May Newsletter
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I'm writing to you in what is one of my favourite months. Everything is looking wonderfully lush and green, the garden is springing into life, the apple and cherry trees in our orchard are in full bloom and the birds are all providing us with lots of entertainment.
We had a magnificent display of blackthorn blossom this year, so I'm banking on a great sloe harvest to make lots of my hedgerow jelly. I'm just waiting for all of the hawthorn bushes to burst into bloom at the same time as the cow parsley in the hedgerows. There are lots of bluebells out in the woods as you drive to Ludlow and, I suspect, the ones on Hopton Titterhill are looking rather lovely right now.
On the bird table we've been enjoying the antics of different finches, including quite a few siskins. Apparently they overwinter in the Midlands and move to the Welsh Marches in time for the summer - just like many of our B&B guests.
We've put up a new bird box for the blue tits right outside the guest lounge window as the sparrows have taken up near permanent residence in all of the older ones. A pair of blue tits moved in very quickly. They started building their nest with dried grass, then lined it with moss and dog hair. I don't think the eggs have hatched yet but the guests and I are having great fun sitting and watching and waiting. For next year I'm planning a nest box with camera so that we can have Hopton House Birdcam on the website.
We've made quite a few changes to the B&B since the last newsletter. We've ummed and ahhed for quite a while about having separate tables in the guest dining room. Some people love to sit round a big table and chat, whilst others are here for a romantic getaway and would rather eat alone. So we have put 3 smaller oak tables into the dining room. They are actually providing quite versatile as they're close enough so you can sit and chat with other guests if you want to but also allow you some privacy if you prefer to be alone.
Apparently we're due a long hot summer so I've bought 2 new Adirondack style chairs for the deck of the Barn and also put a silent mini fridge in the Barn Room. The Barn deck is South and West Facing so you can come back after a day exploring and enjoy a glass of something cold whilst enjoying the sunset. We also have a table and chairs on the deck and, a couple of weeks ago, guests sat there and ate a picnic that they'd bought from the food centre deli near Ludlow.
Shropshire Events
Ludlow Festival
We're really pleased to see that the Ludlow Festival is going ahead for what will be its 50th year. The main Shakespeare play with be Romeo and Juliet in the castle grounds and there will be lots of other events. It runs from 20th June to 5th July. We do have some accommodation available. Click here for more information.
We're also showing off some of our local talent in a couple of events in October - always a very popular time for people to visit Shropshire.
Shropshire’s ‘Gorgeous’ Contemporary Craft Fair at Enginuity, Ironbridge, Shropshire.
The Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust and The Shropshire Guild of Contemporary Craft are, for the fifth year, bringing together some of the West Midlands finest craftsmen and women for the Guild’s prestigious annual flagship exhibition, ‘Gorgeous’, over the weekend of October 10th and 11th. The exhibition will be held at Enginuity, Coalbrookdale, Ironbridge and for the second year, the makers will be joined by many of the region’s top food and drink producers. Visitors to the ‘Gorgeous’ Contemporary Craft and Fine Food Fair will be able to view and buy original craft work of the highest quality as well as meet the designer makers.
This remarkable selling exhibition of inspirational craftwork and gourmet produce will be held in the Engine Room at Enginuity, the Ironbridge Gorge’s fascinating interactive design and technology centre. ‘Gorgeous’ will showcase a wide selection of quality, contemporary work by Guild members and guests including ceramics, furniture, glass, jewellery, textiles and much more.
Designer makers from the Shropshire Guild of Contemporary Craft
will be exhibiting their unique hand crafted wares at Ludlow College's Harley Centre in October.Guild members will be joined by designer makers from the Worcester Guild of Designer Craftsmen at this annual selling exhibition, aptly titled 'Showing Off'.
The exhibition is running on Saturday October 24th and Sunday October 25th.'Showing Off' will showcase a wide selection of quality, contemporary work by Guild members and guests. Disciplines on show include: ceramics, leatherwork, furniture, basket making, glass, jewellery, textiles and forge work.The 'Showing Off' exhibition will be open from 10am – 5pm on Saturday and then from 10am – 4pm on Sunday.
Further details of both events can be found at www.shropshireguild.co.uk
Special Offer for Hopton House Guests at Milebrook House Restaurant
Milebrook House Restaurant are offering a 10% discount
Tuesday to Saturday evening for HH guests on their 2 or 3 course table d'hote menu. You will need to book in advance on 01547 528 632 and let them know you are using the offer. Please ask us for a voucher when you check in at the B&B. Details of the restaurant and sample menus can be found here . Milebrook House Restaurant is just over 6 miles from Hopton House.
My Blog and Twitter
As usual I have far more to tell you but I need to keep this newsletter fairly brief! Please do check the blog on the website www.shropshirebreakfast.co.uk, which I update regularly with recipes, news and general chit chat. If you'd like even more up to date news and photos of what is going on here at Hopton House you can follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/hoptonhousebnb.
If you are planning to stay with us at Hopton House for a particular date then I do recommend you book soon. We've had an amazing couple of months with a near full B&B and we're getting far more advance bookings than we do usually.
Thank you for reading and we look forward to welcoming you to Hopton House soon.
Karen, Rob, Jessy & Mitsi & Murphy the Dogs
www.shropshirebreakfast.co.uk