Press Testimonials

"The perfect rural house party venue, Tone Dale is a beautiful 18th-century villa set in sprawling gardens, with its own pond and millstream.  It's elegantly furnished but not a stuffy, don't touch place.  There are twin rooms as well as doubles, so you don't all have to be couples.  We were a group of 17 on a hen weekend enjoying cocktails and croquet on the lawn followed by dinner (around £20 a head) served by caterers in the dining room."

Elle, December 2007

"Cheesy disco and ropey stripper, or a lost weekend playing ladies of the manor in an elegant 18th-century country house?  Hmm, tough one.  Tone Dale House in deepest Somerset is ideal for discerning hen weekenders.  Highlights included sunbathing in the bluebell-strewn gardens, cocktails on the croquet lawn, an excellent dinner delivered by caterers and dancing around our handbags in the drawing room.  Plus - the master stroke - a blissful outdoor hot tub to soak our hangovers away.  The house is huge (16 bedrooms), so even with 17 of us, it felt spacious.  And the remote location is perfect - it meant our 4am break-dancing competition didn't disturb the neighbours."

Elle, July 2008

"Travel company The Big House does exactly what it says on the tin, providing a country house experience for groups of 20 plus.  If you want daytime activities, they'll organise events like pigeon shooting.  Can't be bothered cooking?  Just ask and they'll have ready to heat lasagne waiting for your arrival.  Best of their properties is Tone Dale in Somerset - the bedrooms may be more boarding school than Babington, but downstairs you get to live out your Gosford Park fantasies with a grand piano, games room and family portraits everywhere.  It's a bit like having your own National Trust house for the weekend, only you get to sit in the chairs."

Grazia, October 2007

"Tone Dale House, Somerset.  A palladian villa set in four acres of landscaped gardens centred on a millstream,  Tone Dale is near Wellington, on the edge of the Blackdown Hills.  Light streams into this house through beautifully proportioned windows.  Try to bag the Old Laundry bedroom, which has four windows.  Decorated with great style, Tone Dale is an interior designer's dream.  Children can be happily dispatched to the Long Room, with innumerable games including table tennis and a pool table, while 10 extra guests could be accommodated in the five stable bedrooms."

The Sunday Times, May 2008

"The perfect rural house party venue. Its elegantly furnished but not a stuffy, don't-touch place"

Elle, Kerry Potter

"The Big House Co is exactly what it says on the tin; it is rather more exclusive than most such companies. These houses are the real thing, situated in acres of grounds with lakes, woods, orchards. The scale of the properties is a dream come true. But better still, these mini Gosford Parks have been given a five star, 21st century upgrade. Efficiency and cleanliness are the priorities here. The house was fabulously well equipped and there were even spare wellington boots. We did have one catered meal dropped off on our first night which was spectacularly good and lasted several days."

Conde Nast Traveller, Shane Watson

"It's a bit like having your own National Trust house for the weekend, only you get to sit in the chairs."

Grazia

"100 amazing things for you to do" – Hire a manor house from the Big House Co was number one!!

Sunday Times Style

Tone Dale House – one of the top 5 venues for hen weekends.

The Independent

Hip Venues article – The Big House Co No 1'

Womans Own Dream Weddings

"Guests can combine the luxury and service of a good hotel with the freedom of a cottage rental. 'The eleven bedrooms (at Tone Dale) come in three sizes big, very big and ludicrously big"
Richard Pendlebury The Daily Mail

'Upmarket weekends away are often spoilt by stuffy, over-decorated accommodation or petty rules. This old family house (Tone Dale) is full of precious things, but they're all part of it's history.

Cabinets are not locked, the gardens are for romping in - everything is there for people to use and enjoy"
Louise Chunn The London ES Magazine

"Tone Dale House - one of the very best"
The Sunday Times

The house has also featured in: Harvey Nichols Magazine, Harpers & Queen, Country Living.