Free Accommodation Available

Way back in June I received the following email from Julia Goodfellow-Smith:

I’ve just stumbled across your blog about meeting at the garden shows held in Malvern.

My husband and I are keen gardeners and have recently moved to Malvern – just a mile or so, I’d guess, from the showground and ½ mile from Great Malvern train station. We’re also couchsurfers – see www.couchsurfing.com – so that means that we’re happy to put up gardeners visiting the show, free of charge.

I can’t see how to add a comment to your blog, so thought I’d let you know so that you can add us to your accommodation section, if you like.

I promised Julia I'd not only add her kind offer to the Accommodation page, I'd also let you know about it closer to the show. For those of you not familiar with the couch surfing concept, there's loads of generous folk around the world who offer complete strangers a bed for the night, or to show them around their town or city. You can find what's available via the above link to the website.

If that sounds a bit scary, couch surfers are encouraged to write about their experiences with their hosts, so any potentially dodgy ones get weeded out very quickly. My friend C talks very warmly about the people she's put up for the night at her home in Bath via this scheme.

Since I last looked at the website in June, it seems you have to join up in order to find out what accommodation is on offer and where. I did notice there were a couple of others available in and around Malvern, so this could be just the thing for you if you fancy a more personal and budget stay with people who like to welcome visitors and know the area well. Be sure to let Julia know how you found out about the scheme ;)

My thanks goes to Julia for getting in touch and reminding me this option is available :)

Wordless Wednesday: Saturday's Alarm Clock

Try here if the embedded video doesn't work

What's New and Let's Meet!

It's Showtime at Malvern- will you be there?

It's a year since the Meet @ Malvern blog was launched, so I've tweaked the layout in celebration to launch our 2011 get together. I'm looking forward to seeing as many of you as possible this year :D

Helen and I have various work, family and exam commitments over the next few months and so we won't be able to do very much in the way of organising this year. This also reflects what a number of you said in last year's feedback too, and our informal get together at the Autumn Show last September proved an organisation-lite gathering can still work successfully.

However, I'm also aware there are a number of people who are interested in coming who didn't join us last year at either show, so I'd welcome your views on how we can best ensure we all can find each other easily for a natter with the minimum of organisation.

I've used the Blogger Page function to bring together most of the useful information you'll need to make your own arrangements to attend this year. Let me know if there's anything you'd like to add to the information, particularly the Accommodation, Getting There and Hints and Tips pages.

You'll also see there's an Attendee page: this is very much in the early stages of development, do let me know if and when you're attending so I can keep this page up to date. If last year is anything to go by, this won't really reflect what's happening until late April! And do pass the word round to your fellow bloggers and tweeters who may be interested in coming. This post is the invitation for everyone, so it's up to us all to ensure no-one's left out.

The exception to the useful stuff at the top of the page (isn't there always one!) is the all important contact details for obtaining your tickets. This is in the sidebar under Tickets Please! heading. If you click on the picture, it'll take you to the official Malvern Show booking page. NB The countdown clock has been reinstated too - though you'll have to look a bit harder to find it this time!

I won't be posting as much on here this year as I believe what's already here is enough to give anyone a flavour of what the show is like either by going through the blog in sequence or using the Labels in the sidebar (towards the bottom) to home in on what looks interesting. There'll be the occasional update of news as and when I get it. If anyone would like to write a guest post to help lighten the load, then do get in touch :)

As the posts will be less frequent, you may wish to sign up for Updates or Follow this blog to make sure you don't miss out on anything. You'll find the appropriate buttons in the sidebar. I'll also be updating via Twitter, but experience showed last year that this is a bit hit and miss in keeping you updated.

NB as for last year accommodation is already filling fast, so this is something for you to consider NOW if you're wanting to stay over during the show.

Hello Campers!

Anna has the insider lowdown on the campsites around Malvern, plus tried and tested details of some of the B&B and self catering accommodation she's stayed in whilst visiting previous shows. Fellow Meet @ Malvern gatherers looking at the campsite option may like to know that her trusty campervan is already booked in at Blackmore. So here's what she has to say:

Looking for somewhere to park up your camper van/caravan or pitch your tent at Malvern? If so early booking is advised as last year I was scabbling around in April to find somewhere and was getting seriously worried that I might miss out on my favourite gardening show! Our normal resting place is the Caravan Club site at Blackmore. This is a 20 acre site with a glorious backdrop of the Malvern Hills. Click on the link to find out more about pricing/facilities or have a look at their slideshow on YouTube:


You can also contact the site directly on 01684 310505 during office open hours. The site is open to non - members but they are unable to make advance bookings for the 2010 season until 19th March.

We have also stayed at the adjacent Caravan and Camping Club site. You can contact the site during office open hours: 01684 310280. Again non-members are welcome.

Both sites are in close proximity to the Three Counties Showground. It is possible to walk there but it will impede your plant buying activities. Both sites are also within walking distance of the village of Hanley Swan which has a small but well stocked Post Office store, a butchers shop and a pub 'The Swan' which serves both lunches and evening meals.

Last year when looking for alternatives to The Caravan Club site I came across this website which lists other campsites in the area.

We stayed at the Marlbank Inn in Welland. This is a small 22 pitch site at the back of the pub. Although the views are not as picturesque it was still a good place to get our heads down for the night. The pub served evening meals and again the site was near to the showground. We have also stayed at the Three Counties Park in Malvern also mentioned on this list but I have no
recollection of the experience - it was a good few years ago.

Anna also has some insider information on comfortable B&B accommodation close to Malvern:

We stayed at the The Old Drinkhouse last autumn when we went to the Malvern Show. It sleeps 2, well recommended especially as it overlooks a walled garden with courtyard area for visitors. In Hanley Swan village, the year before we stayed at Mere End Cabin, a pine cabin about ten minutes walk from Hanley Swan. Sleeps 4, very comfortable with pleasant sitting out area. Would return to both. The pub at Hanley also has accommodation but have not stayed there.

Thanks Anna for your help and for supplying the photo of your campervan to illustrate this piece - I'll update the original accommodation post with a link to this information :)

Warning: Accommodation's Filling Fast

Helen's had some early feedback from people coming to Meet @ Malvern about booking accommodation. Quite a lot of the hotels are booked already, probably with exhibitors etc. She's kindly provided some useful links to help you get started with searching for a place to stay. Anna's giving me some campsite information soon (her campervan's already booked in - yay!) if that's your preferred option.

Those of us wanting to stay a little longer or to stay with friends may have to sacrifice convenience for availability. There's lots of lovely market towns and villages very close to Malvern, so these are worth considering if you're having trouble in finding something close to the showground. Car parking there is plentiful and free if you don't go for the Gold parking option. I haven't found them too much of a walk into the show in previous years and you can drink in the gorgeous views of the hills whilst doing so.

Without further ado, here's the information from Helen:

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g186423-d192024-Reviews-Malvern_Hills_Hotel-Malvern_Worcestershire_England.html - don't know what it is like to stay at just eaten there but reviews seem ok. Top of Malvern Hills - some rooms may have good views

http://www.trehernehouse.co.uk/tariffs.php - seems a bit pricey to me but great location for access to the show and going out in evening and me!

http://www.malvern-hills.co.uk/gg/ - this is also ideal for the showground, town and me

http://www.copperbeechhouse.co.uk/bandbmalvern.html - good location and ideal for Great Malvern station

http://www.prioryholme.co.uk/ - good location and also ideal for Great Malvern station

Unfortunately, I cant recommend any of these since I haven't stayed in them and don't know anyone who has. Happy to go and have a look see and see what they look like inside on the pretext of booking a large party!!!!

And here's links to the local tourist information and B&B consortium courtesy of the show website:

Malvern Tourist Information Centre:

Tel: 01684 892289
Fax: 01684 892872
Website: Malvern TIC
E-mail: malvern.tic@malvernhills.gov.uk

The Malvern Bed and Breakfast Consortium:

Website: http://www.malvernbandbconsortium.co.uk/

Update 3rd Feb: For those of you considering the camping option, Anna's guest posting today with details of the best sites she's stayed at, plus good website links for you to find out much more.