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London based designer and food writer, Sophie Conran is known for her star connections (she is the daughter of Sir Terence), impeccable interior design, and enviable little black book. Less known are her skills as an unflappable hostess: “When I was seventeen, I moved in with two girlfriends and started a supper club,” she says. “We’d often have forty people squashed into our apartment and I’d do all the cooking. They were very much ‘flowers in jam jars’ affairs…very jolly, very bohemian.” From these jolly, bohemian and quintessentially British beginnings, Sophie took inspiration for her latest venture, Temple Guiting, the bespoke country-house party service.

Temple Guiting is a stunning 15th-century manor house set among rolling hills of the Cotswolds, and the property, which is owned by developer Steven Collins, includes a luxurious converted barn and a manor house, which has been privately-owned for five centuries. The award-winning gardens were designed by Jinny Blom, and the two houses which sleep up to twenty have been beautifully redone under Conran’s meticulous and talented eye. Says Sophie about the idea of hosting house parties at the property: “I’m not sure anyone understood the concept at first, but after working with Steven on the design and refurbishment, it was my fantasy that Temple Guiting could offer more than just a weekend house rental. I started inviting chefs to design specially tailored menus for guests, but we had such amazing feedback from our ‘experts’, I soon realized they should be part of the experience.”

The experience, for groups of up to twenty people, involves joining one of Sophie’s ‘friends’ for a master class in their field of expertise on themed, or specially tailored weekend programs. For foodies, this could mean learning the art of oyster shucking with star chef Mark Hix, or choosing the perfect wine with sommelier Martin Saxon. You could also master floral design, become an expert poker player or pick up tips from celeb-favorite make up artist, Ruby Hammer. In addition, guests can organize a huge number of activities including fishing, shooting, quad-biking and hot-air ballooning. Even the two-hour drive from London is part of the experience, passing through the stunning country landscapes and famous sights such as Blenheim Palace and the villages of Stowe-on-the-Wold and Burford. “It’s not an area I knew well”, Sophie says, “but there’s something about it that feels very magical”. www.sophieconrantg.com 44-207-706-1309.

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