You won’t find a guidebook or (dare we say it) brochure for your weekend at Eastnor. The point of a private-hire party, for us, is to have it your way. Some of our guests come to toast a birthday, others to try out a new dinner jacket or renew their flirtation with the local pheasants. Whatever the excuse, Eastnor provides the setting – and the rest is up to you.
But, being a country house, there are of course the unwritten rules. The etiquette guide that is never spoken but never broken – on matters of dinner dress, house gifts and what to do when it’s all over. Consider this your cheat sheet.
1. Arrive as if you own the place – because you do, for a weekend
Carly Simon was surely talking about Eastnor when she sang, ‘You walked into the party like you were walking onto a yacht’. Making an entrance is everything here – especially when sweeping up the winding gravel drive. This is your castle for the weekend; roll out the red carpet, in whatever way feels the most you.
2. Bring a house gift for the host – ideally drinkable
A good bordeaux says more than flowers ever could. The cellar will, of course, have been arranged (see our current fine wine list), but your host will appreciate the gesture after presiding over the room allocations. Bring something good – it might even end up in your glass later.
3. Dogs are not only allowed – they’re often the most charming company present
Well-trained hounds are always welcome. They’ll chase so many squirrels, bag the warmest spot by the fire and look better in tweed. Just don’t let them foul the floor (we learned this the hard way with Gloria Woodhams I – a guest’s particularly enthusiastic dachshund).
4. Bedrooms are assigned by fate
You don’t choose them – they choose you. Your first port of call should be to run upstairs and find your name tag on the corresponding door (and switch it if you fancy the Italian bedroom over the Tulip). If you wake beneath the gaze of an ancestor in oils, take it as approval from the past.
5. Eastnor 250 martinis are mandatory
Dukes famously only allows its patrons two martinis per person. So, it’s a good thing we’re not Dukes. We’re of the opinion that if we’ve gone to the effort of designing a signature cocktail, the least you could do is try it. Cold, clean and unapologetically strong, it’s best enjoyed in a pre-dinner bath. Or on a post-lunch stroll of the grounds. Or upon arriving in the Gothic Drawing Room. Or – you get the idea.
6. Dress to impress.
Have you seen the décor at Eastnor? This is a place for aesthetes, budding or otherwise. You never get a second chance at a first impression, so dress as if you’ve wandered into a Slim Aarons photograph – black tie with personality, polish with flair. And don’t forget to dress for dinner, lest the ghost of the 3rd Earl stirs.
7. Ditch the speaker and go for the gramophone
We’ve got a collection of “Nipper” records in the Billiards Room – our collection is more Beethoven than Beyoncé, we must say. But then again, your soundtrack should be cinematic for a weekend at Eastnor; it sets the tone and prevents your pal Colton from insisting on playing his new acid house mix over the speakers.
8. Make sure you see the grounds
Hard as it may be to prise yourself from the Gothic Drawing Room sofa, the grounds are unmissable. A brisk walk around the Deer Park does wonders for both conscience and complexion – extra credit if you manage it before breakfast. Alternatively, take the lazy route and book a spin with the Eastnor Land Rover Experience next door; ask to be driven up Castle Hill for views that rather justify the name.
9. Learn the art of the Eastnor exit
Forget Irish goodbyes – at Eastnor, a departure should be as grand as the setting. A farewell speech in the Great Hall never goes amiss, followed by air kisses all round (including the dog) and promises to gather again at yours. Or, naturally, back at Eastnor. Because an Eastnor exit isn’t farewell forever – it’s a “see you next time”.