Things to Do During Your Stay at Porters Hall
A stay at Porters Hall offers the perfect blend of relaxation, recreation, and countryside charm.
Whether you’re visiting for a weekend escape, a family gathering, or a special celebration, there’s plenty to enjoy both within the house and throughout the surrounding area.
On site Activities
Guests can unwind in the spacious gardens, take peaceful walks through the nearby lanes, or simply enjoy the tranquillity of the Essex countryside.
For those who prefer indoor entertainment, the dedicated Games Room provides a fun and social space for all ages.
Games Room Facilities Include
A multi games table offering pool, table tennis, and air hockey
A large smart TV for movies, sports, and relaxed evenings together
A barrel bar, adding a rustic touch and a perfect spot for serving drinks
Board games and books for quieter moments
A selection of children’s toys to keep little ones happily entertained
Outdoors, the extensive gardens offer ample space for croquet, boules, rounders, football, and other lawn games, making it easy to enjoy time together in the fresh air.
Recommended Local Suppliers
To enhance your stay, we partner with a range of trusted local suppliers who offer services either on‑site at Porters Hall or at their own nearby premises. These include private chefs and catering companies, wellness practitioners, masseuse, activity providers, and more. Please note that all guest enquiries, arrangements, and bookings must be made directly with the supplier, as they manage their own availability, pricing, and services.
Private Chef
CHEF by Mick Binnington.
Multiple award winning chef with over 23 years’ experience in hospitality.
Website: www.chefbymb.co.uk
Email: info@chefbymb.co.uk
Private Chef & Catering Options
Hadlow and Co.
Luxury catering company providing catering for dinner parties, canapes, buffets, food bowls, sharing platters. Portable pizza oven.
Website: www.hadlowandco.co.uk
Mobile: 07568 585440
Cake Making
Mrs B’s Bakes
Hayley – 07904 858981
Private wine-tasting and gin-tasting at Porters Hall
Neil Bull : 07743 897562
enjaybee57@gmail.com
As a life-long wine enthusiast, Neil decided to develop his interest and started studying with the Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET), whilst still working in the city. He completed level 2 and 3 and then graduated with a level 4 diploma in 2010. Wanting to share his enthusiasm on the subject, and with a natural talent for teaching, Neil became a WSET approved programme provider in levels 1, 2 and 3 making him one of only 600 people in the world to be able to do so.
Since 2014 Neil has run tastings such as Cheese and Wine, Spanish Wine and Tapas, Gin, Whisky and Port tastings as well as wine tastings with wines from all around the world. He always ensures that every event is fun as well as interesting.
Reflexologist (Julie Harrison)
Julie from ‘Barefoot At The Barn’ is based less than 1 mile from Porters Hall and offers Reflexology in her tranquil, converted barn.
Website: www.beauty-at-the-barn.com
Email: barefootatthebarn@gmail.com
Mobile: 07731 400002
Juvenescent Reformative Massages
Josephine Ninian – 07908 575632
Josephine is a mobile masseuse, with over 15 years’ experience in providing professional massages, tailored to your individual needs. She lives locally and can carry out many different types of massage, including deep tissue, lymphatic drainage, Thai, Swedish, Indian head and Aromatherapy massages in the comfort of Porters Hall.
Yoga, Pilates, Somatic breathwork
Adriana Welham from www.vidawellnessclub.com
Email: adrianapotts1@gmail.com
Mobile: 07956 664434
Hannah Whittaker
Email: hcwhittaker1@gmail.com
Mobile: 07497 147475
Fancy a spot of yoga or pilates on the lawn at Porters Hall? Adriana, originally from Venezuela, lives in Stebbing and co-founded Vida Wellness Club. She is certified in Pilates, Yoga, Dance Fitness, Barra and Strength & Balance.
Cocktail Making Classes
Steve the Barman (Thirst First Ltd)
www.stevethebarman.com
Email: lovelyjubbly@stevethebarman.com
Mobile: 07801 067853
Fun, Entertaining Cocktail Lessons, but with a tonne of Drinks Inspiration to help you make better drinks at home!
Gin School & Distillery Tour
Emma Wooding from Meadow Oak Distillery (in Stebbing)
www.meadowoakdistillery.com
Email: emma@meadowoakdistillery.com
Environmentally aware and nature oriented distillery in Stebbing. Manufactures and sells gins as well as offering gin school and distillery tours. Also available is ‘Hilda’ – bar hire in a refurbished and converted 1978 Elddis Mistral Caravan.
Art work (including commissions)
Julie Bull 07890 540059
Dog grooming
The Hair of the Dog – Contact Saffron Spink 07525 187882
Things to do within Stebbing Parish
Walking and cycling – a gentle, scenic way to explore the local countryside. Quiet lanes, bridleways, and footpaths wind past ancient hedgerows, open farmland, and historic spots like the village’s medieval church. The terrain is mostly flat with a few rolling stretches, making it accessible for families, casual walkers, and leisure cyclists.
St Mary the Virgin, Stebbing’s village church – a striking 14th‑century building known for its stone rood screen, which is exceptionally rare because almost all medieval stone screens in England were destroyed during the Reformation.
The White Hart pub, High Street, Stebbing – a cosy, traditional, family‑run village pub. Serves great pizzas (including takeaways) and holds regular pub quizzes and live bands. Dog friendly.
Stebbing Village Shop, High Street, Stebbing, CM6 3SQ – a community‑run shop in the heart of the village, offering a wide range of everyday essentials, local produce, fresh sandwiches, hot drinks, and home‑baked treats, all served by a friendly team of volunteers.
Stebbing Tennis Club – guests are welcome to join any of the Club Sessions on Thursday evenings 5:30pm-9:30pm and Sunday mornings 10:30am-12:30pm. £3 visitors fee per person. These are relaxed games of doubles for whoever attends – no booking required, just turn up and play – the club are a very friendly bunch!