Artist Barn Handbook

Hello,

We are really excited to introduce the ‘Artist Barn’ to you. Please take a few minutes to read through this guide and don’t hesitate to get in touch with any questions.

Many thanks,

Henry & Ania

henry@praktyka.co.uk

If you are feeling organised, here are a few tips to plan ahead:

• Take a break on the drive down (depending on your route) - there’s Stonehenge, Cheddar Gorge, Hauser & Wirth and much more. Here’s a list near the A303.

• After a long drive, book a table in the village pub ‘The Coach & Horses’?

• Book a jewellery making workshop with your host Ania - click here.

• Book a surf lesson with the awesome Mark down at Westward Ho - for all levels and age’s.

• Visit a nearby supermarket: Asda, Sainsburys or Lidl.

We are inviting you down to stay at our home and we have a few house rules:

• No pets I’m afraid. (We have a resident cat and the surrounding farms have livestock).

• Please keep the noise down after 10pm. This is a quiet place not a party place.

• You are responsible for your own safety, and everyone in your groups safety, during your stay at Praktyka. We have taken a lot of care to develop the site but there are uneven surfaces where you may trip or slip.

• Children should not be left unaccompanied to roam around the site.

• Each accommodation has their own private garden onsite, please respect your neighbours privacy.

A few useful things to bring include:

• Towels & beach towels

• Beach equipment - bucket & spade, deckchairs, wetsuit, surfboard, etc…

• Food and kitchen condiments.

• Eco toiletries - we provide eco soap, washing up liquid & body wash.

• Picnic blanket

• Marshmello’s & sticks.

• Drinks bottles and lunchboxes for pack lunches.

• Torch

• Walking boots / wellies / waterproof shoes.

• Wooly hat for sitting by the fire

• Kite

• Waterproofs - jacket, trousers & umbrella.

• Swimming costume

• Books

• Suncream

• Sunglasses

• Thermos

• Hand Sanitizer

• Face Mask

What Three Words: sped.dolls.deck.

Please follow this link on WHAT THREE WORDS to find us directly.

We prefer to use ‘What Three Words’ as our postcode directs you to our neighbours farm ‘Bearah.’ We are the next door property. Up the hill on the left. You will see Thorne Farm on the gate.

Our Address:

Thorne Farm, Buckland Brewer, Nr Bideford, Devon, EX39 5NA

Please take care driving in the lanes, they can be narrow in places. There are plenty of passing places and you never know who you will meet around the corner, dog walker, horse or huge tractor. 

Directions from the Coach & Horses pub in Buckland Brewer village:

Come out of the pub and turn left. After about fifty metres turn right down the lane opposite the primary school. Go all the way down the lane to the bottom of the hill and up the other side. 

As you go up the hill you will pass a farm on the left called ‘Bearah.’ We are the next turning on the left at the top of the hill. You will see some trees, and a driveway on the left with ‘Thorne Farm’ written on the gate.

On Arrival:

• Please drive in and park up in the car park. 

• In the car park you will see a wooden archway with the ‘Praktyka’ sign. Please walk through this archway and follow the path straight through the gardens. You will see a white barn to the left of a ancient beech tree - this is the artist barn.

Please find above a very simple sitemap showing you where to go on arriving.

The barn will be available from 4pm on the day of your Arrival. 

We ask all guests to self-check in.

Your accommodation will be clean and ready for you to enjoy.

Please take a few minutes to read all the links in this handbook.

If you have any questions, please send Henry a message on whatsapp (07723007644) or email henry@praktyka.co.uk

If it is urgent please give Henry a call.

Please note that we are continuing to ask guests to practice social distancing during their stays. 

Therefore we ask you to email or message us by phone if you have any questions. We promise to check our messages at least twice a day - normally at the start and end of the day. 

Email - henry@praktyka.co.uk

Telephone - Henry - 07723007644 

Emergency Contacts: 

General Emergency - Fire, Police or Ambulance : Call 999 

Location grid reference: SS 42215 19295 or EX395NA. 

If you need urgent medical advice call 111 or visit: www.111.nhs.uk

A&E Hospital - North Devon District Hospital. Open 24/7.

North Devon District Hospital. 

Raleigh Park, Barnstaple. 

Devon. 

EX314JB 

Tel: 01271 322 577

Please do not smoke or use candles in the barn.  

Please follow the instructions outlined below to use the woodburner. There’s a certain technique required to make it burn smoothly.

Please do not leave it unattended when the door is open.

Please do not flammable materials within one metre of the woodburner. 

In the event of a fire:  

Exit the accommodation as quickly as possible without stopping to gather possessions, and meet in the car park. 

Call the fire brigade on 999. 

Alert your hosts Henry and Ania immediately.

A fire extinguisher is located under the sink in the kitchen. 

HWAM 510c Woodburner  

We provide you with a pile of seasoned hardwood, kindling and firelighters for your stay. 

More logs and kindling can be purchased on request if needed at cost price. Please only use seasoned hardwood.

Please take a moment to read these instructions - even if you are very used to using woodburners,

You will find matches, firelighter, kindling and logs in the baskets next to the woodburner. It is simple to light and burns very efficiently when lit. 

1) There is a dial to the left side of the base on the woodburner, this controls the vent. It should be turned to the right to open the vent when you are lighting the fire. When lit turn it to the left to restrict the vent. 

2) When lighting the fire, you may find it useful to pull the ash drawer out to give it a boots of air. Then close it up when the fire has is roaring.  

3) If you are new to making fires, we suggest using newspaper and cardboard to make a base. Then place a fire lighter in the centre with kindling and small logs around it. You could try and make a mini version of the ‘the stack’ and ‘the tower.’

4) Please dispose of any ash in the metal bucket provided.

5) Please remember that the woodburner will be hot and the immediate area around it.

Under Floor Heating

The barn is heated by underfloor heating generated from our ground source heat pump. The thermostats are set to give a comfortable temperature throughout the house, you shouldn’t need to adjust them. If it is too cold or hot please contact Henry.

There is a towel rail in the bathroom extra warmth and for drying towels etc.

The key for the front door is in a lock box by the door, the code is ‘1980.’

You will find everything you need on the shelves and in the drawers. If there’s anything special you need let us know and we will lend it to you if we have it. 

POTS & PANS

You will find pots and pans are in the drawer under the oven. Please only use wooden utensils with them and clean them with a cloth or sponge provided. Or use the dishwasher. 

COOKING HOB

The induction hob operates with a touch buttons on the control panel. Press the power button to turn on and off. Please remember the hob remains hot for a short while after it is turned off. Please see the print out for more details. 

OVEN 

The oven is a conventional air oven and grill. Sometimes the fan oven can stay on for a long time, if it is annoying you, press the red switch to turn it off. 

Here is a link to the manual with explanations of all the settings.

DISHWASHER

You will find tablets in the drawer under the sink. Please see the printout which explains the different programmes. We advise using either ‘AUTO’ or ‘ECO’ (ECO takes a bit longer and is not good for very dirty dishes). Please try and fill up the dishwasher as much as possible before using. 

COASTERS

Please use the coasters for drinks and pots on the tables and kitchen worktop to protect the surfaces. 

Fire & First Aid

You will find a fire extingisher and a first aid pack in the cupboard above the cooker. 

Please do not put any products other than toilet paper in the toilet. We have our own septic tank and it will block immediately if contaminated.

We suggest keeping the shutters closed in the bathroom to protect your privacy. 

We provide soap, hand sanitiser, washing up liquid, and a surface cleaner for use during your stay. These will be located under the sink. 

Please do not leave food outside un attended or that will attract squirrels and other animals.

Please note that the best way to avoid the spread of Coronavirus is by washing hands and surfaces thoroughly with hot soapy water. 

Please help us to recycle and reduce our environmental impact. The bins are in the kitchen, please shout if you have any questions: 

1) Plastic / Cans recycling: 

Plastic Bottles (Milk bottles, Toiletries bottles, Drinks bottles)

Plastic packaging (Food pots and tubs, plastic trays, yoghurt pots, margarine tubs)

Metal packaging (Aerosols, drinks cans, food tins) 

Foil (Aluminium foil, foil trays) 

2) Paper / Cardboard - Please keep together in the cardboard box provided. 

3) Glass - Please keep together in the cardboard box provided. 

4) Food Waste Caddy (To go towards our home compost). 

• Yes please: Fruits, vegetables, coffee grinds & filters, tea bags. 

• No thanks: Bread, Seafood, Meat, Cheese, Bones, General leftovers. 

5) General Waste 

Non compostable food:(Bread, Seafood, Meat, Cheese, Bones, General leftovers.)

Plastic food wrappers (Crisp packets, cling film) 

Polystyrene

Black plastic food trays / containers

Plastic envelopes

Cardboard milk or juice cartons.

The barn has wi-fi and the passwords are:

Praktyka2 Network password = practice

We provide a traditional bowl BBQ with all the utensils. Please cover the fire with the lid when it is not in use.

We live in a very quiet corner of the world. However, if you have any high value items please keep them locked in the barn or in your car.

Our changeover days are particularly busy. We greatly appreciate any help you can offer to keep the place tidy during your stay: 

Remove all the food from the accommodation that you have brought with you - from fridges, cupboards and accommodation. 

Please ensure all the kitchen items you have used have been cleaned. 

Please empty all bins and recycling. 

Please check the property thoroughly before leaving - including under beds and the garden. 

Please depart promptly by 10am, we need all the time to prepare the space for the next guests.

Thankyou for leaving the barn tidy and we hope to see you again soon at Praktyka, 

Please share any photos, stories or feedback with us. We are trying to improve what we do all the time.

Much love, 

Henry & Ania & Ziggy.