Tag Archives: Oxfordshire

News

Purple patch for rock legend’s former holiday site following multi-million pound investment and redevelopment

A BOUTIQUE hotel and luxury lodge resort has enjoyed a purple patch following multi-million pound investment and redevelopment.

And the success of The Springs Resort and Golf Club in North Stoke, Wallingford, looks set to continue following its opening last year.

Formerly owned by legendary Deep Purple frontman Ian Gillan, the park – part of the Talacre-based Darwin Escapes portfolio – is one of the major employers in the region with more than 70 staff and 500 members.

Sadly, the rock star’s guitar-shaped swimming pool is no more, but manager Ben Scholes says renovations and new facilities – including the 1893 spa and Ridgeway Restaurant – have proven incredibly popular with visitors from across the UK and beyond.

Originally from Cilcain, Flintshire, Ben says the historic former 19th century manor house is one of the local area’s “hidden gems”.

“We are of course recognised for our first-class golfing facilities and are incredibly proud to have one of the best courses in the South-East, but following a period of significant investment the Springs has grown to become a high-quality holiday destination,” he said.

“Our restaurant is exceptionally busy throughout the week and the spa complex, which also features a sauna, steam room and hydrotherapy pool, has attracted many visitors to the resort.

“And with more living space now on-site – the 19 luxury self-contained Alder Lodges, in addition to bespoke rooms in our boutique hotel – we are able to accommodate more guests than ever before.”

Ben added: “This in turn has led to us creating jobs, doing more to support the local economy and provide part-time and seasonal jobs in this picturesque rural area.

“The Springs is one of Oxfordshire’s hidden gems, but our reputation is now spreading across the UK, which will have a positive knock-on effect for the region.”

With Sir Michael Caine and renowned contralto Dame Clara Butt among the other famous faces to have graced North Stoke, the village has a reputation for its stunning landscapes and serene environment.

The 140-acre Springs retreat has capitalised on those elements and become a haven of tranquility for members and guests.

“The major USP we have is this beautiful part of the world, and as a result we are now getting more bookings for weddings, corporate events and hospitality packages,” said Ben.

“Even to the locals we are considered remote, so for us to now be bringing in people from across England and other parts of the country is heartening.”

He added: “People come here to get away from it all, on the banks of the River Thames surrounded by wildlife and nature.

“We are thrilled with how things have progressed since the redevelopment and how well our new facilities and luxury offering has been received nationwide and here in the community, but we won’t rest on our laurels – this is just the beginning.”

For more information, visit The Springs Resort & Golf Club | Holidays in Oxfordshire | Darwin Escapes and follow Darwin Escapes on social media. Alternatively, call 01745 858010.

News, Property, Property Buyer News, South East England News

Homebuilder provides its top five walking locations in Abingdon for National Walking Month

For National Walking Month, Oxfordshire developer David Wilson Homes Southern is offering a list of scenic riverside walks near its Kings Gate and Abbey Fields developments in Abingdon-on-Thames.

National Walking Month – which lasts through the whole of the month of May and is run by health charity Living Streets – aims to get people out into their local area, be active and appreciate all nature has to offer while taking a scenic walk.

This year’s theme is #Try20, and Living Streets is encouraging everyone who is capable to try walking for a minimum of 20 minutes a day for the duration of the month.

David Wilson Homes’ Kings Gate and Abbey Fields developments, both approximately a 20-minute drive from Oxford, are ideally placed for both short and long walks. Whether you’re looking for a stroll along the River Thames to Oxford or a heritage walk through Abingdon itself, you’re sure to find a walk you’ll love in this picturesque area.

For those new to the area, David Wilson Homes has curated a top five list of local walks:

 

Walk along the Thames from Abingdon to Oxford

    • Taking just under four hours at a brisk pace, this walk is for those ramblers who like to make a day of their excursions. The trail starts with a walk through a small wooded area before following the River Thames to Oxford.

Abingdon Abbey Heritage Trail

    • If you’re looking to learn more about the local history, the Heritage Trail is perfect for you. The route takes you past St Nicolas Church, Roysse Court, the old site of Abingdon School, St John’s Hospital, the Abbey buildings and gardens and Barton Court ruins, with the option of walking back along the river. This walk is the perfect way to get to know your local area.

1556 Boundary Walk

    • This walk can be done on your own or as part of a walking tour. Traditionally done on New Year’s Day, this walk takes you around the boundaries as they were when the town was granted its royal charter in 1556. The whole walk will take you about two hours as you walk the three miles from the Market Place to Abingdon Lock.

Abingdon Waterways Walk

    • This eight-mile walk will usually take about four hours to complete and will take you to Culham Lock where you will be treated to the best view of Abingdon. The walk along the Thames path offers a calming waterside ramble, with pubs available along the way for refreshments.

Thrupp Lake

    • On the outskirts of Abingdon near Radley, The Earth Trust have created a walk around Thrupp Lake. The walk around the lake takes an average of 40 minutes and features a boardwalk along the water’s edge and a bird hide where you can watch the local wildlife.

A variety of one, three, and four bedroom homes are available at Kings Gate and four and five bedroom homes are available at Abbey Fields.

More information on the homes at Kings Gate and Abbey Fields can be found by visiting the David Wilson Homes website, or by calling 033 3355 8487.

News

Housebuilder helps plant thousands of trees and shrubs this year

Housing developer Mulberry Homes – which is celebrating its 10th anniversary of providing new homes developments – is working to improve biodiversity and ecology by planting trees and shrubs.

As part of the housebuilder’s The Mulberry Way initiative and commitment to the areas in which it builds, Mulberry Homes has helped to plant more than 3,650 trees and shrubs across sites in Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire, Oxfordshire and Leicestershire since April 2021.

Mulberry Homes plants an average of 12 trees and shrubs per new home delivered, as part of its pledge to create greener spaces with great living appeal for local people.

At select housing developments, Mulberry Homes is creating organic gardening clubs and is donating tools, planting spaces, a shed, water sources and decking areas to local residents.

For National Tree Planting Week – which takes place between Saturday, November 27 and Sunday, December 5 – the housebuilder is encouraging green-thumbed locals to get involved with planting at home.

Kerry Jones, Sales and Marketing Director for Mulberry Homes, said: “We are really proud of our commitment to preserving the environments surrounding our developments, and our drive towards our sustainability goals.

“At Mulberry Homes, it is one of our key ambitions to enhance ecology in any way that we can, and with thanks to our The Mulberry Way initiative, we’re delighted to be continuing our hard work to improve ecology across our sites.”

For more information on Mulberry Homes, visit https://mulberryhomes.co.uk/.

News

Get Ahead welcomes new regional director for Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire

Award-winning virtual outsourcing agency Get Ahead is delighted to welcome new regional director, Vicky McKenna, to their growing team. Vicky will be helping businesses across Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire to get ahead.

After graduating with a degree in Business Studies, Vicky went on to enjoy a successful career in commercial buying, working for many well-known brands including Dixons, GAME, Ryman and H Samuel.

Vicky said: “My dad ran a retail company and my mum had five hairdressing salons, so we always had a business family. I worked in the holidays in my dad’s business and grew up knowing that I always wanted to go into business. I really enjoyed my commercial buying career and worked on some fantastic projects for inspiring mentors like Theo Paphitis. He was great at spotting opportunities and whilst working for him I learnt a lot about consolidating businesses and bringing teams together.

I travelled the world but after 25 years I felt ready for a new challenge. I decided to attend The Flexpo business exhibition, as I was keen to find a flexible working option that would allow me to spend more time with my son. That’s where I met Rebecca Newenham, founder of Get Ahead, at Flexpo and everything started to fall into place. Thinking about my experience in retail, buying, product development, product marketing, as well as managing teams of people with different skills, joining Get Ahead as a regional director felt like the right next step. I love trying new things and am not scared to just do it. Feel the fear and do it anyway is definitely my motto.”

Over the next few months, Vicky is looking forward to meeting lots of new businesses at networking events in her local area of Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire. Vicky added, “I have always been a troubleshooter. I love to solve problems and to help. I know there are many small businesses and entrepreneurs who are brilliant at what they do but don’t have time to concentrate on running their business, manage day-to-day tasks and make time for family and friends outside of work. The Get Ahead team can help support them to achieve their goals and spend more time on what they want to do, not what they feel they have to do. I have already been impressed with the great energy the Get Ahead team has and wide range of hugely talented marketing and business support experts they have in their team.”

Rebecca Newenham added: “When I first met Vicky at Flexpo I could see that she could be a great fit for our team. We both started our careers in corporate buying in Sainsburys, and share a passion for branding and retail. We were also both inspired into a career in business after growing up with successfully self-employed mothers. I know she has the passion and drive to make Get Ahead a success in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire and I am looking forward to mentoring her over the coming months.

We have already opened up three new regions this year with York and Harrogate, Manchester and Oxford and I am excited that our first international director in Sydney, Australia will be launching soon. With our existing regional directors in Berkshire & North Hants, East Midlands, Surrey, Leeds, Suffolk & Essex, West London, and Wirral & Cheshire West, we are well equipped to provide effective outsourced services to businesses across the UK.”