Accommodation
Accommodation is included in the fees on the five day and two week courses (Monday to Friday).
The Orchards is a beautiful Georgian style family farm house with large gardens and students are accommodated in the Coach House and converted barns that is part of a courtyard at the back of the house.
The Orchards has been in the Bomford family for five generations and Nick and Isabel live in the main house with their children. Isabel and Lucy’s parents live in a converted barn that also shares a view of the courtyard where the cookery school is located. Up to twelve staff also live on site (depending on the time of year).
There is a licenced bar and dancefloor for students to socialise in after dinner. There are also two sitting rooms, one is in the Coach House and the other “The Swallows’ Nest” (named after some former residents!) is on the first floor of another converted barn and is huge so is ideal for movie nights. Some students bring their own films on their laptops but there is a great selection of DVD’s (there is something for everyone!) and there is also a games cupboard.
For the musicians among our students there are two upright pianos, one in the gym and one in the bar, as well as classical and folk guitars.
There is a fully equipment gym for students with commercial equipment including a treadmill, cross trainer, rower, cycle, utility bench and dumbbells.
Students are welcome to enjoy the large garden and all it has to offer. There is a grass badminton court, volleyball court, a MUGA (multi use games area) for tennis, football, basketball, netball etc. there is space for a game of rounders, a rather bumpy croquet lawn, two outdoor table tennis tables, an indoor table football and a pool table for rainy days. There are also lots of quiet spots for simply soaking up the sunshine or catching up with a good book.
Garden enthusiasts will enjoy the interesting and unusual plants and trees as the garden was professionally landscaped in the 1960’s, when there was a team of gardeners to look after the grounds! A few modifications have been made since then but the gardens are still beautiful, especially in the Spring.