Group venue for about 50 people to sleep

[AgaPanthers]

Any ideas? We'd make some noise, acoustic guitar + singing, but not rock concert level.... Need it for about 3 nights, low budget...

[Youdontneedacriminallawyer]

Also likely to be free in summer hols as Guides won't be using it. It's only about 90 mins drive from London.

[Youdontneedacriminallawyer]

Scout and Guide camps would be ideal - usually miles from anywhere, and places for camp fires etc. You'd need your own tents, though there might be some areas who are desparate for funds who might hire you some tents too.

Quite a lot of the centres have indoor accommodation too. Usually pretty basic, but sounds like that will suit you.

Have a look at this place: www.girlguidingwiltshirenorth.org.uk/index.asp?m=19&s=36&t=Maud+Heath

They have a field, with a camp fire site. Room for tents outside, or loads of room for sleeping on airbeds inside. Decent kitchen and bathroom facilities. You could hire it pretty cheaply.

[AgaPanthers]

I did, it's nice but our guests just want to laze around drinking beer and smoking and they don't really need to go to Wales for that.

I did some back-of-the-envelope calculations and I reckon half of our guests would be from the UK, it's on average 2 degrees warmer at the end of June than the end of May, and another 2 degrees again the end of July, BUT if we did at the end of May, specifically 28-31 May, then it will be half term for England and also Germany.

I'm quite keen on a bell tent village, but that would definitely be better done in July/August, but that time of year won't wash I think because too many on 'proper' holidays.

[SmallPress]

The Court Hill one, AgaPathers? I only looked in the listing, not their website, so hadn't seen that, sorry!

What rough time of year are you going? That will help in determining a) price, b) whether you will be the only ones on-site, and c) whether it will be freezing and so if camping will be tenable.

(Did you look at the Snowdonia one? Didja? Didja? You will TOTALLY be tempted, I tell you!)

[BucketsnSpades]

I have not read the rest of the thread but Springhead Gardens in Dorset ticks the boxes of being a beautiful venue, exclusive use for weekend hire, sleeps about 40 in dorm style accommodation, i can't remember the price, it is self catering and there is a kitchen. Miles from anywhere so make as much noise as you like.

[AgaPanthers]

no £20 ppn, not £20 for 3 nights

[bryte]

Try googling bunkhouses

[mummymeister]

ravenAK looks good but their budget is £20 per person which for 3 nights works out at around £6.66 a night. just not enough to play with if you want remote, sole use etc. yes these places where anything goes do exist but you have to pay for them. you either get cheap, shared with rules or mega bucks, exclusive and no rules. just depends on which bits you are prepared to compromise on I guess.

[ravenAK]

If you'd consider oop North, this place is amazing.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Featherstone_Castle

A mate of mine books it for weekends of historical activities (sword fighting, falconry & the like). It's fab. Lots of dorm rooms to sleep 2-6, & several big rooms plus grounds for gatherings. Remote enough for shenanigans till 4am to be no problem adult fairy weekends can get quite lively I'm told .

[BrianTheMole]

Would you consider sleeping in a marquee on private land? It may be entirely possible to find someone to do this.

[AgaPanthers]

Nowhere is perfect for sure.

[BackforGood]

I agree with mummymeister

I was first going to suggest Great Escapes, from YHA - but, in order for you not to bother any neighbours, you'd need a remote one. It's exclusive use of the building, but some still have neighbours which is why the rules are in place.

Same with campsites - Somewhere like Here have a tented village you can use - ie the tents are permanently up and there are bunkbeds in them, but if it were a normal camping weekend, you'd have to be considerate of other campers. Of course, if you wanted to go at a time no-one else was on site, you'd have a better chance of negotiating, but that depends if you are fixed to particular dates. (eg midweek might have some days not being used, but at the weekends, you've got no chance)

[mummymeister]

I think you are going to have to compromise on something agapanthers. no one is going to want to share a site with a group of 50 people partying and singing until 3am with an acoustic guitar. similarly unless you are absolutely in the middle of nowhere no site owner is going to let you disturb their neighbours like this. this is why licencing laws say no noise after 11.30pm or midnight. if you wouldn't do this in your own back garden for fear of upsetting your neighbours then you aren't going to be able to do it to someone elses neighbours. good luck but I think personally you are trying to achieve the unachievable.

[Youdontneedacriminallawyer]

I think I'd look at booking up a couple of b&bs. If you can book a whole hotel far enough in advance, for a couple of nights, you'd probably come in at less than £20pp.
Or travel lodge type place - you'd get discount for a big booking.

[AgaPanthers]

I looked at that last one, SmallPress, I was a bit put off by this:

"This is a quiet camp site, so sorry not suitable for those that wish to party."

I'm not sure what that means, but maybe I will call them. Campfire singalong makes SOME noise, and our group would want to singing and playing (acoustic) guitar till about 3-4am.

Also:
"Camp fires by arrangement only."

[SmallPress]

Like this one: www.independenthostelguide.co.uk/selected-accommodation.php?hostel=524&s=212

(I think I'm living vicariously, looking at these, but I still think you should go to the gorgeous cheap-as-chips FIVE STAR hostel in Snowdonia.)

[SmallPress]

If you insist on being sensible, though, a list of independent bunkhouses in south England here: www.independenthostelguide.co.uk/map-of-hostels-in-south-and-south-east-england.php

[Scarletohello]

This place is in Dorset, they may be full but you can try them

Osho Leela ( type in google )

[SmallPress]

Actually, forget all my sensible advice above, sod the Home Counties, too, and go here: snowdoniahostel.co.uk/accommodation.html

Absolutely gorgeous, self-catering in Wales. Sleeps 59. Exclusive use of the entire place for £1000 a night (£17 per person).

[AgaPanthers]

our budget is no more than £20 ppn I think. Have called Downe, but they've not called me back.

[SmallPress]

What about a static caravan park? They do self-catering, very cheaply, and if it's the off-season then you lot will be the only ones on-site. There's loads around the country, so look on tripadvisor for one in the location you want. You have to take your own bedding, but it's still a lot more comfortable than camping outright.

Or you could go for a mass booking at somewhere like a De Vere conference centre. I've stayed at the one in Sunningdale near Windsor for £22 (room bought when they had a sale), which has rather student digs-like accommodation, although clean, but really huge, lovely grounds - you could go be acoustic all you like there, I bet! There's a list of current deals for various of their venues here, but seriously, if I were you, I'd be tempted just to ring up and haggle: www.deverevenues.co.uk/en/special-deals/summer-lovin/ Don't be put off by listed prices as full price tends to be huge, but then they have sales. I've stayed in their £200+ central London rooms for £44, etc.

Same with Premier Inn - find one which isn't so popular, and check when the room sale is on, or call and haggle.

Or - there's self-catering rooms in universities, if your gathering isn't in term time. Massive list of participating universities here: www.universityrooms.com/en/countries/GB

[Lifestooshorttosleep]

We rented the bunkhouse at Marwell Activity Centre last year, basic but good fun

[Northumberlandlass]

You can hire out whole Youth Hostels. Have you tried YHA?

[TheWildRumpyPumpus]

Downe scout camp is just down the road from me on the Kent/London border, I'm fairly sure that you can stay there without doing the whole scouting thing, I'd give them a call.

Good luck, sounds like it'll be a fun get together!

[wafflyversatile]

Halls of residence? They rent them out over the summer in towns and cities. If you want lovely countryside instead you could try

www.shuttleworth.ac.uk/Shuttleworth/Accommodation.aspx

No idea if they do rent them out over summer though.