New Year’s Eve celebrations at Bleak House
Bleak House, the former holiday home of novelist Charles Dickens, which opened recently as a restaurant with rooms, has announced details of its New Year’s Eve black tie dinner.
The evening, which begins with a champagne cocktail reception, features a five-course gourmet dinner with a cabaret featuring tribute acts to Michael Bublé, Frank Cabaret, Dean Martin and Neil Diamond. The evening’s grand finale will be a spectacular fireworks display on the terrace overlooking Viking Bay. Tickets £90.
The venue offers a uniquely historic setting made famous by the author of A Christmas Carol, and with it popularised created many of the ‘traditions’ we now regard as essential to festive celebrations, Bleak House is unique. This year marked the centenary of the Victorian author’s birth.
The former museum and private residence, now operates as a boutique B+B, restaurant, museum and tea rooms with spectacular sea views. Bleak House is also available for private hire.
Now owned by the Hilton family, who have lovingly restored the property to its former glory, Bleak House, which retains many original features and antique furnishings, offers a truly unique setting.
“The brass bed in the luxurious Dickens Suite was once slept in by Queen Victoria, although we have changed the sheets and replaced the mattress,” said Nicola Hilton.
Bleak House is also taking orders for its a four-course menu, Christmas Day lunch with “all the trimmings for £79.95 (under 12s £39.95) and its Christmas Party Menu from 1st December for £37.50 a head.
For guests looking for over night stays, a double room with breakfast costs from £135 a night. Bleak House is also offering a third night’s accommodation for free on two-night bookings until March 2013.
‘Nancy’s’ tea rooms offers cream tea’s, daily specials, snacks and selection of Nellie’s delicious home made cakes, pastries, sandwiches and baguettes.
Home cooked Sunday lunches are served between 12.00 noon and 3.00pm. One courses £9.95, two courses £12.95.
The house offers 6 bedrooms. Four luxurious en-suites range from £135 a night for the ‘Little Dorit’ superior room, £155 for the ‘Fagin Suite’, £295 for the ‘Copperfield Bridal Suite’ to the £295 ‘Charles Dickens Suite’.
About Bleak House
Built in 1801, the cliff top Fort House as it was known then, was the home of the local fort captain during the Napoleonic wars. It was renamed Bleak House in 1870 on Dickens’s death, it was turned into a museum by way of tribute to the author before going into private ownership.
From 1837 to 1859 Dickens leased the six-bedroomed property for his family's summer holidays, spending a least a month here or over 20 years. At the time he lived 20 miles away at Gad's Hill Place at Higham, near Chatham, Kent.
He wrote David Copperfield at Bleak House, plus chapters of Nicholas Nickelby, Barnaby Rudge and Oliver Twist and was inspired to write his 1952 novel ‘Bleak House’, which is set in Bedfordshire.
A spectacular wedding venue – Bleak House is licensed for civil ceremonies – the entire property can be rented as a family holiday home for between £5,000 for a weekend and £12,000 a week. A private chef, butler and maid can also be provided as part of the package.
Open daily 10.00am to 5.00pm. Guided Tours cost £4 for adults and £2 for children under 12. The cellar is home to a gruesome Smuggling Museum. The Charles Dickens lounge bar is open from 12.00 noon to 10.00pm.
Bleak House, Fort Road, Broadstairs, Kent CT10 1EY
For more information, visit bleakhousebroadstairs.co.uk.
