Summer 2020 FAQs
We can't wait to welcome guests back to River Cottage however there will be a few things that will be a little different. We realise you may be feeling a little trepidatious about coming so hopefully the information below will reassure you.
If you have any further questions, please get in touch, otherwise we look forward to welcoming you!
Your Safety
We take your safety very seriously so have introduced the following measures to keep you safe and well. These measures will be constantly reviewed and adhere to the Government's guidance.
- Social distancing
We have reduced the capacity on our events to allow more space, ensuring all guests can remain the required distance apart.
Our new dining events, weather permitting, will take place outside and take advantage of our 100 acres. If the weather takes a turn for the worse, the events will be moved indoors and will take place in all our available spaces, including the barn, covered decking area and covered outdoor kitchen. These events are to be booked and enjoyed within households or permitted 'bubbles' so you can enjoy your visit as a group and remain apart from other guests at all time.
Our pre-lockdown communal dining experiences will be taking place a little differently and at reduced capacity. If you are booked to attend one of these events you will be receiving an email from us with more details.
To maintain social distancing, we will not be operating our traditional tractor-trailer ride to-and-from the car park to the farm. Instead, there will be a short 10 minute walk through the wonderful pathways, enabling you to really soak up the views of the valley and get your River Cottage experience started. The track is uneven so please wear appropriate footwear. If the walk down to HQ is something you are worried about due to accessibility challenges please let us know in advance of your visit and we will be able to help you down to the farm safely.
You will see signage around the site to help you stay safe and there will be one way systems, where possible, to aid social distancing. If you have any questions or concerns before your visit, please contact us on events@rivercottage.net.
- Health & Hygiene
We have always had exceptional hygiene standards and our staff will be thoroughly trained in our new and enhanced safety procedures. All of our spaces and equipment will be thoroughly cleaned before and after every event. The toilets will be cleaned hourly and there will be Sanitiser Stations available for your's and the teams use.
For courses, you will have your own utensils and equipment wherever possible and you will be spaced out in our cookery school to allow distance between guests - there will be a maximum of 10 customers on any course in our cookery school. For the time being, we kindly ask guests to bring and wear a face mask to be worn for indoor cookery courses.
Our farmhouse will operate on a strict cleaning regime, with access only allowed for those who are staying with us. Our team will always be around, at a safe distance, to guide you through on the day.
Your Bookings
Our usual T&Cs stand, however if you have Covid symptoms or have been advised to isolate, please contact us and do not visit, this is vital for the safety of all our guests.
If you made a booking during or before lockdown, and the event is due to take place in July or August, we will be in touch with details of how the event will be run asap. Please bear with us and wait for us to contact you, as you can imagine we have quite a lot keeping us busy at the moment.
If we have to close due to Covid, your booking will be transferred. You can read our full T&Cs HERE.
Be prepared!
For all of our events, you’ll be outside for some of the day, even if just the journey to-and-from the car so please dress according to the forecast and bring warm waterproof clothing in case of bad weather and wear sturdy shoes for the walk. There is no dress code at River Cottage, we just want you to be comfortable.
The new summer events are all intended to take place outside, please remember to wrap up warm or perhaps bring suncream and a sunhat - you never can tell with English summertime!