Press Centre

For any PR enquiries relating to the family, the Holkham Estate and its related businesses, please contact Perowne International, 6 Derby Street, Mayfair, London W1J 7AD telephone: 0207 078 0295 or email holkham@perowneinternational.com
High resolution images can be obtained by using our image library or by contacting Holkham Marketing Department Tel: 01328 713103 or please contact us by email.
Photography taken for any commercial use must have prior written consent from the Holkham Estate.

14th January 2019 - The Ultimate Romantic Retreats

Press release from SALT Norfolk.

SALT Norfolk, the boutique luxury holiday lettings agency specialising in properties along North Norfolk’s perennially popular coast, has just added the prestigious Holkham Lodges, part of the Holkham Estate, to its portfolio, offering visitors the chance to stay within the estate’s extensive, 25,000-acre grounds.

Comprising four, originally-styled, pet-friendly lodges, each sleeping two and unique to their individual setting and original purpose, guests will be treated to a bespoke welcome hamper packed full of local artisan goodies, seasoned logs to burn on the woodburning stove and complimentary continental breakfast for the first morning.

Visitors can choose from the following romantic retreats for their exclusive stay:

The Triumphal Arch
Sleeps 2 in 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, 2 dogs allowed

Arguably the most iconic of the four lodges, the 18th century, Grade I listed Triumphal Arch was designed by renowned architect, William Kent, to impress travellers passing through to the North Norfolk coast. Modern-day guests will concur that he achieved his ambition, the arch presenting a striking welcome with beautiful panoramic views along the avenue to the south and north. A compact kitchen and cloakroom on the ground floor with stone, spiral staircase leading first to the shower room and then up to a separate toilet. Once at the top of the stairs you’ll be greeted by a truly welcoming, romantic space with roll-top bath, king size bed, open fire and comfortable seating – relax, put your feet up, unwind and dream. A truly elegant retreat.

Price from £574 for a three-night short break or from £765 per week.
How to book: SALT Norfolk, T. 01328 887600 www.saltnorfolk.co.uk

Palmers Lodge
Sleeps 2 in 1 bedroom, 2 bathrooms, 2 dogs allowed

Perhaps the most luxurious of all the lodges, this Grade ll listed gatehouse offers sumptuous fixtures and fittings in the parkland of the Holkham Estate. An enchanting and romantic setting, perfect for celebrating special occasions or simply escaping to a rural hideaway. Relax in the open plan living space with vaulted ceiling, cosy sofa and toasty woodburning stove. The true uniqueness is revealed in the subterranean level; once the vaulted cellars, but now featuring a glass atrium allowing you to appreciate the clear Norfolk skies - perfect for star-gazing. On this lower level you’ll find a snug TV room, the bedroom with a super king size bed, large walk-in shower room and separate bathroom with bath.

Price from £935 for a three- night short break or from £1,246 per week
How to book: SALT Norfolk, T. 01328 887600 www.saltnorfolk.co.uk

Palmer’s Folly
Sleeps 2 in 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, 2 dogs allowed

It’s this property’s peaceful woodland location, in a tucked away pocket on the Golden Gates Drive which makes Palmer’s Folly the ultimate romantic getaway. It’s just you, your loved one and the Fallow Deer which graze the nearby parkland for company (unless you bring the dogs, too). This bijou ground floor studio offers a cosy, relaxing space with a woodburning stove to warm your toes after a long walk along the beautiful sandy beach flanking the estate. The Folly is a Grade ll listed gatehouse with comfortable furnishings and tasteful décor.

Price from £643 for a three-night short break or from £857 per week.
How to book: SALT Norfolk, T. 01328 887600 www.saltnorfolk.co.uk

South Lodge
Sleeps 2 in 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, 2 dogs allowed

South Lodge dates back to 1847 and was designed by well-known architect, S. S. Teulon. Lovingly restored after some years of disrepair, the lodge once again stands as sentinel to Holkham Hall and The Triumphal Arch on the Holkham Estate. The perfect retreat for a wander down to the beach during the summer months or to cosy up inside by the wood burning stove during the cooler climes. Relaxing and switching off from the everyday is difficult to resist. If you’re feeling energetic, explore the far-reaching parkland that will be on your doorstep; ideal for long walks or cycling around the lake whilst the deer herd look on, with bike hire available on the Estate during Holkham’s visitor season.

Price from £698 for a three-night short break or from £930 per week
How to book: SALT Norfolk, T. 01328 887600 www.saltnorfolk.co.uk

Guests will also be offered the following exclusive benefits, depending on the time of year:

• Parking passes for the park and beach
• 10% discount at The Victoria Inn
• 10% discount at The Beach Cafe in Wells-next-the-Sea
• 10% saving in The Courtyard Gift Shop and Café in Holkham park during Holkham’s visitor season
• 10% off standard admission to Holkham Hall, the Field to Fork Experience and the Walled Garden during the visitor season from April to October. It is advised that visitors check details of opening times for each attraction at holkham.co.uk.

Lucy Downing, Brand Manager for SALT Norfolk and Norfolk Cottages says:

“Situated in one of the region’s finest and most recognisable country house estates, we’re delighted to be able to offer these truly distinct, outstanding and idyllic retreats to the thousands of holiday makers we welcome every year and look forward to tempting those who have yet to discover the lodges to a stay this year.”

There’s also good news for romantics – if they hurry.

“As one of the most romantic retreats in the Norfolk holiday lettings market, it’s particularly timely that there’s still availability over Valentines Day weekend in some of the lodges,” she adds.

Peter Mitchell, Managing Director of the Holkham Estate commented:

“We are delighted to welcome SALT Norfolk and Norfolk Cottages on board and the opportunities to work in partnership that this presents, as both organisations have a substantial interest in the important visitor economy of North Norfolk.”

For more information about SALT Norfolk click here.
For more information about Norfolk Cottages click here.

Media Contact
For media requests please contact Rebecca Scrase:
www.rebeccascrasepr.com
01449 677033/ 07985 973973
rebecca@rebeccascrasepr.com
@RebeccaScrasePR

7th December 2018 - New President and Chairman for Regional Tourism Organisation

Press release from Visit East of England.

Two of Norfolk and Suffolk’s foremost tourism and hospitality businessmen are today announced as the new President and Chairman of the region’s visitor economy organisation.

Lord Leicester of Holkham becomes President, a newly-created position, and Dr Andy Wood OBE, chief executive of Adnams of Southwold, becomes chairman of Visit East of England, formerly known as Visit East Anglia. Lord Leicester said: “I’m delighted to be the organisation’s new President. The visitor side of my family’s own business, Holkham Hall and Estate enterprise, has increased enormously in the past few years, so I am very aware of its importance to the region as the largest sector and one of the main employers. This is an exciting time for tourism and I look forward to working with the industry to continue its success.”

Dr Wood said: “There is a big agenda to tackle, not least encouraging skills development and training, improving the perception of the industry, growing the year-round visitor economy and attracting more overseas visitors, particularly post-Brexit when we must ensure that we are seen as a welcoming and attractive destination. Working with partners and stakeholders in the sector, particularly the transport providers, gateways and local enterprise partnership, we want to ensure the East of England becomes a more top-of-mind destination. We must also work together to offer a collective voice when we are talking to government and national visitor organisations.”

The rebranding of Visit East Anglia as Visit East of England will culminate with the launch of a new website in the New Year, working closely with the New Anglia Cultural Board. Executive director Pete Waters said: “This is great news for the region’s tourism industry and will give us the higher profile we need to represent the sector’s interests and help address its many challenges. It is important that this region has a credible, authoritative voice for its visitor economy, particularly at a time when a sector deal with the government is on the horizon. Working with the Local Enterprise Partnership, we want to be on the front foot if initiatives like Tourism Zones come to fruition. Our objectives continue to be converting day trippers to stay visitors and raising the overall tide of tourism towards the high-water mark of summer, but as Visit East of England we also want to work with the sector to create careers for life and growth opportunities.”

Doug Field, chair of New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “Tourism is worth more than £5 billion per year to Norfolk and Suffolk’s economy. But more than that, our visitor and cultural assets are a vital part of our identity and offer to the world. We look forward to working even more closely with Visit East of England to support the sector to achieve even greater success in the future. The arrival of Lord Leicester and Andy Wood as president and chairman is a huge boost for Visit East of England. Both will bring a wealth of experience, talent and energy to their roles, which can only benefit the organisation.”

Councillor Matthew Hicks, Leader of Suffolk County Council, said: “I welcome the appointment of the new President and Chairman of Visit East of England. The region deserves strong leadership to ensure that collectively we promote the extent of the opportunities available, and also the allure and beauty of the region as a holiday destination.”

New President and Chairman for regional tourism organisation.

Councillor Andrew Proctor, Leader of Norfolk County Council, said: “I congratulate Lord Leicester and Dr Wood on their appointments and I look forward to working with them to further promote Norfolk’s outstanding tourism offer, which is an important part of our economy.”

The news follows the retirement of chairman Richard Ellis, of the family-owned Original Cottage Company, who co-founded Visit East Anglia in 2011 with leading tourism business owners after the demise of the East of England Development Agency and East of England Tourism.

The board has long-standing members including Martin Dupee of Banham Zoo and Africa Alive, Ian Russell MBE of Wroxham Barns and Keith Brown of Roost Hotels.

Visit East of England also manages Visit Norfolk and Visit Suffolk and has service contracts with Visit North Norfolk and Greater Anglia.

Notes to Editors

Visit East of England is:

The private sector-led organisation to promote the East of England visitor economy.
Supported by some of the most successful tourism businesses in Norfolk and Suffolk.
Managed by experts bringing a unified tourism voice to the East of England.
Fully-aligned with New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership’s Economic Strategy for Norfolk and Suffolk.
Working with the New Anglia LEP on the visitor economy sector skills development plan.
Committed to making the East of England a leading visitor destination in the UK.
The visitor economy of the East of England is £10bn pa. Norfolk’s 2017 Volume and Value figure (the total worth of tourism, using the Cambridge Model) was £3.25bn, and Suffolk’s was £2bn. Essex is approximately £3bn and Cambridgeshire approximately £2bn.

15th November 2018 - Floristry Students Help Put HO HO HO into Holkham Hall Ahead of Festive Celebrations

Press Release from Easton and Otley College.

A group of floristry learners helped put the HO HO HO into Holkham Hall ahead of a series of festive events that will take place at the Norfolk based stately home this year.

The students – from Easton and Otley College – helped prepare the hall for a month of yuletide celebrations that will include Candlelight Tours, shopping evenings, workshops, a Festive Food Fair, music and the chance for children to meet Father Christmas.

This is the seventh year in a row that Easton and Otley College floristry students have supported Holkham in this way.

Floristry lecturer, Alison Cooper, said, “It’s really great to offer our students work experience like this in such a lovely place like Holkham. They really got into the festive spirit and were professional throughout.

Alex Mills, a floristry student at the college, said, “We get involved in lots of community work on our programme. We have supported the church at Easton recently and we have more experiences planned in the future. This really helps our development and it’s good to get the practice. It puts you in a business frame of mind and it’s a good stepping stone to our future careers.”

In terms of the college supporting the hall in this way, The Countess of Leicester, said, “We are grateful to the college for supporting us as we get ready to make the hall magical for our visitors this Christmas.”

Next up, students will be working with a local Norfolk charity called Leeway to help them prepare for their Christmas ball as part of an ongoing partnership with this benevolent cause.

1st November 2018 - Eurasian Spoonbills - A Breeding Success Story on the Holkham National Nature Reserve

Holkham National Nature Reserve is home to the first colony of nesting Spoonbills in Britain since the 1600s. Andy Bloomfield, Warden at the Holkham National Nature Reserve, will speak at a special workshop in Tunisia, organised by the AEWA Eurasian Spoonbill International Expert Group on 14th - 18th November 2018

October 2018 - Spoonbills started to prospect at the Holkham National Nature Reserve from the late 1990s and, after several failed attempts at nesting, a colony formed in 2010 of 6 pairs. This was the first successful breeding colony in the UK since the 1600s. Through careful protection, monitoring and maintaining the right habitat around the area, the population has since grown from 6 pairs to 28 pairs (in 2017 and 2018) and an incredible 244 youngsters have fledged in that time. The colony at Holkham is currently the only colony in the British Isles and one of the estate’s greatest conservation success stories. The birds fly to the reserve in March from Holland, France, Spain and Germany and migrate south to southern Europe and Africa with increasing numbers favouring southern England in more recent years.

Andy Bloomfield, Warden at the Holkham NNR, will speak at a special workshop in November, organised by the AEWA Eurasian Spoonbill International Expert Group. The workshop runs from 14th to 18th November and is being held on Djerba Island, Tunisia. Andy has been invited to talk about the Spoonbill breeding success story on the Holkham NNR and will cover topics such as their arrival on the reserve, behaviour and future. The workshop will provide a unique opportunity to exchange and strengthen connectivity between people involved in studying and managing wetlands for the conservation of Eurasian Spoonbill and associated waterbird populations.

Andy commented “I personally have been involved with the Spoonbills at Holkham since 2004, witnessing their failed attempts, the first ever nesting pair here and took the first ever photographs of British-born chicks and monitored their proceedings since. Part of my interest is behaviour and I am currently working on a paper on their ecology at Holkham. Being invited to a gathering of international experts is an absolute honour and privilege for both myself and the estate in recognition of the work we have done and still currently doing and gives us an opportunity in giving the estate a more prominent name within international bird conservation circles. The workshop will also allow us to share our experiences with an international audience who will be in a better position to offer advice on all manner of Spoonbill matters.”

Spanning the coast from Burnham Norton to Blakeney, the Holkham National Nature Reserve in north Norfolk covers an area of around 3,706 hectares. Designated in 1967, it is a unique and very special mix of habitats including freshwater grazing marshes, saltmarsh, mature pine woodland, sand dunes and also renowned for its golden sands. The area welcomes migrant birds, including thousands of Pink-footed Geese during winter and is home to rare flora and fauna providing a rich and diverse natural offering. In 2012, the Holkham Estate resumed control of the Holkham National Nature Reserve and in July 2017 the estate was awarded Approved Body Status under Section 35 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act. This makes Holkham one of a select few privately-owned estates in England to hold this status and enables it to manage the reserve which was previously managed by Natural England. In August 2018, the Holkham Estate opened The Lookout, a brand new visitor centre located at the entrance to Holkham beach with a small café, central drinking fountain and lavatory facilities.

2nd October 2018 - Celebrate Christmas at Holkham

Thursday 29th November – Thursday 20th December 2018

Enter the festive spirit at Holkham this Christmas with candlelight tours of the magnificently decorated state rooms, seasonal opera, a series of craft workshops, a truly festive food fair and a special visit from Father Christmas and his elves. Holkham Hall will open its doors this Christmas for a variety of spectacular seasonal celebrations including Candlelight Tours of the hall, Christmas music, a two-day Food Fair, Christmas craft workshops, Christmas shopping and a special visit from Father and Mother Christmas and their all-singing and all-dancing band of Ukulele Elves.

The celebrations begin on Friday 30^th November with a sparkling performance of ‘Home for Christmas’ by Diva Opera, Britain’s foremost chamber opera company. ‘Home for Christmas’ is a lively and heartwarming tale about a family reuniting for the festive season recalling Christmases past and revealing their hopes for the future. Featuring arias, songs and carols, the show will delight audiences of all ages. The festive music continues on Tuesday 11^thDecember with a Chamber Music Concert featuring Portuguese tenor, Luis Gomes who will be joined by Carole Presland on piano. The programme includes songs by Rachmaninov, Fauré, Bellini, Tosti and de Curtis with piano solos by Ravel and Liszt and arias by Mozart, Léhar, Donizetti and Verdi. There will also be a rare and wonderful opportunity to hear the Norwich Cathedral Choir performing a special Christmas concert in the beautiful Marble Hall on Tuesday 18^th December. The 52 strong choir will perform a feast of best–loved Christmas music in aid of the Norwich Cathedral Music Appeal.

For the second year running, Holkham will be hosting a selection of Christmas themed workshops with a chance to get creative to suit every member of the family. ‘A Natural Christmas’ workshop will inspire children to get creative and fuel their imagination making their own decorations which they can proudly display at home. Nothing quite says Christmas like putting a handmade wreath on your front door and budding florists can try their hand at creating their own wreaths and floral arrangements at the ‘Wreath Making’ and ‘Festive Flowers’ workshops.

Holkham’s spectacular Candlelight Tours offer a magical opportunity to see the state rooms adorned with opulent decorations and beautiful flickering candlelight. The guided tours are a unique chance to see the wonderful decorations, learn about how they were created and find out the inspiration behind each room setting. The pièce de résistance for this year’s hall display is in the Statue Gallery where there will be a full size parterre garden, inspired by Italian gardens of the 18^th century. Designed by landscape gardener Lucy Roberts the display will feature a wintry scene with the formal terraces laid out with box hedging, tall cypress trees, classical sculptures and wildlife and visitors will have a chance to wander through the magical setting.

Following the success of last year’s inaugural Festive Food Fair, The Lady Elizabeth Wing will host the second, two-day event showcasing a delicious collection of Christmas food and drink from local and regional producers. Entertainment in the form of a cookery theatre with demonstrations from local chefs, will provide plenty of inspiration and key tips for visitor’s own Christmas feasts.

Throughout the festive period Holkham’s Courtyard Gift Shop – the perfect place to seek out Christmas gifts - will be open daily offering an array of exquisite tree and room decorations as used in the hall displays, in addition to the shop’s usual selection of exclusive gifts from local artisans. There will be special Christmas shopping evenings with a 10% discount on all purchases and a gift wrapping service, along with a glass of mulled wine and a mince pie to enjoy whilst browsing the Christmas selection.

Last but not least, families will delight at the arrival of Father Christmas at Holkham Hall, with his band of Ukulele Elves, as he stops off during his busy schedule for a very special Audience With Father Christmas. Father and Mother Christmas will be in the Saloon regaling children with tales of wonder and magic, along with music and surprises from his elves. There will be a present for every child as well as a biscuit and soft drink and a glass of Prosecco for adults.

For further details and to book online: https://www.holkham.co.uk/events/christmas-at-holkham/make-christmas-special