Some lovely comments about Castle Kids

We were delighted when the Early Years Improvement Team – Children, Schools and Families for Cornwall Council visited Castle Kids last week to look at the quality of our provision and areas that might need additional support. Here are some of the things that they said…

“A bright, attractive, welcoming setting…”
“Confident friendly children who readily approached to talk about what they were doing and to share books…”
“Wealth of information displayed/available to parents and carers…”
“Good quality resources accessibly stored, labelled with pictures/text…”
“Displays/text which are relevant to children (e.g. the board where children’s ideas are written up daily at Circle time, expressed in children’s own words)…”
“Clearly defined areas in pre-school room (role play, creative play, mark making, book area, heuristic play,) with opportunities for learning in all areas…”
“Learning journeys with photos, observations linked to area/phase of development and possible ‘next steps’…”
“Policies reviewed and updated and system in place for ensuring parents/carers have read them; SEF in place…”
“Pro-active engagement with other professionals…”
“Enthusiastic forward-thinking manager…”

Our team works extremely hard to ensure that Castle Kids is a welcoming and educational place for our little guests and we have been rated by Ofstead as “outstanding”. You don’t have to stay at the hotel to use the facility, so do drop in and have a look around if you are looking for childcare.

A city boy's trip to St.Ives

This made us laugh - especially the cream tea bit!

http://www.londonbrother.co.uk/?tag=tregenna-castle

The Week Ahead w/c 7th November 2011

What's on
We can't quite believe where this year as gone as preparations get under way for Christmas! We still have some availability for a few dates and are organising special offers for party nights and lunches. So do contact us if you'd like to celebrate Christmas in style.

Alternatively, our Burns Night celebrations might appeal to you haggis lovers! We are having a traditional Scottish celebration and would love to see you there.

In the meantime, we are having a beautiful autumn here at Tregenna Estate with the trees turning golden and some bright crisp clear days, enabling beautiful views of the coast for miles. We are in the perfect position at Tregenna for leisurely walks into town, or to the coast path, so check out the weather below if you want to plan your outdoor activities.

This week's weather
Monday: Top temp. 13° - some cloud
Tuesday: Top temp. 13° - white cloud
Wednesday: Top temp. 14° - heavy rain showers
Thursday: Top temp. 13° - light rain
Friday: Top temp. 14° - sunny intervals

Surf report
For this week's surf report at Porthmeor - arguably our best surfing beach, check out -
http://www.a1surf.com/porthmeor-st-ives/surf-report.aspx or MagicSeaweed.com

Tregenna SAND Castle Comps for St.Ives Surf Lifesaving

Local families, groups of friends and holiday makers are invited to get busy on the beach this month by entering the Tregenna Sand Castle Competitions.

The fun takes place on Sunday 31st July on Porthminster Beach with teams to compete in the “Beat The Tide” competition, whilst there will also be a “Best Castle” competition for smaller children.

Registrations for the team event will take place from 10.30am on the beach, with the competition starting shortly after depending on high tide times. Whilst entries into “Best Castle” will have all day to make their creations, until the judging by the Mayor and Tregenna Castle at 3pm.

The family day is being organized by Tregenna Castle Hotel and St Ives Surf Lifesaving Club to raise funds for the local charity.

Sheila Barker, General Manager for Tregenna Castle is excited about the event:

“We know so many local children through our ‘Castle Kids’ daycare that we thought it would be good for the event to benefit a local children’s charity. Many local families have children who enjoy St.Ives’ Surf Lifesaving Club and a day around the sea seemed a perfect fit for this charity.

“We are delighted that other businesses have been keen to support us with some brilliant prizes. As well as a Sunday Roast at Tregenna for the winning team of six, ‘I Should Coco’ have come up trumps with a fantastic trophy for the winning team in “Beat the Tide”. Fabulous Kids are donating a prize for “Best Castle”, along with three swimming vouchers for the runners up at our facilities at Tregenna Castle - so we’re all set for a fantastic day.”

David Bonar, Chair of St.Ives Surf Lifesaving Club is delighted that the club will benefit,

“What a great way to support the local community! Thanks to the money raised by local businesses such as Tregenna Castle, we can continue to offer excellent lifesaving tuition to our members.”

Teams of six are invited to build a giant sand castle to beat the tide. The last team left standing on their sand castle, untouched by the incoming tide, will be awarded a Sunday Roast for six at Tregenna Castle and the special trophy - a sand castle hand-crafted out of the finest chocolate by local artisan chocolatiers ‘I Should Coco’.

Everyone is welcome to take part in the giant sand castle race, whilst keen young builders aged under six years can enter their own competition in which they are invited to build their best sand castle for a chance of winning a special prize from Fabulous Kids, as well as three swimming vouchers at Tregenna Castle’s facilities for the runners up.

The cost to enter is £2.50 per person in either of the competitions, with six being the maximum you can have in your “Beat The Tide” team. All proceeds will go to the St.Ives Surf Lifesaving Club.

To join in the fun, please sign up at the Registration Desk on Porthminster Beach on the morning. Competitors are reminded to bring buckets and spades, although the beach takeaway also sells them.

There will be face-painting through the day with a BBQ run by Porthminster Takeaway.

Jazz Celebration for Cool Dads This Fathers' Day!

Tregenna Castle Hotel is treating fathers to lunchtime jazz during its three-course carvery lunch this Fathers’ Day. On Sunday 19th June, families can celebrate their dads by inviting them to Tregenna for lunch and enjoying some cool jazz as an accompaniment.

Father’s Day is a great reason to spend some quality family time together at Tregenna. The jazz always creates a laidback atmosphere over Sunday lunch which is great for all ages. Why not make a day of it and share a round of golf with your dad on our challenging course or have a day enjoying our pool, sauna and Jacuzzi? With views that stretch out across the St Ives Bay, our golf course is one of the most scenic in the country.

Lunch is served from 12.30 pm – 2 pm and costs £16.95 per head for adults and £7.50 for children aged 5 – 12.

Royal Cornwall Show 2011

Tregenna Castle will be at the Royal Cornwall Show this year on stand 98 in the Wedding Marquee.

Come and find out more about getting married in our fairytale castle or on our lawns with beautiful views of St.Ives bay.

Do come and say hello to Will, our wedding co-ordinator!

50% off two night break!

SPECIAL OFFER - 50% OFF TWO NIGHT BREAK

Special offer for stays until 21st July 2011 ... From £165 - 2 night break - book by 10th June.

Special rate per room for a 2 night seaside break includes 2 nights in a Castle room, Cornish breakfast each morning and FREE children's accommodation sharing parent's room.

Our tip: Upgrade to a Sea View Room for £195, or a West Wing Sea View room for £220. Why not stay for four nights and enjoy a complimentary bottle of wine, just double the two night break.

Full use of Tregenna leisure facilities ....

Telephone bookings: 01736 795 254 or email hotel@tregenna-castle.co.uk


Please Note: Children will receive free accommodation when sharing their parents' room and pay for meals only. Subject to availability and based on two sharing a Castle room. This offer is not available on the following dates 10, 11, 17, 18, 24 and 25 June, 15 and 16 July. Full payment is required on booking. Not valid for existing bookings. Tregenna Castle Hotel's full terms and conditions apply. Special offers are for new bookings only and cannot be combined with any other offer or promotion.

More lovely comments from guests!

We are very grateful for these lovely comments from guests:

"My partner and I love this hotel so much, we've stayed there six times. It's set in lovely gardens and has an Edwardian charm all to itself. The rooms are always clean. The bathrooms are big and the beds comfortable. The staff are second to none and always happy to help. There's a varied selection of accommodation, with wood cabins and cottages within the grounds. We got a bargain last time and stayed in a wonderful cabin with views over the lawns. You can eat yourself silly in the breakfast room and again, the service here is top-notch. Value-wise, it's one of the best priced places to stay."

A view like no other

"I was so excited when I opened the door, the room was absolutely massive and the view was like no other! The staff again were absolutely lovely and breakfast was very good. We will definitely be coming back, and a weekend just didn't seem long enough!"

The wow factor

"This hotel has wow factor as soon as you drive into the grounds and alight in front of the castle-like building, grounds are lovely, immaculate and views over St.Ives, difficult to beat this."

Fab

"It's a great family hotel, that is clean and friendly. We loved the beautiful grounds and the walk to the beach. Fab."

Nowhere better

"All in all we loved our trip, the weather was glorious - the beaches were just beautiful and with the sun shining we could not have picked anywhere better.Would we stay again.....most certainly!!"

Congratulations to Terri from us all!

What a lovely story here describing Terri's wedding. After all the weddings she has planned for our guests, it's great to hear she had a perfect day herself.

Read all about it here: http://tiny.cc/t09fa

Honeymoon coverage in Pure Weddings magazine

A lovely feature in this month's Pure Weddings on why Tregenna Castle is so good for honeymooners.

As featured in Wed Magazine

Many congratulations to Clare and Dave who were were married at Tregenna - and what beautiful photographs!

http://www.wedmagazine.co.uk/wedding-tregenna-castle-cornwall-clare-dave.html

The heat is on!

So, where best to enjoy the predicted heatwave? Our spa, woodlands, golf course...

I think the outside pool is going to be the favourite!http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1387492/UK-weather-2-week-heatwave-forecasters-predict-hottest-May-350-years.html

Top 10 Tregenna is ‘Your Own Private Kingdom’ says Enjoy England

Tregenna Castle Hotel has been selected as a Top 10 Castle by Enjoy England in its latest Where to Stay Guide. The ivy clad hotel in St Ives finds itself in an enviable position alongside historical mansions such as Bovey Castle in Devon.

Enjoy England writes, “There are times at Tregenna Castle when you will think you are in your own private kingdom.”

This feeling is evoked by exploring the magnificent 72 acre estate, its sub tropical gardens and woodland walks. Far reaching sea views over St Ives Bay and the Cornish coastline complete the sense that this is a kingdom all of its own.

To view the Top 10 of Castles please visit http://www.enjoyengland.com/Where-to-stay/Historical-places-to-stay/Castles.htm

Great Comments from Our Guests

Thank you very much to recent guests and wedding couples for these lovely comments:

“Great value, great hotel, revamped rooms, tried very hard to please all guests”
I can say that the hotel was recently revamped and the rooms had new bathroom suites and were perfect from what I could see. The food was also excellent and the buffet style of both breakfast and evening was great as you could almost eat as much or little as you liked. I would stay here again and would recommend the Golf course (par 3 course but tricky) and the views from all over the property.
April 2011

“The most perfect day!”
We have just returned home from our wedding at Tregenna and I have nothing but praise for this hotel. The whole day was beautiful! The staff were fantastic and nothing was too much trouble for our wedding planner Alex. We were married outside and had drinks and canapes on the top lawn. We chose to have a buffet as our wedding breakfast instead of the traditional sit down meal. Everyone commented on how fantastic the food was and how much there was to eat! Great choice and all home cooked. The toast master was excellent too! The whole day was perfect and we wouldn't have changed a thing! Special thanks to the lady on reception on our wedding day for helping us out with the room, flowers and everything else we asked her!We have stayed at this hotel several times over the past two years and wouldn't hesitate to stay here again!
April 2011

“A MUST”
The staff were really friendly and helpful, the setting is fantastic. The breakfast had a huge choice of food and there was no way you could not find something you liked. Would we stay here again, MOST CERTAINLY!
March 2011

“Excellent weekend break”
Stayed here with my family of six (my wife and I plus four small children under 8) and had a blast. We had a family room which was spacious and accommodated all six of us comfortably. For the price we paid (on a special deal) it gets a 5 star rating.The hotel common areas are clean and modern. I loved the high ceilings and the older furniture. Friendly service all-around (especially that the staff were welcoming of small children), the breakfast was incredible, large room, nice big towels, and the location (views over St. Ives) and grounds are gorgeous.
Definitely would come here again!
March 2011

Fun for Free at Tregenna Castle

Tregenna Castle Hotel is offering locals a mass of free fun this year, from falconry displays to woodland walks.

A series of dazzling flying displays by owls, falcons and hawks is taking place in ourbeautiful grounds and entry to all of them is free. The free flying demonstrations show a range of different birds of prey and their different flying techniques while the static display offers the opportunity to get close to the birds.

The falconry sessions begin on the 13 April and then run on 20 April, 1 June and another six days in July and August. Each begins at 6pm and finishes around 7.30pm. Julian Clement of Countryside Hawking is giving the demonstrations. He loves showing his birds of prey at Tregenna Castle: “Because Tregenna offers such a private location, we can offer the best close encounter handling sessions. Member of the audience can actually put the glove on and have the birds fly to them – you can’t get closer to a bird of prey than this!”

Set in a magnificent 72 acre estate, Tregenna is also encouraging locals to explore its fantastic woodlands. The ravine walk was recently featured on Inside Out and it has some stunning flora and fauna as well as a waterfall. General Manager Sheila Barker encourages the general public to visit the hotel: “Tregenna’s estate is quite magnificent and we are really keen for locals to enjoy it, that’s why the falconry displays and the walks are free." She continues, “The nature trail was originally created in the 1920s and has been painstakingly brought back to life by the hotel’s grounds team. In addition, we have recently been working with the RSPB and have installed over 40 bird boxes. Some of these are at eye level so that children can see the nests for themselves."

With its stunning views of St Ives and the glorious coastline of St Ives Bay, Tregenna has a multitude of spots perfect for picnics, enabling local families to enjoy a whole day out. All of the hotel’s facilities are available for non-residents as well as guests throughout the year. This includes the Brasserie where a well earned hot chocolate can replenish calories burnt off by walking in the woodland.

It will soon be even easier for local people to access Tregenna Castle with the arrival of the new shuttle bus travelling to and from the centre of St Ives twice a day.

Extra Treat for Extra Special Mum!

Tregenna Castle will be spoiling guests this Mothers’ Day, with a three-course carvery and a gift for each mum. As well as a traditional lunch time celebration on Sunday 3rd April with Jazz, the carvery will also be available in the evening, at the same price of £14.95, ensuring that mums feel special all day. But there will also be an extra treat for an extra special mum to win £100 worth of treatments at Tregenna’s spa. Sons and daughters can nominate their mums by emailing competition@tregenna-castle.co.uk to tell us why their mum is the best by 7pm on Mothers’ Day, including their contact details. One lucky winner will be chosen the following week and mum invited to spend a spa day at Tregenna. General Manager, Sheila Barker explains: “Everyone feels that their mum is special so we wanted to give them the chance to tell us why and offer one a treat this Mothers’ Day. We have a fantastic spa here at Tregenna Castle, available for locals as well as guests, with various treatments complemented by our swimming pools, Jacuzzi and steam room. So we wanted to put together a lovely treatment day worth £100 to enable an extra special thank you for an extra special mum. We look forward to reading the entries!” The winning mum should prepare to be pampered with a range of beauty and therapeutic treatments to choose from by our friendly and professional therapists. From body treatments, hot stones therapy, holistic treatments and massage through to facials, eye treatments, manicure, nail enhancements and pedicures – the winner will be pampered from head to toe! They will also be able to use the indoor and out door pool as well as the Jacuzzi and steam room. With food and drinks available throughout the day at the brasserie, the lucky mum will be able to spend the day at the castle, being treated like a princess. Mothers’ Day lunch starts at 12.30pm and finishes at 2pm whilst the evening carvery starts at 5pm and finishes at 8pm. Adults cost £14.95 whilst children between 5-12 years old can eat for £7.50. This price includes a gift for every mum throughout the day, as well as Jazz at lunch time. To book call 01736 795254.

Bangers & Splash!

We are delighted to be hosting "Bangers & Splash" later this month. Click the link to find out how to sizzle! http://goo.gl/woLve

Tregenna featured in Hello magazine!

Did you spot us in the February edition of Hello magazine?!... page 111. To Sarah and James - the happy couple, we send you wedding congratulations from everyone at Tregenna.

Tee-Time Treat for Cornish Residents

Tregenna Castle Hotel is offering its neighbours a special tee-time treat this year!

From the start of March for the rest of 2011 the St Ives hotel is giving a special rate on its 18 hole golf course. Instead of the usual fee of £15, Cornish residents are invited to pay just £10. As an added extra, the hotel is also offering a free return visit within the three days following the initial round.

This is the latest way that Tregenna Castle is thanking its neighbours for their support in terms of staffing and custom. The hotel is proud of its location and passionate about its local community.

St Ives residents keen to tee off at this discounted rate should just turn up at Tregenna Castle Hotel.

Fal River Festival 2011

Tregenna is delighted to be a Day Sponsor of this year's Fal River Festival. We are sponsoring day 8 of this 10-day extravaganza of entertainment. Our day will see award winning Film on the Fal which gives people the unusual opportunity of seeing a film in the middle of the sea on one of the King Harry Ferries! For full info, visit www.falriverfestival.co.uk