Events at The Budock Vean Hotel
Address
Budock Vean Hotel near Helford Passage Mawnan Smith Falmouth Cornwall TR11 5LG
Contact
Writer’s Retreat
Published author Liz Fenwick leads this year’s writers’ retreat at BV. Called the ‘queen of the contemporary Cornish novel’ by the Guardian, Liz Fenwick is the author of ten books and two novellas. The latest are The Secret Shore and The River Between Us which won the Popular Romantic Fiction Award from the Romantic Novelists’ Association. Her eleventh novel The Secrets of Harbour House comes out in July 2025.
She lives with her husband and two mad cats near the Helford River in Cornwall. When not writing Liz is reading, painting, knitting, plot walking, and procrastinating on social media.
What to Expect
Wednesday 5th Feb 2025 (evening) – Saturday 8th Feb (lunchtime) A deep dive with plenty of writing time, 1:1 sessions where Liz can critique the first 5-10k of a novel/memoir. Tutored sessions will explore synopsis writing, elevator pitches and generally getting ready to submit to agents and publishers.
Our Writer’s Retreat break includes a 4 course dinner each night, bed, breakfast plus tea and coffee breaks during the sessions.
Wine Club with Elly
Ever wanted to learn more about wine? Our new series of wine tasting events at Budock Vean could be just the ticket!
Run by professional wine sommelier Elly Owen, the sessions are friendly, informative and fun. Elly, who has worked with Jamie Oliver and Paul Ainsworth to name just a few, teaches and develops courses across the southwest. Her approach is relaxed and accessible so you can be assured of a fun and informative session.
Our first event takes place on 7th February where Elly will be looking at English Wines. Under her watchful eye of, you’ll learn more about the different styles of English still and sparkling wine available here in the UK, tasting as you go.
Learn to play Mah Jong
For those who don’t already know, Mah Jong is a really sociable game that can be played across generations … it’s a game that combines skill, strategy and lots of luck!
Join us from Sunday 9th February to Friday 14th February for a beautiful week by the Helford in South Cornwall and learn to play - this is a beginner’s course and everyone is welcome … no experience required.
Our Mah Jong break is a 5 night dinner, bed and breakfast stay and includes daily lessons and practice play … games are played in 3s or 4s so it’s all nice and friendly and social.
Your stay will include Mah Jong lessons each morning where you’ll learn all about the background of the game, get to know the set, the tiles and the racks. You tutor Caroline will show you how to set up, score and play a basic game and show you some of the special things to look out for. Over the course of the week you’ll pick up how to play a basic game and know how to play a goulash … (and know what a goulash is!). Caroline teaches under British Mah Jong Association rules, and she’ll help you find your way around the rule book.
Mah Jong Day Event
Live locally but keen to learn Mah Jong? Day visitors can join our lessons which take place each morning on Monday 9th through to Thursday 13th February; then there’s practice play after dinner.
Murder Mystery Night: ‘The Poldark & Warleggan Feud’
Return with us to the west Cornwall of the late 18th century, a world governed by politics and power.
The Warleggan and the Poldark families have feuded for decades, during which period the Warleggan family has gained control of most of the banking and shipping in the area, whilst the Poldarks are into mining.
Watch and listen closely as the arguments reach new levels and you witness the mystery, intrigue, treachery and hatred between the two families unfold before your very eyes resulting in a body being discovered!! Murder Mystery Evenings include a three-course meal alongside an evening of wicked entertainment from Murder By Appointment.
Wine with Elly Owen
In March it’s all about new world vs old world wines.
You’ll be looking at wines from all across the world a using the blind tasting method (where we can’t see the labels) looking at what wines we think show better. We will be looking at our sense of smell, visual clues and taste in how to see where a wine might come from.
Tickets for the March event cost £20 per person Wine with Elly – New world vs old world blind tasting.
Bridge & Golf with Jeremy Child
Our competitive bridge break for experience players returns and includes:
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Welcome drinks, prize giving and tuition.
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Master points awarded
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Complimentary tuition included
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Partners provided for individual players
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Competition entry, fees and prizes
Watercolour Painting Break
Working on a seasonal theme and taking inspiration from the beautiful colours and patterns that nature provides. Shari, a Cornwall based artist and tutor, will bring a wealth of visual references and we can also gather inspiration in the wonderful grounds of the Budock Vean estate and the Helford River.
This course would suit those that like wet into wet watercolour and would like to develop their style by experimenting with some different techniques. Shari will provide a materials list beforehand.
Meet the producers behind The South West End
In 2024, Impossible launched 2 major theatre productions led by Cornish talent - A Child of Science at Bristol Old Vic starring Truro's Adelle Leonce (from Netflix Fool Me Once), Meg Bellamy (The Crown), Sonoya Mlzuno (La La Land), Tom Felton (Harry Potter) and a new musical working with West End Co-producers and pop star Tom Fletcher (McFly) which will premiere at Theatre Royal Plymouth before transferring to the Southbank Centre London for Christmas.
Hear all the backstage secrets, tips and tricks for making the impossible possible from this dynamic female duo from Cornwall to the rest of the world. Our regular and informal supper clubs are a lovely opportunity to gather with friends and family members for a 2 course fish supper and coffee (or tea), followed by a talk.
Murder Mystery Night: Murder on the Titanic – set in 1912
As the White Star liner cuts its way through the grey cold waters of the north Atlantic, the rich and famous enjoy the surroundings of the liners first class restaurant.
But not all is calm on the high seas as mystery and intrigue together with questions and threats begin to surface in connection with a well-known aristocrat among the 1st class passengers.
Watch and listen closely as the plot unfolds before your very eyes, resulting in murder taking place!!
Murder Mystery Evenings include a three-course meal alongside an evening of wicked entertainment from Murder By Appointment.
Murder Mystery Night: Gatsby’s Gamble – set in 1929
The California estate of the aging, wealthy socialite Jay Gatsby is famous throughout the west coast for his extravagant parties, but could tonight’s party be his soiree?
As the wealthiest man on the west coast, although popular, his many business deals and his reputation as a womaniser have brought him many enemies! A story of intrigue, greed, jealousy and passion will unfold before you resulting in a murder by the end of the evening!!
Murder Mystery Evenings include a three-course meal alongside an evening of wicked entertainment from Murder By Appointment.
Murder Mystery Night: The 1940's Diamond Heist - Set at the London Savoy Hotel in 1944
The Kimberley Star, the world’s most valuable necklace, has tonight been the centre of attraction being worn by its owner, Lady Dunster, at the wartime fundraising evening at The Savoy Hotel.
With the fund raising part of the evening completed, the diamond necklace has been securely locked away overnight in the hotel vault with a Scotland Yard detective in attendance.
Tomorrow the necklace returns with her Ladyship to her West Country estate. Concern has been voiced over the report in the London press on the presence of the necklace at the hotel alerting the attention of jewel thieves, in particular the infamous jewel thief known as ‘The Phantom’.
It would also appear that things are not quite as they should be in connection with others present, which later in the evening results in a body being found!!
Family History Break
It looks so easy on the TV shows but knowing how to go about tracing your ancestors can be daunting. Join us for a 4-night break that will get you started on your family history journey with confidence. This beginner’s course is for anyone totally new to tracing ancestors, and for those who’ve had a go but need a helping hand.
Sunday evening dinner is a chance to meet your tutor, genealogist Dr Lesley Trotter, and others on the course. Morning group sessions on Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday cover planning and recording your research, the sources to use, and tips on finding elusive ancestors. During your stay you’ll also get a one-to-one advice session with Lesley. Afternoons are free for leisure or private research.
Family Tree Day Event
You don’t have to be staying to gain tips and tricks about tracing your family history.
Day visitors can join the morning sessions on Monday 8th through to Wednesday 10th September to get started on family history research … plus get a video call after the event to follow up.
Murder Mystery Night: ‘The Million Pound Murder’ - set in the 1970’s
In an attempt to return to her super-star status, and get revenge on those who abandoned her, the fallen screen idol Tracey Monroe has written a novel titled ‘Friendly Secrets’ in which she lists intimate and detailed accounts of her wild partying and many affairs from her earlier ‘glory days’. Blackmail is on the agenda!!!
Tonight she has invited many guests along to her ‘special party’ and several in attendance, including a government cabinet minister, the well-known leader of a London organised crime syndicate, the owner of a ‘famous house of ill repute’, a popular TV Celebrity and the owner of a large agency are fearful of exactly what details will be included within the chapters of her new book.
Will she succeed in her million pound blackmail attempt? Murder Mystery Evenings include a three-course meal alongside an evening of wicked entertainment from Murder By Appointment.
Bridge for Improvers
This week is suitable for anyone wishing to improve their bridge – from recent beginners to club players. The emphasis throughout is on learning and improving, so all play is supervised and non-competitive. Players can ask questions and your host can suggest a line of bidding or play.
Supervised Play will be Chicago style. The bidding and play are identical to duplicate bridge, but there is no time pressure and players can join and leave play sessions as and when they wish.
Bite sized seminars are single topic and light touch, lasting about 10 to 15 minutes and followed by supervised play with randomly dealt hands. Lessons are in depth and may cover multiple (related) topics. They are followed by the play of set hands (with answers!) allowing you to practice what you’ve just been taught. All lessons are designed to appeal to a wide range of abilities.
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