Party Houses

La Tuilerie de Talouan is a beautifully restored pair of historic manor houses that embody the charm of the French countryside. With a blend of rustic elegance and modern comfort, this spacious estate offers sweeping views of lush woodlands and green fields. The character of the house is evident in its stone walls and timber beams, creating a warm ambiance. The thing that marks out La Tuilerie and led us to chose it is the contemporary interior design, especially the bedrooms. This is a real contrast to many big houses in France, which are very traditional and old fashioned.

One special feature of a stay at La Tuilerie is the welcome and hands-on support from the hosts, Léo and Asel. They really made you feel at home and were there to help with any issues but also to organise activities and make the stay as enjoyable as possible.

La Tuilerie de Talouan is located near Villeneuve-sur-Yonne, a charming historic town in the Burgundy region of France. It is about a two hour drive from Paris, which is the nearest main airport.

The town itself is small and not a major attraction, but there is so much to do at La Tuilerie that this didn’t matter for us. The most striking feature of the town are the impressive medieval gates, which mark the entrance to the historic centre. The town is located on the Yonne River and we went for a leisurely riverside walk one morning, before going to get some fresh bread from Le Fournil, which we were told was the best boulangerie in the town.

We organized a memorable weekend to celebrate our joint 60th birthdays with all Anne-Marie’s family: us and our three girls, sisters, nephews a nieces. La Tuilerie comfortably accommodated all 21 of us. The house welcomed us with open arms, offering both coziness and grandeur, making it the perfect setting for our special occasion.

La Tuilerie has 11 spacious bedrooms split across the two houses. Each room can be arranged as either single or double occupancy. Including some extra sofa beds that are available, the house can take up to 27 people with shared accommodation.

The bedrooms are designed to offer 4-star comfort, with beds made up upon arrival and fresh towels provided. As mentioned earlier, the interior design is contemporary not old fashioned.

La Tuilerie de Talouan’s grounds are expansive and picturesque, featuring sprawling lawns, fields, and wooded areas that invite exploration and relaxation alike. The estate is designed to bring guests closer to nature, with areas for outdoor gatherings, a fire pit and scenic forest-edge terraces.

La Tuilerie de Talouan offers an impressive range of activities to keep everyone entertained. There are extensive grounds where we went for country walks. Asel, one our hosts at La Tuilerie, organised a yoga session for us in the separate function room in the grounds. And Léo organised a lovely tasting of local wines in the cellar of the house, accompanied by a selection of cheeses and hams.

Outside, there is also plenty to do, with a table tennis table, basketball net and badminton. We were able to make use of all these to organise a Taylor family tradition of a mini Olympic games in teams!

The house is ideal for family feasts, with a large kitchen seating up to 20 guests. In fine weather, a large terrace hosts up to 30 guests for outdoor dining. You can arrange for a chef to cook for you, which we did for our special celebration on Saturday evening. For our first night, the same chef prepared on of the most delicious beef bourguignonne we have ever tasted, for us to serve ourselves.

The large lounge in main house offers ample space for everyone to relax by the grand fireplace. There are three additional smaller lounges throughout the estate, each cozy yet elegant, perfect for intimate conversations or quiet reading time.

The average price to hire La Tuilerie de Talouan for a 3-night stay starts from approximately €5,000, providing exclusive access to the house and grounds, with options to tailor the experience to suit your group’s needs and preferences.

For those seeking a memorable family getaway, this historic estate promises an experience that blends comfort, charm and the tranquillity of the French countryside.

We have been lucky enough to stay at Stillwater twice, using it for a combination of work and pleasure. We started with using the house as an inspirational setting for a work meeting, with multiple areas to collaborate, both inside and outdoors. The house was so amazing that we stayed on after the work was done to enjoy some truly indulgent leisure time!

Stillwater is a stunning property with a true “wow” effect. It has a stunning contemporary design, both inside and out, with the feel of a house worthy of being featured on the Grand Designs TV show. It has a lovely “vibe”, blending comfort with the modern look and feel. It has a beautiful location overlooking Avington Lake, with peace and quiet that helped have one of the best sleeping experiences of any house we’ve rented!

In the heart of Hampshire, Stillwater House has breathtaking views across Avington  lake and the undulating countryside beyond. It is just outside the Avington Estate, with ancient woodlands and meandering walking trails. The house is located a 15-minute drive from the historic cathedral city of Winchester.

The house accommodates up to 14 guests, with seven double bedrooms. The bedrooms all have comfortable beds, contemporary decor and ensuite bathrooms. The two upstairs  rooms including the mega master suite have stunning sea views of the lake! All the rooms are of a decent size and the house can easily accommodate 14 adults.

The house has lots to do on site, with a heated outdoor swimming pool, wood-fired hot tub, multiple places for outdoor dining and a fire pit for evening conversations. There is also a sauna cabin we didn’t have time to try. Indoors, the well-equipped gym caters to guests seeking a workout and a cozy TV snug is the perfect settings for relaxation and entertainment.

The state-of-the-art kitchen forms comes complete with premium appliances and a Nespresso coffee machine. The expansive dining area with its magnificent views creates an unforgettable setting for gatherings that linger long into the evening. We took up the option to have a private chef come and prepare a delicious dinner for us on one of the nights. Paul from Bespoke Catering VIP created a Michelin star level dinner for us. The canapés alone were to die for!

The estate also has a lovely gastro pub, The Chestnut Horse, ideal for a lunch or dinner. It’s just a 5 minute drive from the house.

The impressive living space features floor-to-ceiling windows that flood the area with natural light and frame the spectacular views. There is plenty of space for hanging out with your gang. A lovely log fire that adds to the atmosphere.

Step onto the beautifully designed outdoor spaces where the heated pool beckons for refreshing swims, the wood-fired hot tub offers indulgent relaxation, and thoughtfully arranged seating and dining areas provide perfect settings for alfresco experiences beneath open skies.

A rockstar stay for 14 people doesn’t come cheap! The house costs c.£2,000 at the time of writing, with the price depending on the season and whether you stay midweek or at the weekend. A house for a special occasion but one that delivers a truly memorable stay.

Stillwater House seamlessly blends sophisticated luxury with the natural beauty of a lakeside setting, offering a truly indulgent and memorable stay for up to 14 guests.

For our joint 60th birthday celebration, we gathered with nine close friends at this beach house on Sussex’s quiet coast. This house offered the perfect mix of charm, comfort and breathtaking sea views, making it a memorable weekend for everyone. We stayed in November when the skies were a bit overcast, but still had a lovely time with bracing walks on the beach. It would be a truly amazing location for a stay in the summer if you were lucky enough to get a sunny weekend, not always the case in the UK!

The New England Beach House is a clapperboard beach retreat with a New England aesthetic. It has a stunning location, right on the sea, steps from the beach. It has a huge terrace and even its own private little bit of beach! We liked the laid-back coastal vibe of the house although the décor is a bit dated and has a slightly 80s feel to it! That said, this didn’t stop us having a thoroughly enjoyable stay.

Located on a little-known stretch of the Sussex coast in East Preston and a two-hour drive from London. East Preston village has a well-stocked general store, Seaview Stores. A particular highlight is the Seaview Pub, a beautifully renovated pub with a buzzy ambiance, great food and modern design that is only a five minute walk away. We had a lovely Sunday lunch there when it was packed with locals, always a good sign!

The beach house accommodates up to 12 guests, with six double bedrooms. The bedrooms had comfortable beds, coastal-inspired décor (some of it a bit 80s as mentioned earlier!) and calming tones that suit the seaside vibe. The master suite has stunning sea views and a large terrace. One thing to note is that one of the rooms is located in a little bungalow next to the main house. It is pretty but has no bathroom, which is a hassle for anyone staying in it.

This beach house is perfect for relaxing and exploring the Sussex coast. We loved walking along the beach, with a 30-minute stroll east bringing us to The Bluebird Café, where we enjoyed a seaside breakfast. For a longer walk, you can venture an hour west to the architecturally renowned East Beach Café, designed by Thomas Heatherwick. Another breakfast or brunch stop we would check out on a future trip is the West Beach Café.

In the house there is a pool table and at the back of the house is a hot tub which we did try out one night, glass of champagne in hand to toast our birthdays!

The kitchen is well equipped for large gatherings and the dining room has ample space for eleven of us to enjoy some memorable meals together. We took up the option to have a private chef come and prepare a delicious dinner for us on one of the nights.

The lounge has comfortable sofas and elegant yet casual decor. It was an ideal spot for us to relax during the day and also for pre-dinner drinks and post-dinner games.

The house has a large decked area with outdoor seating and BBQ plus its own bit of private pebbled beach. This outdoor space is perfect for relaxing, sunbathing and dining, all just a stone’s throw from the beach.

The average price for a 3-night stay at The New England Beach House is around £4,500.

A lovely seaside escape with a blend of comfort, coastal vibes and beach front location, ideal for a gathering with family or a group of friends.