An award-winning holiday property owner has helped raise hundreds of pounds this year for Cornwall Air Ambulance and Parkinson’s UK.

Stephen Chidgey runs the Old Barn in Tregonetha, near St Wenn – a holiday let that has won multiple prestigious tourism accolades over the years – including two golds at the South West Tourism Excellence Awards and another two at the Cornwall Tourism Awards.

A four-night stay at the Old Barn has just achieved a £1600 bid in a silent auction held by Parkinson’s UK.

In a letter written to Stephen, Chief Executive Caroline Rassell, said: “Your contribution was greatly appreciated by the attendees and significantly contributed to the success of our fundraising efforts…Every pound and penny raised helps bring real breakthroughs closer for people with Parkinson’s.”

Cornwall Air Ambulance also benefits from Stephen’s generosity, with guests invited to donate on every booking and the Old Barn matching their donation.

“I would love to see more tourism providers doing something similar,” he said. “The Cornwall Air Ambulance is here for everyone, residents and visitors, and it makes absolute sense to support the charity and help keep their helicopters flying.

“I’m delighted the auction prize for Parkinson’s UK did so well and look forward to welcoming the successful bidder to the Old Barn where they can be assured of a break to remember.”

As the deadline for entering the Church Times 2024 Green Church Awards approaches, Huw Spanner speaks to previous winners

In the Green Church Awards in 2017, the Green Building Award was won by St Wenn’s, near Bodmin (News, 13 October 2017), where the congregation of a small medieval village church formed a partnership with the primary school next door to install a shared biomass boiler.

“We were surprised to win the award, when we knew we were up against Gloucester Cathedral,” Barbara Crowle, one of the churchwardens, recalls, “but it was really heartening.”

The congregation was in single figures in 2017, but has since more than doubled, she says. “We’ve always been welcoming, but the warmth [from the boiler] has definitely helped. It has also made a big difference to the school, and their numbers have gone up, too.”

The £1000 that came with the award “went into the pot to help with our regeneration”, and the church has also received grants from a wind farm near by. In the past few years, they have been able to put in a lavatory with a sewage-treatment plant, and to replace old tarmac paths around the church with permeable gravel.

The congregation are always looking for other ways to make their church more environmentally friendly, Mrs Crowle says. “Obviously, we’ve changed all the lights to LEDs. We’re hoping to use rainwater in the new toilet, but at the moment we haven’t got any further with that.”

Several other churches in the diocese have sent people over “to have a look and ask questions”. And a local man, Stephen Chidgey, a member of the diocesan advisory committee (DAC) and a DAC adviser on renewable energy and heating, who was instrumental in greening St Wenn’s, now has a position on the diocesan board, advising on “all things environmental”.

Read the full article here: https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2024/14-june/features/features/church-times-green-church-awards-past-winners

Photo: The newly opened hand-built church hall at Holy Trinity, Tulse Hill, in south-east London

Press Release

The Old Barn, a self-catering holiday property in Tregonetha, has been included in a list of the 10 best places to stay in Cornwall by www.britainsfinest.co.uk

Selected by prolific travel journalist Adrian Mourby, the Old Barn is described as ‘a place to come back to after a hard day’s sight-seeing, or a cosy spot to hide yourself away completely for a few days.’

As someone who travels all over the world and writes about his experiences in a wide range of high-profile publications, Adrian’s good opinion is highly sought after by those in the tourism industry. Now a convert to the Old Barn’s charms, he’s booked there for another visit in November.

“I was sorry not to get there this summer,” he said. “However, we’ve managed to secure four nights in late November which should be a whole different experience, clad in big woolly sweaters and the log-burning stove roaring away!”

Stephen Chidgey owns the multiple award-winning and eco-friendly Old Barn, which sleeps five and boasts a variety of unique features – including a grand piano. High quality customer service is a number one priority, and every guest is welcomed with a well-stocked hamper of Cornish goodies.

“It’s a real thrill to have made Adrian Mourby’s top ten list of best places to stay in Cornwall,” said Stephen. “I’m a firm believer in never resting on your laurels and, to that end, my partner, Allen, and I work hard to give all our visitors the very best memories possible of their stay with us. I think that’s very important – not just for me as a holiday property owner but for Cornwall’s reputation as a magical, top-quality place for a break. A lot of local people depend on tourism for their livelihood and, with the cost-of-living biting hard, it’s even more vital to provide excellent value for money and attract repeat custom. I look forward to welcoming Adrian and his wife again in November. That time of year truly has a charm of its own.”

For more information, visit https://www.britainsfinest.co.uk/inspiration/listings/profile/10-best-places-to-stay-in-cornwall or take a look around our website.

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October 2022

Photos: Old Barn, Tregonetha

Press Release

Stephen Chidgey’s mantra that good customer service is more important than anything has again earned him a finalist’s place in the self-catering category of the 2021/2022 Cornwall Tourism Awards.

Stephen runs the Old Barn at Tregonetha with his partner Allen Puckey. Situated in a quiet hamlet between Padstow and Bodmin, the eco-friendly, five-bed accommodation is within walking distance of the Tregonetha Downs nature reserve and Castle-an-Dinas, an impressive Iron Age hill fort.

Cornwall has thousands of self-catering holiday properties yet, since 2014, the Old Barn continues to be singled out nationally and regionally for its exceptional quality standards, attention to detail and outstanding guest reviews.

“Property cleanliness is a given these days, but we work very hard to treat our guests as real people, rather than as names on an automated booking form,” said Stephen. “We don’t use online travel agencies like Airbnb and Booking.com because, as hosts, we want our visitors to feel they can talk to us when they need to, rather than being distanced by a faceless third party.

“Customer service is, and always will be, our number one priority. We listen to what guests say, make sure they’ve got what they need and do our best to go above and beyond expectation. Their feedback is what wins us awards and I’d like to thank them – and our whole team – for inspiring this latest success.

“We may be a comparatively small business but, as our occupancy rate and awards prove, we do seem to punch above our weight.”

The Old Barn currently has a 100% ‘Excellent’ rating based on 65 Trustpilot reviews.

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January 2022

Photos: Stephen Chidgey (left) and Allen Puckey outside The Old Barn in Tregonetha

Press Release

An award-winning tourism provider is encouraging guests to donate to the Cornwall Air Ambulance when making a booking.

Stephen Chidgey has been winning widespread and prestigious recognition for his self-catering cottage in Tregonetha, near Padstow, for many years. As someone who believes wholeheartedly in a sustainable, ethical approach that provides customers with an outstanding value-for-money service, he has now gone one step further by introducing an opportunity for donations that will help a life-saving local charity.

Not only that, Stephen has also pledged to match guest contributions from his own pocket.

“I’ve been supporting the Cornwall Air Ambulance for some years with free holidays at the Old Barn that are then raffled or auctioned to raise funds,” he said.

“Cornwall Air Ambulance is a vital community charity that helps visitors as well as residents when they get into difficulty, so it seemed only reasonable to encourage donations when people book. I’ve been delighted with the response so far.”

Stephen is something of a role model for Cornish tourism, having been a regular winner in the Cornwall, Southwest and Visit England awards since 2014.

Sleeping up to five people, the Old Barn boasts a range of eco features that include a ground source heat pump, solar panels, rainwater harvesting and electric charging points. Occupancy rates have never been higher and all the indications are that 2022 will be a similarly successful year.

Karen Hurn, Philanthropy Manager at Cornwall Air Ambulance, said: “Every year Cornwall Air Ambulance is tasked to over 1,000 missions. Up to 20% of these are to help people who fall seriously ill or have an injury while visiting the county. It is fantastic to have support from Stephen, who is not only raising vital funds for the charity, but also helping to spread awareness about the lifesaving service within the tourism sector.”

For more information, visit www.cornwallairambulancetrust.org

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October 2021

Britain’s Finest, Adrian Mourby – September 2021

So here is my selection of ten excellent places to stay in Cornwall during 2022. I visited them all just recently and can recommend everyone. There’s huge variety, from magisterial Victorian hotels to self-catering cottages, old fashioned country houses to pubs with rooms, and of course lots of places by the sea. There’s even a former convent in the mix. If you’re thinking of heading to Cornwall in 2022 – or getting in a quick pre-Christmas break — I hope this selection will inspire you.

Read the full article

Press Release

The multi award-winning owner of a self-catering property in Tregonetha, near Padstow, has been praised for his ‘kindness and care’ in immediately returning a booking deposit to guests having to cancel a stay this autumn.

Stephen Chidgey prides himself on always going the extra mile for his visitors and is incensed by what he terms the ‘profiteering in the extreme’ mentality exhibited by some tourism providers. He says that exceptional demand has led to a 40% increase in the weekly self-catering prices being charged by some businesses, regardless of quality, facilities or cleanliness.

“The growth and ease of offering almost any accommodation through online travel agencies worries me,” he said. “The number of people choosing to holiday in Cornwall this year is huge for obvious reasons, but I don’t think that should be an excuse for some property owners and agencies to lower standards, hike costs and not give value for money.

“That sort of attitude will damage the Cornish brand that most of us in the industry have worked so hard to build. Most of us have had a difficult year dealing with Covid and I think it’s only right to do what we can to help, rather than being selfish.”

Writing on Trust Pilot, Anne Woods gave The Old Barn its latest five-star review: “Unfortunately for personal reasons we have had to cancel our planned first visit to this property in the autumn. I let Stephen know, fully expecting that we would lose our deposit. Instead, I almost immediately received a very kind and supportive voicemail message followed by an email reassuring me that of course our money would be without question immediately refunded, which it was.

“We have both been so impressed with this amazing customer service. It is common to read of people being refused refunds or having significant charges deducted, but there was none of this at all. I think it’s the kindness and care demonstrated at a difficult time for us that has made the most difference. We most definitely hope to rebook in the future and cannot recommend this property and its owners too highly.”

The Old Barn is independently inspected and graded by Visit England and Quality Tourism.

“We’re determined to be the best we can be and the satisfaction we get from our guest reviews is immense,” said Stephen. “I think there should be a level playing field for all holiday accommodation in terms of assessment so, when a customer books and pays for five-star, that is what they can rightfully expect.

“I was delighted to read what Anne had written but, as providers, we should be treating everyone fairly and well. We want a stay in Cornwall to evoke wonderful memories and a determination to come back regularly. That won’t be achieved if we show lack of understanding when plans have to change, provide shoddy service or rip people off.”

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June 2021

Press Release

A man well-known for always going the extra mile and helping his local community in whatever way he can has been presented with a Civic Award by Councillor Hilary Frank, Chair of Cornwall Council.

Stephen Chidgey lives in Tregonetha, where he owns and runs a multi award-winning holiday cottage. Not content with focusing solely on his business, Stephen joined St Wenn Hall Committee fifteen years ago and quickly set about project managing an interior re-design of the building that included installing a new kitchen and accessible toilets.

To enable ownership of the hall to be transferred from the Women’s Institute to St Wenn Community, the latter became a registered charity for fundraising purposes and Stephen became its first chair. When that term ended after three years, he became treasurer.

As well as helping to put on five community lunches a year, being actively involved in the running of the annual St Wenn Garden Show when the charity took it over, organising events and social gatherings and being part of the team that saved St Wenn school field in perpetuity as an open recreational space, Stephen somehow found the time to take on responsibility for implementing a sustainable and cost effective solution to heating St Wenn Church by installing a biomass boiler that was shared with the nearby primary school. The innovation has proved hugely successful, with more groups using the church on a regular basis and large savings being made by both institutions.

Once that work was complete, Stephen took on the task of toilet provision in the church – something that had proved a challenge for around 40 years because of the drainage and cess pit problems associated with graveyards. He proposed a small treatment plant where the outflow would be clean water that could drain into any water course and that in turn led to St Wenn becoming the first church in Cornwall to have that type of facility.

As a direct result of Stephen’s endeavours, St Wenn Church won the Church Times Green Award – no mean feat in the face of stiff competition from the likes of Gloucester Cathedral. Stephen’s work was also recognised by Truro diocese and he was subsequently appointed their Renewables and Sustainability Adviser.

“Whilst I’m truly honoured and humbled to get this Civic Award, I genuinely feel I’m receiving it on behalf of the whole St Wenn community,” said Stephen. “It’s their willingness and general enthusiasm for pitching in and getting involved that makes things happen – from picking up a wheelbarrow, cooking or taking on one of the many other jobs that need doing.

“I’m very proud to live in such a kind and mutually supportive neighbourhood. We work on projects together and it’s that sense of being there for one another that makes this place so special.”

Councillor Paul Wills, the Cornwall Councillor for St Wenn and Mayor of St Columb Major, nominated Stephen for the Civic Award.

“Stephen’s list of achievements speak for themselves,” he said. “He has worked tirelessly for his local community over many years and always goes the extra mile to rally support, overcome challenges and get things done. I’m sure I speak for everyone in the St Wenn area when I say he is an amazing man who has contributed so much. That’s why I put him forward for this award – no one deserves it more.”

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October 2020

Photo: L to R: Reverend Jem Thorold, Sue Thorold, Stephen Chidgey, Councillor Hilary Frank, Jim Goad (Chair St Wenn Community Project), Councillor Mary May, Barbara Crowle (St Wenn Church Warden)

Press Release

A Cornish self-catering business has commissioned a special ‘walk-through’ video to help show guests around the property.

Stephen Chidgey, owner of the Old Barn Tregonetha near Padstow, has always prided himself on welcoming guests in person and showing them around the property. Now that is no longer permitted, he commissioned Falmouth-based Bull & Wolf Film Co to produce a walk-through video that would do that job instead.

“I’ve always believed in providing personal touches that make every guest feel special,” said Chidgey, who runs the cottage with his partner Allen.

“Before the current pandemic, that meant greeting our visitors and giving them a brief tour to ensure they knew what was available to them in terms of appliances and facilities and, importantly, how everything worked.

“We are very careful not to be intrusive but, as our many five-star Trust Pilot reviews show, customers have always valued the warm welcome we provide. That’s not possible at the moment so I got in touch with Bull & Wolf who have re-created what we normally do on film. They have done an excellent job and, because I do the voice-over, it still feels very personal.”

Like all tourism providers, Chidgey had to cancel all bookings during the lockdown period – returning deposits voluntarily to everyone who didn’t re-book. Within days of the latest Government announcement about re-opening on July 4, however, his summer booking calendar was again completely full.

“We haven’t got any availability until October which is wonderful,” he said. “Like everyone else, I hope people will abide by the guidelines to avoid any risk of another wave of infection. Cleanliness is critical and the regime now required is rightly very rigorous. We are members of Premier Cottages and PASC (Professional Association of Self Caterers) who worked with Visit England to help draw up the new rules. We’re also delighted to have the AA’s ‘COVID Confident’ accreditation.”

Take a look at the video here >> https://youtu.be/ghf24HV-CAk

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July 2020