Availability calendar

frequently asked questions

How many people does the house sleep?

Ringshall Grange accommodates 23 adults/children plus unlimited babies (under 18 months who sleep in cots). Our maximum overnight capacity is set at 23 (plus infants). Unfortunately, we aren’t able to accommodate larger groups.

How many beds are there? Can we arrange for extra beds and cots?

We have 14 comfortable beds, across 8 large bedrooms. You can see a floorplan here that shows the layout of rooms and the sizes of the beds. Some rooms offer one king-sized bed, so are ideal for couples, while others are large enough to have two, three or even four beds, allowing families to share. We can provide up to 6 travel cots, free of charge and have 2 extra single and 2 extra double beds that can be added to certain rooms (free of charge) to allow the layout to be adjusted to suit your group. The Whisky room can also be used as a 9th bedroom should people wish. The overall maximum capacity remains the same, at 23 guests plus infants.

Do you rent rooms individually?

I am afraid we don’t rent individual rooms. We are a group venue, so rent the whole house as a self-catering venue for one group at a time. You won't share with any other guests outside of your group and you will have full, exclusive use of the house and estate during your stay. We can sometimes accommodate smaller groups during the week for half-house rentals, so please ask.

Does anyone live on-site?

We won’t be living on-site during your stay, so you have complete privacy. Our caretaker lives very close by though and we/he will pop in each day to carry out checks and ensure you have everything you require.

Do you allow additional day guests?

In small numbers, additional day guests may be permitted by prior arrangements so feel free to ask.

Is there anywhere locally that friends and family can stay if we are slightly over capacity?

Yes, we hold a list of excellent local Airbnb’s, hotels and self-catering accommodation. Some of which offer accessible accommodation for wheelchair users. We regret that we don’t currently have an accessible bedroom and bathroom available on site, but there are excellent options a short drive away.

Are dogs permitted?

Well-behaved dogs and other pets are very welcome at Ringshall Grange (by prior arrangement). We don’t charge a fee or limit numbers.

How do I book and pay?

To book with us please complete the booking inquiry form above, or pop us a call. We’ll discuss your requirements and get you booked. You can pay by BACS, card or Paypal. We take a 25% deposit at the time of booking, with the remaining balance due 8 weeks prior to arrival. We like to chat with guests before booking them in, so we don’t offer an immediate booking system online, but you can contact us 8 am to 10 pm 7 days a week at +44 7185 779498. We’ll respond quickly to confirm your booking ASAP.

Do you have reviews online?

Absolutely. You can read them here. We are very proud of them.

Do you take a damage deposit?

Yes, we take a £500, fully refundable damage deposit with the final payment.

What time is check-in and out?

Standard check-in is 4 pm and standard check-out is 11 am, but we are often able to accommodate earlier/later check-in/out free of charge, by prior arrangement.

My ideal dates aren’t available, do you run a waiting list?

If your dates aren’t available, we do run a waiting list. We’ll notify you should we have a cancellation. We are a very popular venue, however, so recommend adjacent dates if you can be flexible as cancellations are very rare. You can see our availability calendar above.

Can I have a party, festival, wedding or celebration?

We are a family-friendly, luxury self-catering, group accommodation. We are perfectly suited to family holidays, well-behaved hen dos, friend get-togethers, birthday parties, corporate groups and other well-behaved celebrations. We are situated in a peaceful village and respect our neighbours’ right to a quiet environment, so we aren’t suitable for groups wanting to host festivals, party gatherings of larger than 23 people, or wanting to play loud music outdoors at night. We also aren’t suitable for stag dos. Unfortunately, we also don’t host weddings. Although we are happy to welcome well-behaved, self-catering wedding guests if the wedding party and ceremony are held elsewhere.

Can we camp on-site:

We regret that we aren’t able to allow camping.

What is there to do locally in terms of activities?

There is a wealth of fabulous local activities a short drive from the house. We are situated very close to the famous Suffolk Tourist Trail, which allows so many options. These include, but are not limited to; Farm shops, lakes, walking, children’s adventure play areas, farm trails, mini golf, owl sanctuary, zoos, the seaside, golf, climbing wall, soft play, cafes, children’s forest, green woodworking, sustainable building courses, swimming pools, gyms, spa days, Pilates and Yoga studios, beauty and hair salons, antique shopping, a wealth of national trust houses, miniature railways, Go-Ape and even a Vineyard just 10 mins from the house.

Do you allow add-on activities at the house?

Absolutely. We have a list of wonderful local suppliers who can come to the house and provide services directly to guests, such as; catering, murder mysteries, Bollywood dancing, flower crown workshops, cocktail and cooking classes, pizza-making parties, massages, facials, aromatherapy, manicures, archery, bouncy castles. pony parties, Llama petting/walking, mobile petting zoos, breathing workshops, yoga, mindfulness, reflexology sessions, crystal healing, nutrition consultations, sound baths and meditation classes, pop-up photo booths, pop-up cocktail bars and even pottery classes. Just ask us for a full list upon booking.

What is included in my rental fee?

Our prices include VAT, heating, firewood, BBQ gas, cleaning products, professional cleaning, organic shampoo, conditioner and body lotions, towels and bedding, dressing gowns, slippers, toilet rolls and use of all facilities during your stay. No hidden extras.

What kitchen and dining equipment do you supply?

The kitchen is very well equipped with plenty of pots and pans, plates, glasses (wine, water and cocktail), cutlery etc. You will also have a Nutribullet, Magimix Kmix food processor and a Kenwood Mixer at your disposal. We provide all kitchen cleaning products including tin foil. washing up liquid, dishwasher tablets, bin bags, kitchen roll and cling film plus kitchen spray and scourers. We provide salt and pepper and have a help-yourself pantry for basics in case you forget anything like herbs and spices

We have a cafetiere for coffee and lots of fridge/freezer space in two large American-style fridge freezers. We also provide tablecloths and paper napkins for the dining room as well as plenty of serving dishes and cake stands and platters.

Do you have a washing machine?

Yes, we have a washing machine, tumble dryer and iron and ironing board available for guests to use.

What shops are there locally? which supermarkets deliver to the house?

Food shopping is very easy as all major supermarkets deliver to the house. In addition, there is a large 24-hour Tesco just 10 minutes away at Stowmarket, as well as several smaller Co-Ops, farm shops, butchers, bakers and other convenience stores at Needham Market (8 mins away). We are also within 20 minutes of two multi-award-winning farm shops; offering a wide selection of fine local Suffolk vegetables, cheese, butchery and wine.

Can we bring children and what children’s facilities do you have?

Children are very, very, welcome at Ringshall Grange. We are a family-run business with two young children of our own and pride ourselves on catering for our smaller guests. We offer two outdoor play areas, a woodland den building, giant chess, boules, 13 organic acres and many other lawn games. We also boast a full games room including lots of children’s toys and books. We provide high chairs, cots, playpens, potties, toilet seats, steps and many more children’s items completely free of charge.

Please note that the moat and ponds on adjacent land are unfenced, open and with deep water. Therefore, children must be supervised very carefully at all times when on site.

What is the closest train station?

We are very well served with rail links. Needham Market rail station is 4 miles, Stowmarket 5 miles (London Liverpool Street direct 90 mins), Ipswich 11 miles (London Liverpool Street direct 65 mins)

How do we get to the house from the train station?

We recommend booking local taxis to get from the train station. We have an extensive list of friendly local companies who regularly drop guests to us. Just ask.

How many cars can we park on-site?

We have ample, unlimited, free, off-street car parking on our estate.

Are there nice pubs and restaurants nearby?

There are many fine restaurants and pubs in Suffolk, here are a few local fine restaurants that we like within a 25-minute drive of the house, but please do ask for a fuller list on booking. We are spoilt for choice locally as Suffolk is well-known as a culinary hot spot.

thebildestoncrown.com  10-minute drive. Lovely open fires and outstanding food. 

greathouse.co.uk  Award-winning restaurant at beautiful Lavenham. 20-minute drive

theswanatlavenham.co.uk Lovely pub and restaurant also at Lavenham

You can also see details of some fabulous local pubs on our website here

Can we get takeaways locally to the house if we don’t feel like cooking?

Absolutely! We have a wood-fired pizza oven and a large American-style gas BBQ, so you can make your pizzas/BBQs very cheaply. Alternatively, local takeaways aren’t hard to come by, there are several places under a 10-minute drive away at Needham Market or in Stowmarket including; pizza, curry, fish and chips and pub grub. Some also deliver to the house, in addition, some of the local caterers offer delivery, of very reasonable, pre-cooked, family-style sharing meals, ready to simply heat up.

Are there nice walks from the house?

We are lucky to be surrounded by some stunning Suffolk farmland and countryside walks. There is a lovely hour-long loop walk from the house that passes an ancient historic woodland with an incredible abundance of bluebells, as well as a nice walk across open fields, past a historic church, to a local community-run pub just 45 minutes away. For keen walkers, you can even ramble to local places of interest such as Bildeston, Needham Market and Lavenham. Our guests often spot birds of prey, woodpeckers, deer and barn owls.

What are your terms and conditions?

You can see a link to our TS&Cs here. Please let us know if you have any other questions as we are always happy to chat with guests.