Christmas 2011

Hello everybody!

So sorry it has been a while since we last posted! It has been non-stop here with Weddings, Craft fair, Wedding Fayre, Halloween and of course most recently Christmas!
We are going to be shut from Christmas Eve until the 10th of January for some very exciting refurbishments.... (watch this space!)
In the meantime have a lovely Christmas and a Happy New Year!

From Vicky, Jane, Chloe & Sophie and all the staff at Hornsbury Mill

xxx

Summer

It's summer and everyone seems to be celebrating - from golden, silver and ruby wedding anniversaries to 60th, 70th, 80th and even 90th birthday parties. It is such a pleasure to see so many people having a good time. The function menu has so many choices from a simple finger buffet to a four-course meal, all carefully prepared by Chef and his team in our own kitchen and pastry palace. We like to think of it as a palace and it's nice to have confirmation - with top marks for hygiene and cleanliness from the Environment Officer - yes, Hornsbury Mill's 'Score on the Door' is 5 - the best you can get. We are proud - but would accept nothing less - well done team.
The hotel grounds are ablaze with blooming baskets and pretty pots that get better and better as the season moves on. They really are gorgeous and a lovely backdrop when our beautiful brides walk down the red carpet. The occasion may not be as grand as the one in April, but the day is still very special. The brides may not all be called Kate, but they are equally as beautiful. Oddly, we still have a few key dates for this year - so why not phone Chloe or Sophie (01460 63317) and bag yourself a wedding day bargain.
Heading down to Devon or Cornwall and need a break? Treat yourself to a night in the Crown Wheel Suite - four-poster bed and bottle of pink fizz at the knock down price of £135 (quote the offer when booking) - includes a full English breakfast cooked to order (you don't get that in the big chains anymore!). Or chill out on our Summer Madness BOGOF deal: book two nights and get the second free if you eat in our restaurant both evenings.
Conferencing is back in the picture - an ideal venue for a business meeting. Why not start the day with a bacon butty or sausage sarny, constant flow of tea and coffee with Chef's homemade cookies, through to lunch and maybe a pre-dinner drink with our feathered friends down by the lake. Mrs Swan is still alone - and appears happy to be so. The peacocks are priceless, strutting their stuff as if they own the place (they probably do), the ducks are dotty (yes, we really do have a dotted duck) and the magical muscovies still amuse with their comical conversations.
Don't forget Christmas is around the corner - book early to get your place on the popular Murder Mystery Evenings, or phone for a bespoke company Christmas party - with our range of menus and in-house DJ, we can cater for your every need.
Also on the horizon is our annual Wedding Fayre in November and a few other exciting surprises still in the pipeline......... keep an eye on the website and be the first in the know!

Watch footage here of last weekends wedding! What beautiful weather they had! Congratulations!

Summer Murder Mystery

Muerte Espana

Summer Murder Mystery Evening
With local company Murder To Measure


The Costa Del Crime will play host to some decidedly dodgy characters with murder on their minds. Even if the Spanish hotel is not completed, you can enjoy a night's entertainment, dinner, bed and breakfast for £77pp or stay for just the 4-course meal for £37.

Enjoy a night to remember with local company Murder to Measure

Places are booking up fast and due to last years popular nights we recommend
you book early to avoid disapointment.
If you cant make this event we have a Halloween Murder Mystery coming up which
is booking up fast so dont miss out!
Watch this space for photos of the night!

Call 01460 63317 for more details

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Hornsbury Mill would like to wish Prince William & Kate Middleton all the best for the Royal wedding next Friday!

March......and beginning of April

My how time flies.......how can it be April already? But we know it is - mowing has begun! The spring flowers were a picture. The harsh winter took its toll and there were fewer daffodils than last year, but the primroses on the banks are a delight. The grass has shot up all of a sudden and the first mowing has been done. The birds are all enjoying spring madness - the ducks are pairing up and George has started his dawn chorus from the roof tops. He looks absolutely splendid as he parades around showing off his spectacular plumage. The youngster tries hard managing a strangled squawk and the raising of his adolescent tail feathers. Will we get babies this year.... watch this space.
The Open Day was a huge success - the car park was full, the suppliers busy and we were run off our feet keeping the coffee flowing, the cookies plates stocked and the visitors informed. Chef came up trumps once again with his samples of canapes and mini desserts. The waterwheel turned and the Mill was dressed in her finery with flowers and bunting all around - the warm sun shone and everyone walked around with a smile on their face.
Chloe has had on her thinking cap and has come up with some stunning offers for you to enjoy. Why not take part in our Summer Madness - pay for two nights and get the third free or join in the frivolities and celebrations of the Royal Wedding with a two night break for two people plus a bottle of fizz for only £160.
For those of you who enjoy our famous, or is it infamous, Murder Mystery evenings the first one is on the 1st July - book early to avoid disappointment - should be a cracker! Why not enjoy the fun and stay the night for only £77 per person (including breakfast) - bargainous!!!!!!
As the season gets underway we are all slipping into wedding mode, meeting with brides and grooms, welcoming family and friends and doing what we do so well - making their wedding a very, very special, romantic day for all, especially the new Mr & Mrs.
Talking of Romantic.... we are still offering a Romantic Getaway in the Crown Wheel Suite - one night and a bottle of fizz for just £115 - go on treat your better half.
We look forward to welcoming you...................

Bank Holiday weekends 2011

Easter weekend is fast approaching!

Dont forget to book your table for Easter lunch at Hornsbury Mill Chard www.hornsburymill.co.uk or even just come along and have a coffee or a glass of wine by the lake over the bank holiday weekends
Our bar is open 10-4 / 6.30-10pm Monday-Saturday.
Enjoy a pint with the peacocks or lunch by the lake........... we even have 'Royal break' over the royal wedding weekend, check out our special offers on our website or 'like us' us on facebook to be updated with regular events & special offers....

Enjoy the sunshine and see you soon!

Chloe
x

February Update

February 28th and a bright day, but with a bitterly cold wind. Our lunchtime guests are coming in huddled in their coats, then gradually thawing out as they consume Chef's homemade leek and potato soup. But Spring is around the corner. The brave little snowdrops have been a picture and the daffodils are beginning to show their yellow faces. George is in full plumage and already testing his voice ready to woo his mate. Mrs Swan is still all alone but enjoying being spoilt with first dib at the bucket of feed - if the greedy old muscavee's don't beat her to it! We all wonder what happened to Mr Swan and if he will return with his tail between his legs and beg forgiveness for his absence.
It has been a surprisingly busy month with a record number of rooms being occupied - many of our business guests return time and time again and all have a favourite room - Vicky now has a list pinned to the wall so we get it right each time.
The Salsa classes every Tuesday have been a real winner with the first course now completed. A good social occasion with work out first followed by a glass or two of red or a bottle of local Perry's cider. It has been so popoular that together with Salsa Cascara we are running it all again - so why not put on your dancing shoes and put Anton Du Beke to shame!
Then our very own Chloe and her lovely Dad both had milestone birthdays - celebrations with family, friends and work colleagues were riotous and Chard saw a few sore heads & throbbing feet the next morning.
Valentines Day is usually a winner for us and this year was no exception. Chef's menu was inspired and compliments sent to the kitchen left, right and centre. The boys worked their socks off with a flawless service.
Black tie and posh frocks were the order of the day for the Auction of Promises fund raising dinner for the local Rugby Club. Everyone looked so very distinguished and dug deep into their dinner suit trouser pockets to support this very worthy cause - heart warming to hear that the amount topped that raised last year.
Participation in the News of the World 'A room for a fiver per person per night' went down a storm. The first Sunday the phone rang itself off the hook and our allocated rooms could have been sold five times over. Guests from all over the country are coming for a taste of Somerset.
We are also working very hard on the preparations for our Open Day - don't forget the date: 26th March 2011 (11am-3pm). See the set up for a wedding, view the guest rooms, meet with suppliers, sample Chef's canapes and wonder at the working water wheel. But most of all come and meet us, the team at Hornsbury Mill - whatever your event, a wedding, brithday party or anniversary, our venue and staff will work with you to give you and yours a day to remember.
Come on Spring we are waiting for you!

Hornsbury Mill Open Day 2011

Dont forget our open day on Saturday March 26th!
You will be able to meet with us and our favourite suppliers, see the set up of a wedding, tour our hotel rooms and much more!
Its certainly worth a visit, Open 11-3

See you then hopefully!

Chloe
x

January Update

After a relaxing few days over Christmas and New Year period, we hit the ground running as we headed into 2011. Our project for refurbishment has been Eleighwater - a corner, double-aspect window room with great character and views over the beer garden to the stream. We took out the 1970's style fitted wardrobes and painted cupboards and took down the frilly floral out-dated curtains. The plasterer arrived at 9am on the dot on the 4th January and began pulling down the ceiling - we were not disappointed, behind the woodchip paper and boxing-in was a beautiful original oak beam in great condition. The old pendant light was dismantled and the electrician spent many an hour up in the attic feeding through wires and cables for the new spotlights. The mullion window has been returned to its former glory after the removal of several built-up layers of old gloss paint. The painters came in and transformed the tired walls and paintwork and we were ready to get on with putting the room back together. Rebuilding the 4-poster bed was somewhat of a challenge, and the wonderful new mahogany wardrobe needed an extra block screwed to the front legs to keep it stable. Moving the table from one side of the door to the other presented its own dilemma, solved by screwing a 2" extension block to the front leg to counteract the wave in the floor. Don't you just love the quirkiness of old buildings? The main delight has been the new drapes, lovingly sewn (mainly by hand) by our very own Auntie Curtains! Black background with huge red floral design perfectly complimenting the bed throw and cushions - a stunning, comfy room to welcome you (photo to follow).

Mummy swan and her 3 now very large babies came back for a visit and we all got excited. Being fed twice a day we hoped they would stay. The cygnets spent three days running up and down the drive rustling their wings. On Sunday morning, just like a cumbersome 747 they gained momentum, flapped their wings madly and took off over the bridge and over the fields to pastures new. Daddy swan is nowhere to be seen but the experts say he may return.

As we head into spring George, the peacock, is preparing to woo his mate. His tail feathers, which have been a bit scraggy over the winter months are now in full colour and a sight to melt the heart of any peahen. The chicks are nearly as big as Mum and one is probably a boy - he has been trying out his vocal cords, but sadly sounds as if he has a sore throat.

January is nearly over and we are getting excited about Valentines Day a couple of rooms are still available and the menu sounds scrumptious.

Plans are afoot for the Open Day on 26th March.....all details later.

Meanwhile we are ready for the first wedding of the year and wish the Bride and Groom the best of luck on this their special day - let's hope the snow stays away!

January Weddings

We are now open for the New Year! Our first wedding is a week Saturday and we are really looking forward to it, Good Luck to the Bride & Groom!
So many things to look forward to this year, starting with Valentines Day on February 14th. Chris has come up with an amazing menu for this special night, we still have some rooms available if you wanted to make it a mini break! Hopefully we will see you then, if not before!

Chloe
x

One of Chris's dishes... yum yum!

let it snow let it snow let it snow......

Loving the snow at the mill, the swans were walking on ice on Boxing Day!

Chloe
x