Information

All accommodation at Belle Grove has been awarded FIVE STARS by Quality in Tourism on behalf of Visit Britain and also a GOLD AWARD

Belle Grove is a proud member of Premier Cottages, the outstanding collection of independent and award winning 4 & 5 star holiday cottages in Great Britain and Ireland.

 

Beach Hut at Southwold

Subject to general demand, the beach hut at Southwold can  be reserved for the full week at a fee of £150 . However many people prefer to take it on a daily basis at £30 per day. 

If preferred, arrangements can be made on arrival rather than in advance.

The hut is located on the North Beach promenade. That is, on the north side of the famous Southwold Pier. 

There is a public car park behind the promenade and a parking slot can usually be found immediately behind the hut. 

The hut is furnished simply with table, fold up chairs and equipped with a calor gas stove, crockery and glasses.

Public conveniences and water tap are located nearby.

 

Children

There are two deep exposed ponds at Belle Grove.

Each property has an enclosed garden * and provided that you keep the gate closed,  these are 'escape proof'. However , for their own safety, all children under 12 years must be kept under adult supervision at all times when in the grounds/outside the enclosed garden.

* The Coach House is located adjacent to the upper pond. The boundary consists of a mixture of 3' railings and 6' and 7' high brick & oak walls. Those with children should be aware that a part of the brick wall next to the pond is only 3' high.  The image in the Gallery (Coach House) may assist. However, we are happy to install a temporary railing along the top of the lower wall on request.

We can provide Travel Cots and High Chars on request. Please put on Booking Form. We do not provide stair gates though.


 

Pets

We welcome well-behaved (ie. quiet, obedient & house-trained) dogs.

There is a supplemental fee of £25 per week per animal.

However, for the benefit of future guests, some of whom may be sensitive to dog hairs etc., as well as minimising wear & tear, we have to ask that your dog is kept to living areas only and not allowed onto the furniture or beds.  May we suggest you bring a Dog Basket and/or blanket.

When outside the individual gardens, we must ask that all dogs are kept on leashes.

Please note that you are responsible for any damage caused by your pets.

There is good dog-walking in the immediate vicinity and each property contains details of dog-friendly beaches, pubs etc. Such information is also readily available on the internet. See www.waveney.gov.uk for a Dogs on Beaches advice leaflet which can be downloaded.

(Please enquire if you have other pets that you would like to bring.)

Further information is available in the properties as to local dog-walkng, dog-friendly pubs etc

 

Visitors with Special Requirements

Generally, a visitor using a walking aid should find the properties and gardens accessible particularly if assisted by an able-bodied person in order to cope with any thresholds and stairs.

The ground floor bedroom and bathroom in the Upper Barn is suitable for wheelchair access, it being all on one level (furniture can be moved to accommodate access as necessary) .  The Stable is also all on one level, although space is tight for manoeuvering wheelchairs.

See Access Statement.

 

Sustainability - Belle Grove 'Green' Policy 

•    System for harvesting rainwater for the flushing of WC’s in place but to be activated. 

•    Hot water provided by way of solar energy.

•    'Way-past-minimum' insulation keeps heating needs extremely low.

•    Electricity provided by ‘green’ energy suppliers using renewable sources.

•    Appliances are 'Grade A' efficiency.

•    90% of light bulbs are energy saving.

•    Only biodegradable, phosphate-free cleaning products are used. 

•    We plan to install organic digestors (Green Cones) which use solar heat to compost organic waste.

•    Guests are requested to co-operate in local waste recycling schemes. Fair-trade consumables are provided + 'recycled' paper toilet paper & kitchen rolls.


Sustainability at Belle Grove is under constant review, so watch this space!


 

Included in the Price

Kitchen:

•    dishwasher

•    microwave

•    fridge-freezer with chilled-water dispenser

•    electric kettle, filter coffee & espresso machines, 4-slot toaster, sandwich maker

•    juicer, electric hand whisk,  food processor, blender

•    good range of cooking utensils, knives & implements

•    generous quantity of quality crockery, cutlery & glassware (inc. champagne glasses)

•    quality saucepans, wok, casserole dish and serving dishes

•    tea towels, kitchen paper towels, aluminum foil, cling film, 'Ecover' cleaning materials & dishwasher tablets

•    vacuum cleaner, brush and broom etc


On arrival you will find the wherewithall to make yourself a cup of tea or coffee with biscuits or a slice of cake.


Staples in the cupboard include olive oil, vinegar and filled salt and pepper grinders etc. 


Super-size serving platters & cooking pots are available on request.

Beds and Baths:
•    5* quality bed linen consisting of sheets, pillows & duvets (blankets also available)
•    Hand hairdryer
•    1 x bath sheet & 1 hand towel per person (excluding for babies & toddlers unless pre-arranged)
•    Cotton ‘waffle’ bathrobes
•    'Mothercare' Travel Cot (supply your own linen) & High Chair  on request

Fuel:
•    electricity
•    calor gas (stove & barbecue)
•    logs for stove

Laundry:
•    Combined washer /dryer (outside line & pegs also available)
•    Bio washing powder & fabric conditioner
•    Iron & ironing board

Outside:
•    Gas fired barbecue
•    Chimenea

Electronics & Communications:
•    Wide-screen digital TV with integrated digital radio
•    DVD player / recorder
•    Bose CD player with ipod dock
•    Wi-fi internet


NOTE: There is no land-line telephone facility at Belle Grove. Please note that you will probably not be able to get a signal on your mobile inside the property although a signal should be available within a short walk. As there is wi fi you may wish to bring your own 'dongle' to make on line calls.

Misc:
•    Holiday reading
•    Maps, guidebooks & local journals
•    Jigsaw puzzles & board games
•    First Aid kit
•    Local Information Pack

Supplements  apply to:
•    Pets/Dogs - £25 per week per dog
•    Beach Hut at £30 a day (the hut is only available from April to October)

NOT PROVIDED:-
•    Beach Towels
•    Toilet paper, kitchen towels & renewables after initial supply

NB re Cleaning:
The properties are thoroughly cleaned between occupations but as there is sometimes rather a short gap between one occupant and another, we are always grateful when clients leave the cottage & contents in a clean and tidy condition!

House Parties 

The properties lend themselves to family get-togethers as there is room to gather for meals and jollifications: Christmas, Easter, anniversaries and other celebrations. Then guests can retire to their own ‘space’ . 

However if you are interested in this option you need to walk extremely well in advance and short break parties can only be accepted between November and March.

Please note that there is  a 5% discount if (and only) all the properties are taken - please email for a quote.

The Upper Barn:  

sleeps 6

Granary:  

sleeps 4

Coach House:  

sleeps 4

Gate House:  

sleeps 2

Stable:  

sleeps 2
Total:  

sleeps 18


Z beds for children or teenagers are available too and both the Gate House and the Stable have good sofa beds.


While the lay-out of the site is purpose-designed to minimise awareness of the presence of other guests, inter-garden doors can be left open to allow friends and family to come and go between properties easily.


We can provide additional tables, tablecloths etc to make up one super-size table. The Granary has the largest dining space and 18 have fitted round the table. We are also happy to provide extra crockery, cutlery and glasses as necessary, as well as huge platters and bowls and any extra domestic appliances that may be needed. Domestic assistance can usually be provided by prior arrangement.


Multi-bookings are only accepted after discussions with the owners who reserve the right to refuse bookings for any reason. We ask for a ‘Housekeeping’ deposit of £200 per property booked against damage.  This deposit can be paid at any time up to a week before arrival.


An inventory is provided and we also ask guests to keep track of what they may move from one property to another, as it can be a bit of a nightmare retrieving that missing cutlery and those wine glasses!

 

Christmas/New Years 

We provide natural Christmas Trees, tree decorations and fairy lights. We are happy to dress this in advance or leave it for any children in the party to deal with!


Each property is adorned with greenery from the grounds - ivy, yew and fir – as well as other decorations, so that it feels properly festive on your arrival.


We also provide mid-range Christmas crackers (unless you wish to bring your own) and fresh flowers. Large size serving platters etc are available on request as are domestic appliances such as a good quality Food Processor.


A main supermarket delivers to this address but there are wonderful independent shops in the locality which will surely be able to supply your needs so, if wished, we can advise in advance of where you can place an order for ‘the Christmas Bird’ and other meat, vegetables, deli items,  etc. etc. Likewise, we can make suggestions as to meals out.


The start date of our Christmas week (and therefore New Year) varies from year to year depending on the day of the week on which 25th December falls. This should be flagged up on the Price Table for the current year but, if unsure, please make contact. 


We are only able to accept bookings for a minimum of 6 nights for each of the Christmas and New Year periods.

 

The Great Outdoors 

Guests can enjoy eating al fresco in privacy as each property has its own old brick- and oak-walled garden, attractively planted with climbers and exotics, including jasmine, oleander, figs, vines, kiwi fruit, orange and olive trees.   

With the garden gates shut, all the gardens are suitable for children and dogs.


Outdoor tables and chairs are provided along with calor gas BBQ and a chiminea is available on request as is a modest charcoal BBQ.


In addition, both Granary and Upper Barn have south-facing ‘garden rooms’ which are lovely places to sit and enjoy the sun, whether behind glass or on the paved terrace in front.


The Upper Barn has the largest expanse of grass for playtime but all the properties have an element of grass. As may be expected, the two single-bedroom properties, the Gate House and the Stable, have the smallest gardens but what these lack in size they make up for in charm, especially now that the plants are becoming well-established and growth burgeoning.


The Coach House is walled on 3 sides; the 4th side is enclosed by railings so that the view across the pond is not impeded.


Each garden has a clothes line (and pegs) which can be pulled out from the wall when needed and then tucked away again.


Beyond the gardens, enjoy a stroll around the ponds and take a walk around the large field at the rear (very useful to nip out with the dog here) as well as the public footpaths around and about.  Each property contains maps and details.


As mentioned elsewhere, the mobile phone signal at Belle Grove is rather variable and you are unlikley to get a signal from inside your property or even the garden. However, a  signal can be obtained by standing near the ponds!

 

Smoking Policy

Please note that we now operate a no smoking policy indoors but there is no problem in smoking outside of course and the garden rooms with the Granary and Upper Barn can be used as smoking 'retiring' rooms!

(c) 2008 Belle Grove