RUDGE FARM COTTAGES
GUEST INFORMATION BOOK
RUDGE FARM COTTAGES CHILCOMBE, BRIDPORT, DORSET, DT6 4NF Tel: 01308 482630 Email: [email protected] CONTENTS
1. Welcome
2. COVID-19 Precautions A. Arrival & Departure B. Your Cottage C. Use of Facilities
3. Useful Information
4. Facilities
5. Places to Eat
6. Beaches & Tourist Attractions
7. Technical Information
8. Accident & Emergency
9. Fire Safety Precautions
10. Farm Layout & Local Map
11. Local Map & Directions
12. Terms & Conditions 1. WELCOME
Mike, Chris and Vanessa Hamer welcome you to Rudge Farm and we hope you enjoy your stay. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic we have decided to remove our Guest Information and Guest Comment books from the cottages – this digital version of our Guest Information Book should provide you with all the information you need to enjoy your stay at Rudge Farm.
We have also included details about the precautions we are taking relating to COVID-19 and how this will impact your stay. Our primary concern is the safety of our guests so we ask you to follow the guidance we have set out.
If you have any questions or problems please firstly either email or ring the Main Farmhouse number (01308 482630), if there is no answer please come up to the Main Farmhouse.
We ask that you supervise young children when playing on the Pirate Ship and anywhere near the lake and make it clear to them that fences, gates and walls are not to be climbed on. Feel free to wander around the gardens, grounds and woodland walk, which starts through the field gate beyond the tennis court. Follow the yellow and red markers – the route takes around 20 minutes and a map can be found in this document.
Please take time to peruse through the information in this document which will help you to get the most of your holiday. We have temporarily removed our Guest Comments books but please feel free to make any comments on our Facebook or Tripadvisor pages.
You will find an environmentally friendly bag in your cottage for you to use for your shopping – please feel free to take it home. We have also supplied a 100ml bottle of 80% alcohol hand sanitiser for you to use and again please feel free to take this home with you.
We would be grateful if you could vacate your cottage on the day of your departure by 10.00am at the latest and ask that you leave everything in the state in which you would wish to find it.
Weather permitting when you depart at the end of your stay could you please leave the main door open and open a window in each of the rooms. It would also greatly assist us if you are able to strip all your bedding prior to your departure and leave them in the supplied laundry bags.
Guests are politely reminded that all the cottages and public areas are non-smoking. 2A. ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
If you or anyone in your party are displaying symptoms of COVID-19 please DO NOT arrive at Rudge Farm. Please contact us ASAP to discuss your booking
Due to the increased level of cleaning we are now implementing your cottage may not be quite ready by 4PM – please bear with us. As Arrival normal the keys to your cottage will be in the door so you can let yourself in. We are keeping the windows and doors open (weather permitting) to help air your cottage. When unloading please ensure social distancing with other guests.
Guest We have removed our Guest Information books from the cottages but will send you a digital version which provides you with information information which might be helpful during your stay. A copy this on our website.
If you have a problem during your stay please let us know. We can of Problems course assist with any essential maintenance required, however many during your problems such as working out the TV/satellite system can be solved by reading the information contained in the cottage / Guest Information stay book. If we are required to assist you with a problem in your cottage we will ask you to vacate the cottage whilst we carry out any work.
Again, due to the increased level of cleaning please do let us know if you plan to are leave your cottage before 10AM so that we can Departure commence cleaning. Before departing please open windows and doors (weather permitting) to help air your cottage. It would also greatly assist us if you are able to strip pillows, sheets and duvet covers prior to departure and leave them in the supplied laundry bags.
If you or anyone in your party develops symptoms of COVID-19 during your stay please let us know immediately. For the safety of all our guests we will ask you to leave Rudge Farm as soon as possible 2B. YOUR COTTAGE
We pride ourselves on the cleanliness of our cottages and have a dedicated and experienced cleaning team. However we do recognise that in the current environment we need to implement an enhanced Overview cleaning regime and have taken on board guidance from The Professional Association of Self Caterers and Visit Britain and have received the Visit Britain ‘Good to Go’ accreditation.
Cleaning We try and use bio friendly products and our multi surface sanitiser we use has been certified to BS EN 1276 . We are also using an anti-viral products we disinfectant certified to BS EN14476 which kills 99.99% of germs and use viruses on our common touch points.
A key element of our enhanced cleaning regime is the cleaning of common touch points with anti-viral disinfectant. These common touch Common points include door handles, keys, switches, lamps, microwave controls, touch points kettles, toasters, taps, flushes, kitchen and bathroom surfaces (and many more). We are putting our remote controls in plastic covers (please do not remove) which are changed after each guest.
In your cottage we have supplied you with a bio friendly multi surface sanitiser certified to BS EN 1276 to use during your stay along with brand new J-cloths which are disposed of after each stay. Each cottage will also In your have handwash in both the kitchen and bathroom. You will find an 80% cottage alcohol hand sanitiser in your cottage to use during your stay and take home with you. We have removed all our bedspreads but they are available on top of the wardrobe for use if required. If you use a bedspread please leave on the bed so that we can remove and wash. All our tea, coffee and sugar sachets are changed between guests.
All our bedding is professionally laundered and we wash all our towels Linen & and other items on a hot wash (we rotate all these items so they are not Towels used for consecutive stays). We are asking guests to strip their bedding at the end of their stay and leave in the laundry bags provided.
We are working very hard to ensure your cottage can be enjoyed as safely as possible but it is not practical for us to disinfect every single Warning item in your cottage. We have removed some items such as Guest Information books and bedspreads to reduce any unnecessary risk. You may wish to re-wash crockery, cutlery & utensils before use. 2C. USE OF COMMUNAL FACILITIES
Please wash your hands before & after the use of communal facilities and ensure children are appropriately supervised
The tennis court is open for use – rackets and balls are available in the storage box on the court however we recommend you bringing your Tennis Court own racket if possible. Within the storage box is anti-bacterial spray to clean the rackets and there is hand sanitiser dispenser by the court.
Open for use by ONE FAMILY GROUP AT A TIME – please check it is unoccupied before entering. Be considerate of other guests in particular Games Barn if other guests are waiting. There is antibacterial spray available within the barn for cleaning of equipment and hand sanitiser by the doorway.
The lake is open for fishing and boating. Life jackets are in the storage Lake & box by the landing stage along with anti bacterial spray. Oars are by Grounds landing stage and there is a hand sanitiser dispenser next to the oars holder. The woodland walk is open as normal.
The swings and Pirate Ship are open each for use by ONE FAMILY GROUP Swings & AT A TIME. Please be considerate of other guests and not use the swings Pirate Ship or Pirate Ship for too long if other guests are waiting. There is a hand sanitiser dispenser on the wall by the entrance to the Laundry Room.
The Laundry Room is open for use by ONE FAMILY GROUP AT A TIME. Laundry Please knock before entry to ensure it is unoccupied. There is Room antibacterial spray available and a hand sanitiser dispenser on the wall by the entrance.
Due to safety concerns we have temporarily CLOSED the Information Information Room. Our DVD library will be closed so please bring your own DVDs. We have moved the telephone to the passageway outside and you will Room be able to pick up WiFi from the passageway area (please ensure social distancing). There is a hand sanitiser dispenser in the passageway.
Due to their communal nature we cannot guarantee the cleanliness of these facilities and therefore you use them at your own risk. We may be required to close certain facilities from time to time 3. USEFUL INFORMATION
YOUR COTTAGE
Central Heating: Your cottage has guest-controlled central heating, powered by a propane gas boiler.
Kitchen: Your cottage has an electric cooker, microwave and fridge with a small ice box. There is a large freezer in the Information Room shared by all cottages. There are dishwashers in Orchard, Carters and Shepherds cottages only. Rinse aid and dishwasher tabs are provided. We provide washing up liquid, brush and scouring pad, tea towels, oven gloves and bin liners. We do not provide kitchen roll, cling film etc. Kitchen utensils include a cafetiere coffee maker.
Bathroom: Pigsty and Stable Cottages have a large shower cubicle; the other cottages have a bath with shower over. A baby bath is available on request. Orchard and Carters Cottages have an additional WC. We provide bath and hand towels, bathmat, toilet roll and cleaning materials.
Bedrooms: Beds are made up with duvets. Spare blankets are available. Please provide your own cot bedding if necessary and beach towels. We have a cots available on request, and also have a couple of bed guards for those toddlers adjusting to using a single bed.
Sitting Room: All cottages have a TV (Freesat) and DVD player and you will find a DVD library in the Information Room - we would kindly ask that you return any DVD’s to the library as soon as you have watched them for other guests to use. With the exception of Hayloft Cottage there is a ‘living flame’ gas or electric fire as a focal point to the room.
OTHER INFORMATION
WiFi: There is free access with a WiFi hotspot by the Information Room. We have had to temporarily close the Information Room as it was not possible to ensure social distancing but you can still access the Hotspot outside in the passageway. Due to the location of Rudge Farm our broadband speed is quite slow but enough to check emails and search on Google. Certain networks, such as 02 and Vodafone, get a 4G or 3G signal around the farm generally.
Telephone: There is a payphone in the passageway by the Information Room. The telephone number is 01308 482758. 3. USEFUL INFORMATION
Laundry Room: Beyond the Information Room is the Laundry Room with washing machines, tumble dryers and iron & ironing board. There are indoor and outdoor drying racks. Please avoid using the laundry on Monday and Friday mornings as we need them to wash towels during our changeovers. Can you please ensure that there is only one family group in the laundry at all times to ensure social distancing – we have also provided a disinfectant spray for you to wipe down the machines before and after use and hand sanitiser by the entrance.
Rubbish and recycling: A large wheelie bin is provided for general rubbish under the covered area next to the car park. There are bins for recycling newspapers, magazines, tins and glass and plastic bottles.
Barbeques: There is a Weber BBQ outside each cottage for your use but you will need to bring your own charcoal. We kindly ask guests to please clean the BBQ after use. There are metal bins for ashes under the covered areas by the bins.
Extras: There are several items available to borrow such as baby baths, non-slip bath/shower mats and high chairs, all are available in the Laundry Room.
Shopping: The Farm Shop at Modbury Farm (on the way to Burton Bradstock) stocks an increasingly large range including milk, frozen meat, ice cream, seasonal vegetables, jams, chutneys and also bread and cakes. There is a Post Office in Burton Bradstock which sells a range of essentials as well as a Texaco garage with convenience store which stays open late. Bridport has lots of independent butchers, bakers and greengrocers as well as Morrisons, Co-op and Waitrose supermarkets. A large Tesco is available in Dorchester. The following supermarkets will deliver to Rudge Farm - Tesco, Sainsbury's and Waitrose. If you put the name of your cottage in your booking, the drivers will deliver directly to you. Please can you book a delivery slot when you know you will be around to receive it.
Catering: We know that you are on holiday and whilst sometimes it’s nice to cook together, sometimes it’s even nicer if someone else does it for you. We can recommend a local catering company, Raspberry & Rhubarb who can provide a range of ‘Pop it in the Oven’ menus during your stay at Rudge Farm. If you would like further information on menus and ordering please see our website for further details or contact Hannah at [email protected]. 4. FACILITIES – BOATING LAKE
USING BOATS ON THE LAKE
CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 16 MUST BE SUPERVISED AT ALL TIMES
LIFE JACKETS ARE KEPT IN THE STORAGE BOX BY THE LANDING STAGE. CHILDREN MUST WEAR ONE AT ALL TIMES WHEN USING THE BOATS.
OARS ARE STORED BY THE LANDING STAGE
SMALLER BOAT: MAXIMUM NUMBER OF PERSONS IN BOAT - 2
LARGER BOAT: MAXIMUM NUMBER OF PERSONS IN BOAT - 3
DO NOT STAND UP IN EITHER BOAT AS THEY ARE UNSTEADY
IT IS PROHIBITED TO USE THE BOATS AFTER NIGHTFALL
PERSONS USING THE BOATS DO SO AT THEIR OWN RISK RUDGE FARM TAKES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY ACCIDENTS OR INJURIES HOWEVER CAUSED FISHING ON THE LAKE
THE LAKE IS STOCKED WITH A VARIETY OF FISH (RUDD, ROACH, TROUT & CARP). PLEASE USE BARBLESS HOOKS AND BE CONSIDERATE OF OTHER GUESTS 4. FACILITIES – WOODLAND WALK 5. PLACES TO EAT & DRINK
Please find below a list of local places to eat and drink. We are not sure how all of these establishments are trading at the moment, given COVID19 so would strongly recommend you ring ahead before visiting. It is also likely that many of these will require reservations which you may wish to make before your stay with us.
Listed in approximate distance from Rudge Farm
The Crown: Puncknowle 01308 897711. Our nearest pub. Palmers Ale. Food. Child friendly. Big garden.
The White Horse: Litton Cheney 01308 482539. Traditional village pub with small garden.
The New Inn: Shipton Gorge 01308 897302. Traditional pub run by the locals.
The Egg Cup Café: On the coast road between Swyre and Burton Bradstock 01308 897160. Breakfast and lunches with outdoor space. Views across the Bride Valley.
The Manor House: West Bexington 01308 897660. Full restaurant menu and bar menu for child friendly conservatory or cellar bar. Nice garden and patio area with views to the sea.
The Club House: West Bexington 01308 898302. Restaurant by the beach with good sized garden.
The Three Horseshoes: Burton Bradstock 01308 897259. Good selection of Palmers beer and good food.
The Anchor: Burton Bradstock 01308 897228. Good restaurant specialising in fish.
Spyway Inn: Askerswell 01308 485250. Traditional pub with good food and a large garden.
Hive Beach Café: Burton Bradstock 01308 897070. Open for breakfast, coffee and lunches. Right on the beach and very popular with excellent food. Outdoor sitting and ice cream parlour.
Seaside Boarding House: Burton Bradstock 01308 897205. On the cliff above Hive beach, access from the beach. Open to non-residents for coffee and lunch. Outdoor space.
The Crown: Uploders 01308 485356. Popular pub with good food and a nice beer garden.
Washingpool Farm: North Allington 01308 458958. Excellent farm shop with attached restaurant.
Marquis of Lorne: Nettlecombe 01308 485236. Typical Dorset country pub with garden.
Restaurants in Bridport and West Bay on next page 5. PLACES TO EAT & DRINK
BRIDPORT There are a large number of pubs, restaurants and cafes in Bridport most of which are independents
Green Yard Cafe: 01308 459466. Vegetarian Cafe.
Beach & Barnicott: 01308 807002. Pub with modern British food.
Olive Tree: 01308 422822. Popular modern European cuisine.
The Stable (Bull Hotel): 01308 459922. Pizza and cider are the specialities.
Soulshine Cafe: 01308 422821. Café with excellent coffee and organic food offerings.
Dorshi: 01308 423221. Homestyle east Asian food.
Tah Mahal: 01308 421000. Indian restaurant and takeaway
Longs Fish & Chips: 01308 423199. Best fish and chips in Bridport.
WEST BAY There are a lots of kiosks for ice cream and fish & chips as well as pubs and restaurants
West Bay Hotel: 01308 422157. Traditional pub in the harbour of West Bay.
Rise: 01308 422011. Large waterside café/restaurant with nice views towards beach.
Rachels: Kiosk on far side of harbour serving excellent seafood – one of the best.
Sladers Yard: 0308 459511. Nice café in an interesting art and furniture gallery.
Watch House Café: 01308 459330. Offering pizzas and seafood right next to the beach.
Station Kitchen: 01308 422845. Popular restaurant in an actual train carriage.
Seagulls: 01308 425099. Serving local British cuisine.
West Bay Tea Rooms: 01308 455697. Café offering wholesome meals and afternoon tea.
There also a number of fine restaurants in Beaminster, Dorchester and Lyme Regis. 6. BEACHES & TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
BEACHES
We are very fortunate that we have the world famous Chesil Beach on our doorstep. At 18 miles long Chesil Beach is probably the best beach in the country to observe social distancing and make sure you have plenty of space to enjoy yourselves. Please do not sit immediately below the cliffs – although highly unlikely they have collapsed in the past. Please be careful if swimming in the sea – currents can be quite dangerous along the beach and we would strongly recommend you swim between safety flags. Chesil beach can be accessed via various points near Rudge Farm:
• West Bexington – small car park right on the beach. The Manor Hotel is just up the hill and the Club House restaurant is right on the beach. • Cogden Beach – just along the coast road towards Burton Bradstock. Small National Trust car park. • Hive Beach – large National Trust car park with the Hive Beach Café and toilets available. Although the central part of the beach may be busy it is very easy to walk left or right to find some space. • West Bay – several car parks and lots of cafes and kiosks available. Again it is likely to be quite busy but walking left or right from main area will find you plenty of space • Abbotsbury – car park on the beach near Tropical Gardens.
We would not recommend you visit some of the more crowded beaches such as Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door which have featured prominently in the news headlines. Both Lyme Regis and Weymouth tend to be busy during the summer months so it may well be more difficult to socially distance.
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
Many of the local tourist attractions will be operating under a reduced capacity and may well have a pre booked entry basis. We would strongly recommend that if you are wishing to visit any of the local tourist attractions you should visit their website and see what the booking process is likely to be and pre book entry tickets before your stay with us in particular for the more popular attractions. 7. TECHNICAL INFORMATION
Central Heating: Heating is timed in each cottage. All radiators are fitted with thermostats. There is instructions in each cottage to control the heating to suit your needs.
Hot Water: The boiler fires up automatically to heat the water when a hot tap is turned on. It therefore takes a minute or two to come through at the right temperature. The water is factory pre-set (It is not controlled by the thermostat on the boiler).
Shower: Milkmaids, Keepers and Shepherds have electric showers. The master switch is behind you bathroom door and can remain on all the time. All the other cottages have showers heated by the gas boiler.
Living Flame Gas Fire: Keepers and Shepherds. To ignite, press in the ignition knob and turn anti-clockwise so that it clicks. You should then see a small flame. Hold the knob in for 10 seconds to ensure the gas is properly alight, then turn to the required setting. Please do not run on maximum setting as this can cause soot damage.
Living Flame Electric Fire: Pigsty, Orchard, Stable, Milkmaids, Carters, Thatchers and Gardeners. This can be run with just the flame effect, or for extra heat there are two settings on the fan heater.
Outside Lights: There is a master control switch which does not allow these to come on until it begins to get dark and turns them off at 11.30pm. Within these time boundaries, the light for your cottage is controlled by the switch nearest to the front door. Leave it turned on if you want the light to come on automatically when it gets dark. 8. ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY
Fire Assembly Point: The Fire Assembly Point is outside the Laundry Room
First Aid Box: There is a First Aid box in the Games Barn or in the Laundry Room. Alternatively come up to the Main Farmhouse.
Doctors Surgery: Our local Doctors Surgery is in Portesham – 01308 871468. They belong to the Dorset Doctors on Call who run a very efficient 24 hour call out system when the surgery is closed (an answer phone message will tell you the out of hours numbers). Alternatively call the NHS 111 service.
Accident & Emergency: 24-hour A&E is operated at Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester – 01305 251150. The A&E is situated in Damers Road and it is well signposted off the Bridport Road as you go towards Dorchester town centre.
Community Hospital: There is a community hospital in Bridport on Hospital Lane (DT6 5DR). From the centre of Bridport drive down West Street to the second mini roundabout. Turn right up towards North Allington and the hospital is signposted on the left after half a mile or so. They are a more limited daytime service – 01308 422371. 9. FIRE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
Please take note of the following fire safety precautions during your stay:
• No smoking in the cottages.
• Do not leave any naked flame unattended.
• All cottage plugged devices have been PAT tested.
• If plugging in any electrical device, remove from the socket before leaving the cottage or at night.
• Torches for emergency or power cuts are in the top drawer of bedside cabinets.
• Do not lock the bedroom windows at night you may need to use them as an emergency exit.
• It is advisable to close the door between kitchen and the lounge at night.
• Leave the front door key on hook on back of door. Do not leave in the lock in case the door has to be unlocked from the outside.
• Fire Assembly Point is outside the Laundry Room.
• If you require a copy of our full Fire Risk Assessment or our Gas Safety Certificates please email us at [email protected]. 10. FARM LAYOUT 11. LOCAL MAP & DIRECTIONS
DIRECTIONS
From DORCHESTER take the A35 towards Bridport for approximately 10 miles. On the second short stretch of dual carriageway look out for a sign saying ‘Toilets 3 miles’ and turn sharp left immediately afterwards, opposite the turning to Askerswell.
OR from BRIDPORT take the A35 towards Dorchester for 3.5 miles. At the beginning of the dual carriageway take the second turning on the right.
THEN continue down this narrow gated road. Do not turn off to right or left and Rudge Farm Cottages will be found on your left after 1.5 miles. 12. TERMS & CONDITIONS
CONTRACT: When you submit a booking via our online reservation system you will receive an automatically generated booking summary by email to the email address you provide in the booking form. This does not form a contract between us. A contract shall only arise when your deposit payment has cleared and your booking is subsequently confirmed in writing via a letter of confirmation sent by post or email. You may still remain liable to pay in full or in part for the booking, even if you are unable to take your holiday. Even where you have not paid in full at the time of cancellation, you will remain liable for the full cost.
FEES: For bookings made less than six weeks in advance the total amount is payable on booking. For all other bookings a deposit of 30% of the rental is payable on booking (unless otherwise stated) and is only refundable if the required accommodation is not available. The balance of the rental is payable 6 weeks prior to arrival (we will invoice you at this time.) Non-payment of the balance six weeks in advance shall be deemed to be cancellation of the booking. Any cheques should be made payable to Rudge Farm LLP
CANCELLATION: In the event of your needing to cancel your holiday, it is important that you tell us at the first opportunity so that we can try to re-let your holiday cottage. If this is possible your money will be refunded to the extent of any money recovered, less £30 handling charge. If we are unable to re-let your holiday then none of the monies paid to us can be refunded. We recommend you consider taking out appropriate cancellation insurance to protect you against possible loss.
We would only cancel your booking if your accommodation was unavailable for reasons beyond our control subject to the COVID- 19 clause below. We would, however, attempt to offer you alternative accommodation. If this was not possible or unacceptable to you, then we would refund all monies paid by you for your holiday - our liability would not extend beyond this refund.
COVID-19: If you have made a booking after 23 March 2019 and your accommodation was unavailable due to government restrictions imposed upon us or the government has imposed travel restrictions, you will be able to move the start date of your booking to any date up to 12 months from your original arrival date, subject to availability and any difference in rental cost. We will also allow you to change both the length of the stay and the cottage, again subject to availability and any difference in rental cost.
It is very important that if you or anyone in your party are displaying symptoms of COVID-19 you should not arrive at Rudge Farm and contact us as soon as possible to discuss your booking. In addition, if you or anyone in your party develops symptoms of COVID-19 during your stay please let us know immediately and for the safety of all our guests we will ask you to leave Rudge Farm as soon as possible. In the event that the guest is unable to vacate the property, that guest will be fully liable for any costs and rental associated with their extended stay.
VAT: VAT at 20% is included in the price.
CHANGE OF HOLIDAY COTTAGE: We reserve the right to change which holiday cottage you are in, to another the same size or larger, according to other bookings taken. (Unless you have expressly asked us not to do so). We will only need to do this in extremely rare circumstances.
HIRER'S RESPONSIBILITY: The hirer is responsible for the holiday cottage and is expected to take all reasonable care of it. All damages and breakages are the responsibility of the hirer and the cost of making good such shall be payable on demand. The holiday cottage and contents must be left clean and tidy at the end of the hire period. We reserve the right to charge £50 housekeeping fee if the holiday cottage is not left as you found it.
OWNERS LIABILITY: The owner will not be liable for personal injury (other than resulting from negligence) to the hirer or any member of his party, or for the loss or damage to the property of the hirer (including vehicles and contents).
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE: Guests are requested to arrive after 4pm and to vacate their holiday cottage by 10am on the day of departure.
PETS: We regret that we are unable to accommodate dogs or other pets.