Guest Testimonials of Mill End
Experience Mill End Through Our Guests’ Eyes
Discover the unforgettable experiences guests have enjoyed at Mill End Mitcheldean as well as additional Bordello Banquets' bespoke services. Read testimonials from families, corporate groups, hen parties, and wellness retreat participants who have found joy, relaxation, and inspiration in our unique Forest of Dean getaway.
"The house was absolutely perfect for our weekend - my sister had the best time for her hen party, the entertainment, catering and cocktails from Bordello Banquets were fab and we all really enjoyed our stay. Also big thanks for advance arranging the wonder wall of photos, it was so lovely having that personal touch!" Louise Webber 2023
"We have just had the most amazing weekend ever for my mum's 80th birthday. We were blown away with the house and garden area. The online pictures don't do it justice. Thank you for helping us make more memories! Highly recommend! Will definitely be back!"
Olivia Morey - 80th birthday party for 38 guests - including seated and served evening dinner & a Mediterranean styled tea party. 2023
“I just wanted to let you know we had a fabulous weekend last week, your place is amazing and such a nice atmosphere for a family gathering.
We pulled off the birthday surprise too, which was a bonus.”
(Surprise Birthday Gathering with entrance from a different part of the house so the Birthday girl didn’t see all the family cars in the car park).
Ravi Jutla. 2022
“We hired Mill End as our base for our corporate team-building event due to location and size”
"On first contact with Liz, she was so friendly, flexible with the dates we needed and full of ideas for the room layouts. Liz also supplied us with details of teambuilding activities we could do onsite and offsite which was really helpful.
The venue was fantastic, it offered real flexibility in the layout of rooms and where we could have a formal dinner and a space with sofas which offered an area to relax and chat. The bedrooms each had a little bit of quirkiness about them which added to the teambuilding weekend.
The house was well equipped with many fridges to hold our gallons of beer and wine, as well as a huge range of glasses and crockery. We had three catered meals – a tapas buffet on arrival, a 3 course dinner and artisan breakfast baskets – fresh and fruity breakfast products served in Fortnum and Mason hampers! Towels and bedding were also supplied, and rugs and blankets in the oak room for sitting by the fire or outside chatting by the fire pit, which was a real help.
Liz was so kind and welcoming during our stay, which made us really feel that the house was completely ours for the time we were there. Thank you so much for all your help and the loan of Mill End. We all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Thanks a million Liz and your whole team."
Lisa Boughton, Director & Co founder, Angelfish Ltd 2019
Back in March, when our original venue, who like Mill End received no government support via SEISS during covid, were forced to sell up and cancel our booking, we honestly though the hen do was doomed. From the moment we made contact, Liz has been incredible and literally saved our hen do.
Planning since then has been an absolute breeze. With such an amazing resource of information on the website, we have hardly even needed to make contact. The thoughtfulness and consideration, as well as sincere understanding of what it’s like to be in the planning position, shines through in every detail. These things don’t happen by accident, this takes a special kind of person who knows their product, their audience, and cares deeply about making the experience as smooth and enjoyable as possible.
When the announcement came last week that there would be a delay in the final easing of restrictions, we were naturally nervous that this could jeopardise the hen do – yet again! We knew we wouldn’t just be able to push it back by a week, this would mean pushing back to this winter, after the wedding, and possibly even into next year. But what can you do? We carried on, having no choice but to hope for the best. If we had to reschedule then we would cross that bridge when we came to it.
Receiving news from Liz of the work they had done to ensure that even if restrictions are not eased, our booking can still go ahead has been such a relief! We are all beyond grateful to have this weight lifted from us. Yes, we might have to move around a little differently. Yes, there is a (negligible) supplement to cover the costs of making this possible. But we have our hen do! We can finally look forward to this long awaited weekend away, knowing that whatever happens, we can do it safely, and our Bride-to-Be will still get the weekend she deserves.
This too does not happen by accident. It happens because of people, people who truly care about their business AND their guests. It happens through their adaptability, imagination and ingenuity. It happens through their dedication, resilience and determination to deliver truly incredible experiences. It happens because of Liz.
Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU! Roisin Mcmanee 2021 - post COVID
“The most amazing hen weekend. I can’t think of one thing I would change”
"Everyone was pleased with their bedrooms which are all decorated with such detail and thought. No 2 rooms are identical - they are truly bespoke and stunning not to mention how clean they are and how comfortable the beds are. There are little cubbyholes and details and trinkets as well that are just adorable.
The hot tub was great fun and the whole weekend was just SO relaxed. We drank, we laughed, we had massages, nail painting, pizza making, chocolate making, cocktails, photo-booth, a wonderful dinner and a full English breakfast which were all fantastic. There are also little dress up props left in the house for you all to dress up in, which after a few Proseccos were hilarious!!
There is so much space to move around and with an age range of 22-54 I can honestly say this is a great place for any party. I received messages from all my hens in the following week to say what a great time they had and how they were gutted it was over. We are already considering what next event we can use as an excuse to go back!!"
Caroline, Bedfordshire.
“Would stay here again in a heartbeat!”
"We booked The General Stores (including the Cottage) for my sister's hen do for a group of 35.
The experience was 5 star from start to finish. The accommodation was fantastic, the communal area comfortably accommodated our large party, the food was fantastic (we had the fully catered option and all meals were extremely good) and our lovely host Liz was amazing! Liz was so professional and kind, we had a bit of a nightmare with a coach company (Momentum Hub) and Liz took time out of her day (despite being extremely busy after feeding 35 women!) to help us find a coach at the last minute (Belfitts), successfully! I could not thank her enough for going over and above all weekend! Would stay here again in a heartbeat! Xxx
We also did the wine tasting on the Saturday. The wines were super tasty (as were the accompanying cheeses), and the couple who owned the vineyard and hosted the tasting were delightful!"
Madi Price - 12 June 2017
“What a wonderful weekend we had! The house was absolutely perfect for hosting Anna's hen weekend. The bedrooms are all so tastefully decorated and there really is everything we could have ever needed! Thank you to our caterers who cooked delicious food. All the girls were so impressed and we had a super time! Thank you”
Sarah, Derbyshire 2019
“The most amazing hen weekend ever!”
"Thank you so much for the most amazing hen weekend ever! The house was fantastic from the moment we walked through the door, with its breathtaking features and relaxing facilities we really had a hen do to remember.
The FunPod photo booth was a particular highlight with karaoke songs and personal recorded messages really gave a brilliant kick start to the night.
We would highly recommend this venue to anyone!"
Sian 2018
“The accommodation was superb and the facilities amazing”
"Approx 20 of us stayed there from toddlers to the grand-parents. The accommodation was superb and the facilities amazing. A kitchen downstairs and a bigger one upstairs. The hot tub was great as was the sauna. The boys/ men loved the pool table too. Would not hesitate to recommend and would go back. Pizza, Chinese and kebab take outs just round the corner with a small supermarket. Nice views all round."
Neeta Ghedia - 30 April 2016
“Over 30 of us stayed in June for my hen party, and from start to finish it was absolutely amazing. Liz was the perfect host, the catering was absolutely delicious and there wasn't anything we asked for that Liz didn't provide - in fact she went above and beyond throughout.
The house is absolutely stunning, I wish we'd had more time there!
Thank you Liz for your amazing hospitality - we will definitely be back!”
Megan Dacey 2017
"I would also like to thank you for renting the house to us. I could not believe how well equipped the house is and how efficient your staff were. My daughter thoroughly enjoyed herself as did we all."
Matt Merrick, August 2016
"We were a Hen Party who had been double booked by another agency and who we booked in to the house two days prior to them staying – I had a fantastic hen weekend here!! Made to feel very welcome after they saved the day!! I would recommend to every one! Brilliant place and fabulous people!!”
Marnia Barnett, June 2016
"The weekend went really well. Everyone arrived without a hitch"
“We got all the cars in to the car park and all the party loved Mill End. We had 20 adults and 24 kids in the end and they all fitted in no problem. The Ocado order arrived as planned, we had a lovely dinner for everyone on the Friday night along with movies for the kids and Prosecco for the adults.
Saturday breakfast involved pancakes and croissants for everyone (all sitting down at the two banqueting tables) and then we headed out for the day to Puzzle Wood which the kids loved and meant the adults got some respite from the wine! We played rounders and cricket (in the rain) on the playing fields in Mitcheldean and then got the kids home for pizza and garlic bread all round before settling them down for movies and games. The babysitters arrived bang on time and were great – I gave them a little tip as they did so well to keep on top of things.
The wine tasting was fun (fruit wines were interesting!) and my wife orchestrated the preparation of the catering you’d left for us. The beef bourguignon was a hit and we drank champagne and caught up on old times, looking through photos of our university days and singing a few songs round the table.
Sunday morning was a lazy one – cooked breakfast all round – and then out to the corn maze up the road at Elton Farm. The weather, which had been variable to say the least, turned the corner on Sunday afternoon and we managed to get both BBQs going and had a super afternoon out in the garden. The kids did a talent show of singing, dancing and some story telling – using the trampoline as their x-factor stage with all the judges (parents) assembled on the lawn. To close the weekend’s festivities we all sat round the fire pit on the patio and finished off what was left of the food and drinks from our order.
An early start on Monday to get everyone up and out and Mill End straight – lots of recycling that week that’s for sure! All out by just after 10am and a fantastic weekend came to an end. The cats were a hit with the kids and even brought us a little mouse as their talent! We met the cleaner on our way out to the playing fields on one of the days and your dog said hello – how cute!
So, all in all, a great weekend and lots of happy guests. There was even talk of an annual repeat so must have been good!”
“We had an absolutely fantastic time at Mill End at the end of Nov. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves and the food was fantastic. We are all huge cat lovers so loved having Nancy around too.”
Kelly Oakley, January 2014
“The venue was absolutely perfect and exactly what we wanted. All our guests were so impressed and I think some are planning to come back in the future. I would certainly love to come back! ”
Kayleigh Wickes, December 2013 (DK Music Industry Christmas Party)
“thank you so much for making my mother-in-law’s birthday weekend wonderful”
"Hi Liz. I just wanted to say thank you so much for making my mother-in-law’s birthday weekend wonderful. She and all the guests absolutely loved Mill End, not to mention the village/friendly villagers! All the rooms are beautiful and many conversations were had over which was our favourite or what ideas we wanted to borrow for our own homes.
The Upper Malt House was perfect with most guests choosing to hang out around the big tables during the day (my partner, I and 2 of his cousins spent a lot of time at the pool table too!), and of course the evening meals were a blast – with the tables pushed together we really felt like we were eating together and not too squeezed-in
The kitchens were so well equipped we didn’t struggle at all cooking for 22. Oh and a few of us did make use of the hot tub/sauna on the Saturday afternoon after our walk; a lovely treat. The children particularly appreciated the garden play area and all the toys/musical instruments. You really had thought of everything so thank you from all of us"
Dan, May 2013 (previous repeat booker for Parasol Project – Activity weekend for inner city kids - but came back for a family event)
You can find some more reviews on Facebook