Another Year Ends

I appreciate we are a little tardy when it comes to keeping this blog up to date, launching the cookbook blog and keeping own website up to date has meant we've forgotten to keep this one going.

Nevertheless we would like to say a big thank you to all our guests who spent time with us this year (despite the god awful weather!) and to wish everyone a wonderful Christmas and New Year.

We will try to keep this up to date in 2013, posting useful info on the area and what's happening.

best wishes

Steve & Jackie

Phew! July is over

Sorry for the delay in posts but July was extremely busy.

Despite the weather (which was typically english) our Hotel was busy. The combination of the two goodwood events meant that at least two weeks would be full - chuck in a few walking groups and the odd reunion and the month was filled.

We continue to get Germans and Dutch trying to find a room but often we cannot help.

Why don't these guys ever book ahead?

They turn up late at night, often with kids in tow, on a Saturday, and then wonder why they can't find anywhere. Perhaps we should have our web site in German.

Any way August is upon us and the pace slackens a little. Time to sort outn the garden and all those chores we been putting off.

New Web Site Launched

After nearly three years with our first web site we have launched a brand new one.

We have listened to what people wanted and which pages were the most important and the result is a superb new site that really shows what offer.

Anyway I hope you like it. Any comments of suggestions let us know.

site on usual address: www.burphamcountryhouse.com

Early summer

The weather here in Burpham has been exceptional - when its this good why go abroad.

The garden is looking fantastic and is now supplying the kitchen and restaurant.

We've been very busy and welcomed back many old faces. It's always gratifying when guests come back especially those who have seen the hotel change over the years. We recently had a group of ladies for dinner who all worked here in 1956! They spent some time looking around and telling us how rooms were laid out and where bathrooms were. No en-suite in those days.

Even better were two ladies in their 80's who came to visit and told us that they had started their first jobs here in 1940 - just about the time the RAF started to use the hotel for pilot officers. as 15 year old girls they couldn't believe their luck surrounded by good looking young men in uniform.

All these people add another piece to the jigsaw that defines the Hotel, so if you have any memories drop us a line

Local produce alert

Good news for foodies.

Sawdays have added us to their Slow Food restaurant list (just 50 in the country)

For your culinary delight we have fresh Asparagus, new season Cherries, Fresh samphire, lovely broad beans and peas and the first local strawberries.

Our kitchen garden is already producing lots of fresh herbs, spinach and micro salad and the bigger crops are nearly there. Soon we'll have french beans and tomatoes.

So when you book a room make sure you book a table, if you value fresh produce cooked simply with minimal food miles then our restaurant is the place to eat.

wildlife report

The early part of June has seen many of our guests take to the downs and enjoy our local wildlife both here and at the local wetlands Trust in Arundel

Thanks to the way the Duke of Norfolk farms and maintains the land we have seen an explosion of many species of birds and butterflies that seems to be in stark contrast to many other areas.

Recently arrived are the house martins now nesting in our roof. A lovely pair of flycatchers are hoovering up the local insect population and our guest have entered into the spirit and topped up our wildlife register.

So far they have noted:

• Large numbers of hares whizzing around the downland fields.



• A couple of sightings of peregrine falcons



• A pair of Lapwings who chased off the walkers as they neared their nest plus lots of skylarks filling the air with song.

The garden here at Burpham has large numbers of finches, wrens, robins, woodpeckers, warblers and a lot of huge pigeons and collared doves.

The only wildlife we currently wish was not here is a mole who seems intent on spoiling our forthcoming Croquet Day by creating some additional hazards across the pitch!

Phew What a scorcher!

At last Global warming has some benefits.

The weather here in Sussex is quite stunning, warm sunny days
with a hint of breeze.

The garden at the hotel is looking superb and the air is
alive with birdsong.

On days like this England is truly beautiful.

After a hectic weekend , off to watch the boys play cricket
and enjoy a well earned Pint.

Painted Lady invasion

As mentioned in the news, we've been invaded by butterflies,

really pretty ones as well.

Here's a picture of one in the garden.

Also the House Martins have arrived - 10 pairs so far

and a sure sign of a great summer to come.

Fete & croquet day

The year to date

It was our local fete on Saturday - a wondeful slice of Village life that echos back to the 50's - warm beer, tombolas, throwing wellies, all quite charming.

In a way it was quite refreshing to see home made stalls doing nothing much except encouraging people to part with money for a good cause (our village hall fund ). Much fun was had by all and a couple of grand was raised for the fund. All hail to the hard workers, as distinct from the many 'directors'.

Of more importance is our forthcoming Fun Croquet day, all in aid of the local hospice. We have been advised by the Croquet Association who have been wonderful - its hardly Hurlingham but the concept is to have fun and raise much needed funds - so Sunday 12th July is the day, enter in pairs, just £10.00 for a chance to win prizes and help a good cause. Steve will be cooking up some barby grub and the Pimms will be flowing.

We'll its been some time in arriving but we have finally started on the blog to keep people in touch with life here in Burpham.

Since we started this project in 2006 - moving in three days before Christmas (not recommended) our lives have been transformed, mostly for the better.

Our friends before mostly thought we were mad, after all, who would willingly give up large salaries, big houses, corporate security etc. for a life catering to the every need of the great British public. But the reality has been pretty good, and in light of the current corporate and stock market meltdown, a pretty good call.

So in answer to all those fellow guests of a certain age who dream of living in an idyllic village, in a wonderful old building and waking up to birdsong and then cooking a large full English for guests of all shapes, colours, etc. Here is our blog. enjoy or comment.

Steve & Jackie

A lovely detached house by the river.

Deep summer at Arundel, a sleepy little village with a great castle and cathedral