive by the tutors and students who visit us at weekends and on our summer schools

Creativity: Type and variety of courses on offer whether it’s getting your hips swaying to our dance classes or peaceful reflection with our painting classes, we’re certain to have a course to get your creative juices flowing!

This makes us a perfect exhibitor for the show, be sure to visit us at stand A23a and enter our competition.

Our exhibition will be offering a chance to win a weekend break for 2 people at Farncombe Estate to include a course of your choice, accommodation for 2 nights in a shared en-suite room and all meals during your stay

See you there!