FREE FISHING FOR OUR GUESTS!

Newbarn Farm is offering FREE Fishing - yes that's FREE Fishing for our guests!

This year Halloween marks the end of our busy season, since the onset of the early Easter Holidays this year we have had the pleasure of meeting some wonderful people who chose Newbarn Farm, a great Devon Fishing Holiday location for their holiday. With our self-catering cottages & fishing being fully occupied for many of those months.

Although we do have the odd group in each week now until 29th November - this is undoubtedly the quiet season, hence the cost for renting one of our 4 star luxury cottages is at low season prices. One week for example in Poachers, a beautiful cottage with two foot stone walls with far reaching views of Dartmoor to the North and to the South views of the Farm's fishing lakes costs only £260. And what's more from now until 20th December we will throw in free fishing for the entire week for anyone who books a full 7 days in one of our Holiday Cottages & Fishing.

FREE Fishing for all Newbarn's Fishing Guests - to qualify just book a full week's Devon Fishing Holiday in one of our self-catering cottages & fishing anytime between 1st November 2008 and 20th December 2008.

An Award for World Class Service

Just one year ago!

Last year all of us here at Newbarn Farm took part in a training programme called the 'S Factor', which focuses on customer service, although only taking a day of our time - it really made us think about the difference individuals can really make to another's experience! Not long after we were aproached to enter 'The South Devon Excellence Award' for 'World Class Service'.

We entered and attended the award ceremony and became the proud winners of 'The South Devon College World Class Service Award'.

This is our winning entry:

'Newbarn Farm Cottages & Angling Centre

When my husband and I look back to when we first took over the management of Newbarn Farm, we realise just how much we have enhanced our customers experience here. This is not just by improving the appearance of the property inside and out, considered to be an obvious by us but also by looking that little bit deeper into the way that all that needs to be accomplished within the working day, and the recognition by the Newbarn Farm team that the customers expectation is paramount to success and that this success is governed by the face of Newbarn Farm.

Richard and I have made some comprehensive changes, such as a very useful Information Book for the cottages, Guest Questionnaires, a much improved booking system, informative stylish brochures teamed with colourful corporate stationery and the list goes on. All intended not just to upgrade the cottages but to enhance the customer experience. Much of this was in the pipeline when Richard participated in ‘The S Factor – World Class Service’ project. Small but effective changes took place thereafter which made a difference.

We collated not only the Party name for each cottage for our ‘Saturday changeover list’ but also first names plus ages of children together with the registration of cars, so as a car drives up the driveway we are immediately able to tally the two. On welcoming these guests we can then greet them by name and include the children; ‘so you must be Amelia (aged 3) .....’ Taking this further we printed up welcoming cards with beautiful natural images taken on site – in these we can welcome each individual by name, something all young children love – almost magical, as if the Newbarn fairies write in them overnight!

We have Visitor Books which we encourage our guests to write about their stay at Newbarn Farm and indeed South Devon, anything actually. The Guest Questionnaires are not printed and updated just for effect – if something is wrong we act upon it – not later – but now. We had one last year who ticked the box for ‘service’ and ‘staff’ as poor with a foot note stating that this was for the fishing and a further comment ‘Getting information out of the boys at the fish hut was like pulling teeth’. Not long after we held a much needed Staff Meeting not to reprimand the Staff but to lead the way in Customer Service and to encourage them to understand why we/they are here in these roles. Sample testimonials from the Visitor Books were read out all with excellent reference to Richard and Catherine but not one could be found applauding a member of our staff. We explained that although we manage the business it is actually normally the staff who act as frontline, are seen and interact with the paying guests in the flesh far more than us and are therefore indeed the face of Newbarn Farm.

Literally one week later, Jonny who had been awarded the ‘Employee of the Year’ accolade (introduced as a new incentive for motivation and confidence at the meeting) was left a £10 tip from an impressed Angler suffering from arthritic hands – Jonny helped him throughout his stay setting up. Slowly good and some excellent comments started filtering in from our guests and day tickets about members of our team.

Jonny, 15 (works school holidays and weekends) sat in for ‘The S Factor – World Class Service’ this August, although a little shy he took it all in and commented that he found the forum very useful. For Jonny being aware of peoples body language is paramount and feels that he has learnt to use his to portray a friendly and approachable nature making our guests feel welcome and looked after. He has also endeavoured to take customer service that little bit further with regulars at the waters’ edge – getting to know a little more about them, friends, families - engaging in relevant conversation – making them feel special.

Darren our Angling Manager attended the S Factor course back in May – he immediately felt more confident when talking to guests and felt far more at ease when asked about local places of interest, being from Brixham he knows the area well and was unaware that suggesting ‘what to do’ could add so much more value to the customer holiday. He states that he feels he can really make a difference by ‘Making their stay a lot more enjoyable by providing them with 5 STAR treatment’.

Our cleaning staff joined Jonny in August for the S Factor forum and although they felt it was not really for them as rarely do they have contact with our guests, they have said ‘Now we have seen how others here work and understand their roles it makes us work together as a team and the course helped us to understand the customer needs’

And what a difference in some of the comments we have seen in our visitor books 18/08/2007, ‘Beautiful Cottage. Beautiful Location. Beautiful people’.
29/09/2007, ‘Thank you Catherine & Richard & all the staff for their smiles & friendliness. See you all next year. Roll on 2008’. 13/10/2007, ‘A super cottage very well equipped far better than expected, must be one of the best locations. A genuine warm welcome from all the staff. What more could anyone ask?’
28/08/2007, ‘I really like it here and the weather is great, the fishing is really good and I really like the trampoline and Badgers Holt, I had fishing lessons. Darren and Jonny taught me and all the staff are really friendly’ Tom aged 10.

We still have so many more projects in the pipeline, but most importantly we know that our staff are beginning to believe that they can make a difference just by sporting a smile, being friendly and thinking a little more about what they do and indeed why they are doing it. And with a good percentage more of repeat business coming in for next year we must be doing something right!'

With such an accolade and our continued efforts to strive for further excellence we here at Newbarn Farm believe that we have earned the right to be able to say that we are probably the best loacation in South Devon for the following:

Fishing in Devon

Devon Fishing Holiday

Fishing Holidays Devon

Holiday Cottages & Fishing

Self-catering Cottage & Fishing

Join in the Spirit this Autumn!

As the nights draw in – venture forth into the depths of the unknown……..

Spend some magical autumn evenings under this night sky here at Newbarn Farm ( a great Devon Fishing Holiday location) and enjoy just a few events taking place this month!

Spooky Halloween Week of Horrors! Monday 27th October to Friday 31st October

The Wicked Witch of the Woods will be making a spellbinding appearance at the Halloween Thriller at Woodlands on October 26th. Don’t just come yourself and have a wild, wicked time bring Ghoulish Dads, Ghostly Mums and dastardly friends they’ll have a betwitching time as well. FREE pumpkins & carving, workshops, Trick or Treat, Fiendish Beasties and a Ghost Train. All taking place at Woodlands Leisure Park, Devon TQ9 7DQ. Open daily from 9.30am.

And, as the witching hour draws near join The Haldon Rangers for a feast of scary stories around a campfire in the forest! Why not get into the spirit of the event and come in fancy dress? Prize for the under 15’s. Well behaved (and quiet!) dogs welcome. Friday 31st October: Time: 6pm – 7.30pm and 8pm – 9.30pm. £5.00 per person, includes warm fruit punch. Booking essentail. Forestry Commission: 0845 3673787.

Firework Festival – Galactic Wars. Saturday 1st November

On November 1st the famous Woodlands Fireworks Festival heralds the biggest themed bonfire yet. Expectations will be at fever pitch as Spangles the Clown and Benco march with flaming torches to light the 40ft Galactic wars bonfire. The leaping flames will light up the stalls and games as the Jazz Band gets everyone’s feet stomping. Spangle’s and Benco’s clever comedy act will entertain the crowds. Woodlands Leisure Park, Bonfire lit at 6.30pm, fireworks blast off at 7.15pm.

Leaving the flames & ghouls behind you, join a calming Bird Watching and Wildlife Cruise. Saturday 15th November

Ideal for those interested in our feathered friends! This cruise includes a full commentary from an ornithologist throughout the cruise on the different species including Egrets, Herons, Peregrine Falcons, Kittiwakes and Avocets and also their habitats, breeding, feeding and behaviours of the thousands of birds on the Exe Estuary and East Devon Coast. The vessel has an open top deck and an enclosed and heated lower deck. Toilets and disabled access is available as well as a refreshments bar selling hot and cold drinks including homemade soups and snacks. Advance booking is strongly recommended for this popular cruise. Please note that due to the length and nature of this cruise it is not recommended that you take young children. Fare: £15 per person. 01395 279693.

Flashdance - The Musical. Monday 17th November – Saturday 22nd November

Sparks will fly this year as the World Premiere production of FLASHDANCE – The Musical explodes onto the stage. Set in Pittsburgh USA, Flashdance tells the story of 18 year old Alex, a welder by day and ‘flashdancer’ by night, whose dream is to obtain a place at the prestigious Shipley Dance Academy. Full of pulsating, raw energy and with breathtaking choreography by Arlene Phillips (Strictly Come Dancing, Grease, Starlight Express, Saturday Night Fever), FLASHDANCE – The Musical promises to be the theatrical event of the year – so take your passion and make it happen!

Tickets from £12.50 - £29.50. Box Office: 0844 847 2315

And for a spot of fishing Newbarn Farm offers probably some of the best coarse fishing in South Devon, six fishing lakes and ponds to choose from. Just a gentle stroll from your four star luxury self-catering cottage & fishing, or for those laden down with plenty of fishing gear you could just pack in the car and drive to one of of water side car parks - what more could you ask for? A great Devon Fishing Holiday.

Fishing Holidays in Devon - look no further than Newbarn Farm Cottages & Angling Centre
Posted by Newbarn Farm Cottages and Angling Centre

Eggs are flying!

Sales of eggs at Tesco have risen by six per cent in the last week!

This very recent increase in demand for the egg apparently is not due to a nation wishing to have a few sunny side up on a Sunday morning - no something a little more sinister is happening with potentially life-threatening results.

Ever since Charles Saatchi, the Art Dealer procalaimed he had lost an larming 5 stone over a period of nine months on a diet consisting entirely of eggs and nothing more, it looks like a good percentage of those desperate overweight 'sheep' out there wish to follow his example, albeit a bad one! So they have been flocking to their supermarkets and clearing the shelves of copious amounts of eggs.

I have to say I am very surprised that his 'slightly more' famous wife, Nigella should have allowed it - famed for her over the top sickly recipes - where even the simpliest of soups doesn't escape lashings of something incredibly sweet and a huge pot of double cream! Surely a household where 3 teenage children reside, the example set by these two high prolific characters has been far from responsible if not barbaric.

Nutritionists have been horrified at the Saatchi egg diet, which raises cholesterol dangerously and can damage the liver and kidneys. Despite the drwabacks, however, thousands of shoppers are apparently following his example - let's hope that doesn't stretch to their children!

Here at Newbarn Farm we have seven rescued battery hens who now live a life of luxury compared to their former years. We are blessed at the moment to receive a daily offering of three or four eggs. We tend to keep them for the weekends for our guests to buy to enhance their country holiday experience whilst staying in one of four star luxury self catering cottages & fishing. Far tastier than their supermarket counterparts these eggs fried up with some locally bought bacon and organic tomatoes from Riverford make a great start to the day for some great fishing in Devon on one of the farm's six coarse fishing ponds. A great Devon Fishing Holiday location.

But I guess now we will limit the weekly purchase of eggs to 6 for a couple and no more than a dozen for a large family group. We would hate to think that we could contribute to a guest's poor health simply by offering them something so natural! Unlike Nigella we believe in our responsibility we have to our guests - not only making sure that they have the best Devon Fishing Holiday they have ever had but also to make sure we adhere to Health & Safety.

Newbarn Farm - always working to make our Self-catering holiday & fishing bigger and better!

It's All Gloom and Doom - or is it?

The media is full of it - you can't turn on the television without being hit with it - all the newstands have it staring at you in the face - the radio is full of it - when will it end?

If like me you are sick and tired of hearing about all the gloom and doom - 'THE CREDIT CRUNCH' - apparently has just got worse! Well it has. Spiv City traders have been short-selling our lives and now we're all billions of pounds in debt. And it's raining again - after the dullest summer for bloody years. But hang on......there are plenty of things we can enjoy that don't involve costing the earth, in fact some don't cost a penny!

1. Understand the credit crunch is no walk in the park. So why not take a real walk in the park instead. This year, after all the rain we've had over the past few months, it's going to be a dazzling autumn.

And it certainly is here at Newbarn Farm - a great Devon Fishing Holiday Location

2. On your walk in the park, why not watch children play their impromptu football games? Often more entertaining than their professional counterparts. Or just watching children at play - scrunching the autumn crisp leaves with their boots, trying to catch them as they drop from the branches their home for the summer!

Watching children fishing in Devon, catching their first fish is priceless

3. The hedgerows are full of juicy blackberries, the summer having delayed the harvest, but it has also plumped up the fruit. Just grab a plastic container from the kitchen and before too long you will have collected enough berries, a free gift from nature to make delicious blackberry & aple crumble or pie or the more adventurous, blackberry jelly. Yum!

Plenty of juciy balackberries just waiting to be harvested from around our lovely fishing lakes in Devon

4. Share a bath - just as we are advised to in the Seventies to save the gas/electricity bill. After all, austerity is meant to bring people together....

We have installed some great contemporay bathroom suites into our self-catering cottages & fishing this year - why not check them out....

5. Already gas and electricity are becoming toxically expensive, to use the latest buzz word, so go to bed earlier and cuddle up.

Newbarn holiday cottages & fishing have recently been refurbished with very cosy but contemporay furnishings. The bedrooms are very welcoming and cosy!

6. Book a holiday at Newbarn Farm, secure one of our 4 STAR luxury self-catering cottages with fishing and spend your days watching the rare Black Fallow Deer in Haldon, walk the nature paths and locate some spectacular pieces of local art. Drive to Dartmoor and blow all those cobwebs and financial concerns away by scaling the tors and treking over this breathtaking Erica ladened National Park.

Newbarn Farm not only provides excellent Holiday Cottages & Fishing but is situated in a prime location of 42 acres of pasture and woodland with the most spectacular far reaching views of Dartmoor.

7. With the frosty, clear nights just around the corner you can enjoy one of nature's most wondrous freebies. Just look up and enjoy the sight of a thousand twinkling stars.

Set high up on a hilltop, Newbarn Farm boasts spectacular far reaching views but one of the best is the night sky on moonlit clear nights with the stars twinkling high up over the Farm's Fishing in Devon lakes - which twinkle back!