Communication Update

Our emails and servers are back up - apologies for the delay.

Living In France Article

From LIVING IN FRANCE magazine.

We are lucky enough to live in one of the best houses in Beziers overlooking the river where lovely people come to stay with us throughout the year. Unlike other places to stay in the area, we have been told that we are somewhat “different”, but a difference in a nice way. We have guest areas with books to choose and relax with, art on the walls, two very sociable dogs, and a garden of fruit trees. The bedrooms have good comfortable beds; the bathrooms are simple with good showers. We also cook and prepare a truly fantastic breakfast.

Some things are life are important to us and therefore feel they must be important to our guests. Good wine and good talk is important to us, so it may be important to you too. Broadband Internet is essential to us, so we assume it may be for you and that’s why the house is WI-FI Good food is essential to us (and our dogs) and naturally we think you would enjoy good food as well.

We are open all year so ideal for those who fancy a spring or autumnal get away break when out of season. The bedrooms are simple, not fussy and the walls are white washed. We offer a proper hospitality tray in the room with real milk – we never assume our guests prefer UHT cartons. We use fruit from the garden when making our breakfast jams and preserves.

Our garden overlooks Pont Vieux and is the best place to catch the sunset whilst enjoying a preamble drink. Dinner can also be prepared and cooked using local produce. But whilst everything here is lovely, it is not grand. Our guests stay awhile, read, chat and sleep well, and we watch their tension drop away. That makes us happy. We don't pretend Maison De L’Orb is a hip boutique hotel, nor are we a middle of the road boring hotel…but you will discover your own charm when you’ve arrived.

Communication

Just to let you know our server is down again so we are unable to retrieve or respond to emails - we are hoping this will be cleared and running normally later today or tomorrow. In the meantime, its back to old fashioned technology. If you have made a booking or wish to enquire what availability we have please call the numbers on main blog page or 07768 352116 (UK mobile but works across Europe).

Update 20 May 2011 - we are still email down and still trying to resolve the problem. Please bear with us!

Christmas 2011

Strange as it may sound as I sip a chilled juice in the garden, we are receiving requests for Christmas 2011. Last year we announced our festive celebrations in July so forgive me now if we are two months early. So far, this is what we are organising…

3-NIGHT CHRISTMAS PACKAGE 2011
A genuine spirit of hospitality prevails at Maison De L’Orb – a hosue of decorations, a “gift” in every room and a blazing wood fire in the dining room. The focus as ever is on food and festivity and there is always a stash of tangerines, nuts, nibbles and chocolates to pick at.

Christmas Eve – Saturday, 24th December
Explore Beziers in the morning, the shops are open and there is always festivity in the air. Something fabulous from Jeff Du Bruges in your room, home-made mince pies in the guests room, a pre-prandial glass of champagne, four-course dinner to include coffee.

Christmas Day – Sunday, 25th December
Continental breakfast, a four-course Christmas lunch with all the trimmings (Vegetarians catered for naturally –we do a fabulous mushroom nut roast) and our very own Christmas pudding. A light buffet supper in the evening.

Boxing Day – Monday, 26th December
A (not too early) delicious and lazy brunch, afternoon tea with home-made Christmas cake, a four- course a la dinner to include coffee.

Bank Holiday – Tuesday, 27th December
Breakfast and farewells.

We are currently working out menus and prices as well as a New Year package but do email us for further information. If you would like to add Friday, 23rd December to the package, we would be able to offer a discount.

Now, back to the sunshine....x

Republished from a recent edition of The Travel Magazine – with thanks to Leon Pignut and Val Summers. We are liking this!

Ten reasons to stay at Maison De L’Orb.

1 They actually like customers, which might account for the cheerful, friendly service and relaxed atmosphere.

2 An informal, lively breakfast served in the dining room overlooking the garden where you can eat good, honest home cooked and delicious pastries, using local produce as well as homemade jams and preserves from fruit hand picked in the garden. The cinnamon and honey granola is a must.

3 A lovely four course dinner with wine is offered as an option. We had goats cheese and beetroot salad, Moroccan lamb and date tagine, an impressive fromage selection and chocolate pot.

4 Excellent tariff system and reasonable rates on offer.

5 The wine list is well-chosen, interesting and fairly priced. There were also soft drinks, juices, syrups and beers on offer.

6 The bedrooms are airy and light with a clean, stylish look and the bathrooms are modern with good plumbing. Our room overlooked the garden and even had a hospitality tray with home-made cookies. Complimentary toiletries and a lovely welcome pack were a nice surprise.

7 The owners have two well-behaved boxer dogs that joined us in the garden for a spot of sunbathing and a chilled glass of rose. The garden is open during the day and looks onto the river l’Orb.

8 The town of Beziers is a mere five minute walk away.

9 The Canal Du Midi is a ten minute walk away. Beaches are also local.

10 Fly direct to Beziers (Ryanair) from Bristol, London Luton, Oslo, Stockholm and Weeze and (Flybe) from Southampton.

May 2011 Update

Who knows who wrote that song of Summer
That blackbirds sing at dusk…

Our breakfast menu is beautiful
There’s something happening in the garden
More IS Less
Behind the scenes

Our breakfast menu is beautiful

Just one of the great recent comments we have received and we are pretty chuffed. So chuffed we are re-running a previous blog post. We introduced a whole new start to the day with a choice of two exceptional dining experiences.

We offer an informal breakfast of hot drinks, juices, pastries and fruit for guests looking for a quick fix and for those with less time to linger in the morning. This is ideal for those wishing to eat, drink and grab a bag before exploring the city of Beziers or heading to the beach.

Hot Beverages
Selection of Juices
Cereal
Breads
Perseveres
Charcuterie & Cheese
Fruits
Nuts & Seeds
Hot Selection

There’s something happening in the garden…

After two years of hard work spent on redecorating and bring the main house into the 21st Century, our attention is now turning towards the garden and the laverie. Look at any old photograph and picture of Beziers of Pont Vieux and there you will see this proud and historic building used as a wash house for the many boats that used to grace the river l’Orb.

It has always been our intention to look at this building in a new light and that time is finally coming. We are currently looking into the possibility of opening up the ground floor area to incorporate a summer kitchen and bar area with a new floor to feature an open deck eating area. What a great view when reclining in our new Moroccan sofas while sipping mint tea or a glass of something else.

We have used the space last summer when hosting many music events in the garden and once for an art exhibition but this time we want to make a lasting impression. We are hoping work will finally start at the end of the main summer season so at least our guests won’t have to put up with any major works.

The garden itself is currently in full bloom. The vines are coming through, the orange tree is starting to flower and something is also happening with our pear and apple trees. All fruit is used in our breakfast jams and preserves. Thankfully, the powers that be in Beziers answered our call and have trimmed the tress overlooking the river in front of the garden offering our guests a lovely view of the old bridge and river. We are hooping that our second call requesting the bridge be lit up in all its glory at night comes next.

We are also hoping to start work again at the back of the house which we are hoping to install a health suite area on the ground floor and two/three further bedroom suites. All being well this should be ready sometime next year but will keep you all updated as to progress.

More IS Less

Despite using the traditional red lettering which indicates a sale, this is not just another fantastic wallet sensitive offer. This is an invitation to enjoy sunshine and blue skies, fabulous cafes and bars, the calming laid back atmosphere of Beziers and the beaches not too faraway, a lush and fantastic breakfast, comfortable beds and decent hospitality. Our kitchen is now open in the evening offering a tempting four course dinner with the all important ‘rouge” and a sample menu can be mailed to you straightaway.

Of course, there is the financial bargain too. The More IS Less package represents a saving on our usual tariff on two of our lovely suites (numbers three and four for those of you who have stayed before). Both rooms offer white washed walls, tile flooring, fresh flowers, toiletries, a hospitality tray, free WI-FI (for the business person on the go or for those who wish to update their face book status), plasma TV and both rooms are en-suite. Even better it includes weekends (we know the Ryanair flight schedules off by heart).

More IS Less includes breakfast each morning and is priced at €50, 00 per night per room based on two people sharing staying a minimum of two nights. Dinner (optional) is priced at €25, 00 per person. We can recommend some excellent eateries nearby if one wishes to sample the local cuisine. The offer is for May and June (where there is availability)

Behind The Scenes

We have had to be careful when setting tariff levels, we are all aware that many a purse string is as tighter than ever be it hotel, restaurant or a holiday. We believe Maison De L’Orb offers excellent value for money, only now it’s more important than ever.

Despite prices shooting up everywhere, we still stick to the best. If we didn’t (or couldn't’t) we would simply close the doors. We always use organic and locally grown food, we are on friendly and speaking terms with our local butcher, good unsalted butter used (beurre des Charntes for those who are wondering…) and our coffee comes direct from Fortnum & Mason in London…a luxury I know but so worth it.

Value for us means that all our guests can help themselves to our breakfasts while many a penny pinching establishment place that they should eat on a plate. It also means we can reduce our rates in our winter season and welcome guests who are here when the streets are even quieter and the smell of autumn is in the air.

We (well me, Mark) have recently completed the final proof for The Ninth Wave which is aimed to be published autumn 2011. Excerpts from the book can found via www.mbinmore.blogspot.com

When asked recently for a radio interview how I would describe the book, I could only say poems and short stories reflecting life, love and death. It’s not as morbid as it sounds but there is a focus of water through much of the work. There are also continuing volumes completed with intriguing titles such as Even When Tonight Is Over, Amid The Falling Snow & I Breathe Shallow Deep Inside Of Me. For me, the art of writing is fun and not sure at the present time if these volumes will go forward- who knows. Maybe is there is a positive response.

Editing has also started on Maison De L’Orb – The House By The River, a book which tells the history of the house by discovering the rooms and objects inside.

Personally I really like our lounge sofa and chair but some fellow guests have commented that they don’t like the colour (which is dusty mauve and not charcoal as pointed out). Well, the good news is that they will be recovered.

More soon x