Wantage Manor House Conditions
Pricing
The rates we advertise are to the best of our knowledge correct at the date of publication but we reserve the right to change any rates from time to time. Prior to the booking being confirmed rates quoted are based on the rates prevailing at the time but are subject to change. Once a booking has been confirmed we will not change the rate quoted unless you amend the booking.
Cancellation Insurance
Payments made in respect of your booking are not refundable, we therefore advise taking out a cancellation policy.
Cautionary Deposit
A refundable deposit of £2,000 must be paid to Big House Experience two weeks prior to your stay. This will be refunded between 7-10 days following your stay assuming no damage is caused to the property or its contents in accordance with our Booking Terms.
Decorations
We ask guests not to decorate walls or woodwork with banners, balloons or pictures. Any marks caused by drawing pins, sellotape or blu tack or any other product such as fake tan that require retouching by re-painting or partial re-painting will be deducted from the cautionary deposit.
Stag and Hen Party Bookings
Sorry, we don’t accept bookings for stag or hen parties at this property. We politely request that this is respected.
Guest Numbers
The total number of guests at the property must not exceed the total number of people the house can sleep without prior permission from the property owner. Exceeding the maximum number of guests may invalidate the owner's property or liability insurance or violate local council rules.
Property Use
If the property is being booked for anything other than a standard residential stay you must seek prior approval before booking. A non-standard residential stay may include a party, wedding or event. Non-standard use of the property may attract additional fees.
Resident Staff
The housekeeping couple, Dragos and Lidia, live in a flat at the top of the house, which is marked as being private. If you see them working around the house during your stay, please do feel free to ask them any questions that you have. They do not work weekends so you will generally not see them around the house after 5pm on a Friday, although you may see them coming and going down the back stairs.
The estate office, in the basement of the house, is generally staffed Monday – Friday from 9am until 5pm by the events manager Charlie Cross. She is available to answer queries during office hours and to check you in at the beginning of your stay. Our garden staff Nino and Carolyn may be working in the garden during weekdays and you may also see Rose and Peter, who look after the stables.
Suppliers
No non-approved suppliers (including catering companies, activity suppliers, or any other third-party) are permitted to operate at the property without the owner's prior permission. The owner may seek to see sight of a supplier's insurance certificates before approving them - or may disapprove at their discretion.
Pets Policy
Dogs are allowed at the property, subject to a fee of £50 per dog (maximum 2 dogs). We ask that dogs are kept on a lead in the gardens due to livestock in the fields surrounding the property. No dogs are allowed in any of the bedrooms or on the soft furnishings and must sleep downstairs in a room agreed with the house owner (usually the utility room).
Arrival and Departure Times
Check-in is 4pm on the day of your arrival and check-out is 10am on the day of departure (or 4pm if checking out on a Sunday). We ask you to respect these times.
The house cleaning teams typically have a tight turnaround time and want each guest to arrive to a fully prepared house. Checking out later than agreed may prevent the cleaning teams from starting their work, and any additional costs incurred as a result may be withheld from your cautionary deposit.
Noise Policy
You can bring a small musical device (i.e. docking station) if you require use of music. Amplified musicians, large speakers and DJ style set ups are not permitted under any circumstances, acoustic musicians for dinner/ambient music may be considered but you must check with the office team first.
Please keep music low after 11:00pm and do not play loud music outside after this time. The house is not far from the village and the noise travels, so please do not play any music that can be heard beyond the garden of the house.
Fireworks
We do not allow fireworks or Chinese lanterns at any property without seeking the owner's permission prior to booking. Many properties are located in rural areas where there is livestock.
Swimming Pool
Use of the swimming pool is at your own risk. We request that:
a) children are supervised at all times by an adult when in or near the swimming pool
b) you do not use the pool between 10pm and 6am
c) no glasses are taken into the pool area