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Sleeps: 10
First letting through The Travel Chapter: 2018
The Hoveton Estate has been in the Blofeld family for several generations. The decision was taken to let one of the properties in the middle of the 1,500-acre grounds as part of a business diversification strategy, and Estate Manager Stephen Watts was entrusted with turning Orchard Farmhouse into a holiday let. The property was opened for rental in June 2018.
Hoveton’s location is ideal for visitors. It is close to Wroxham, a village to the north east of Norwich, and is on the edge of one of Norfolk’s main visitor attractions, the Norfolk Broads. With more than 125 miles of navigable, lock-free waterways, the Broads is a magnet for sailors and cruisers who enjoy its rural setting and the picturesque villages and towns which surround it.
“The area around Hoveton is ‘the gateway’ to the Broads, with great access to the river and waterways through the local boat rental companies.”
For visitors who want to venture further afield, the city of Norwich, with its historic cobbled streets, city walls, and a Norman castle and cathedral, is a 30-minute drive away. An hour in the other direction takes visitors to some of Norfolk’s fine sandy beaches.
Orchard Farmhouse itself is clearly intended to impress right from the moment visitors arrive. As Stephen says, “We gave a lot of thought to how we renovated, decorated and furnished the property. We believe that the end result shows a high level of detail and care.”
Sleeping 10 people, the house is well placed to meet the increasing demand for larger group accommodation. Its spacious, well-equipped open-plan kitchen/diner can seat all guests in comfort and there are two lounges - ideal if adults and children want to do their own thing separately from time to time! Vintage furniture and quirky artwork give the property a strong feeling of individuality.
“We have tried to create a wonderful home-from-home feel, with a large dose of luxury."
Outside, the property’s large fenced garden is safe and secure, ideal for families with small children and dogs. What’s more, Orchard House does indeed have its own orchard for guests to enjoy, while a charcoal barbecue is available for al fresco dining on warm summer afternoons and evenings.
Another unique touch is the outdoor games barn. Equipped with table football and a pool table, it’s ideal for adults and children to relax in an evening or during a rainy day. There is also space for guests to store bicycles, a nice feature given that the surrounding area attracts a lot of keen cyclists.
Since Orchard House is run as a source of revenue for the Hoveton Estate, keeping occupancy high at good rates is a priority. Stephen believes that putting guest requirements first is the key to this, particularly in terms of responding to specific needs.
“We aim to be guest focused and guest led, and with that in mind, we are as flexible as we can be with each enquiry.”
Treating all visitors as individuals is at the heart of what they do: “We aim to maintain a high standard of accommodation and customer experience with each and every guest.“
As always, what are seemingly small extra touches can make all the difference. For example, many guest reviews comment on the welcome hamper that awaits all visitors. That focus on customer experience is vital for generating repeat bookings and word of mouth recommendations. With that in mind, Stephen aims to meet guests during their stay to receive direct feedback, which is “always rewarding.”
While financial returns are important, Stephen says that creating a positive holiday experience is “a pleasure and a privilege." It takes hard work to deliver a top-quality experience though, and Stephen identifies the need to maintain the highest of standards at all times with managing changeovers, cleaning and laundry being the biggest challenges.
New owners are not on their own though, and Stephen recommends talking to other holiday let owners in the area for advice.
The Hoveton Estate has been pleased with its first foray into the holiday let market and is also very happy to have decided to work with The Travel Chapter. Stephen says simply, “It has been a professional and friendly journey from day one." The estate has big ambitions, having brought three properties to the holiday market in the last 18 months, and with plans to expand the business further in the future.
“It feels like The Travel Chapter relationship will be a long-term one which is really important, especially as we aim to grow our holiday offering in the coming years.”
Overall, Stephen says that the owners of the Hoveton Estate “take delight in opening some of it up to the holiday letting market in a friendly and carefully managed way.” They have been rewarded with positive feedback, “and people leave us having enjoyed a wonderful break from their normal routines.”