THE management team behind a formerly unloved Fife mansion house are bidding to create ‘the Kingdom’s greatest exclusive use venue’ for all manner of weddings, corporate events and luxury self-catering.
And they have already put their money where their mouth is by funding Scotland’s newest road to link the house and estate to the nearest village.
Fusion Estate Management (a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Fusion Group UK) who take on the management and operation of old buildings and estates to create profitable long-term ventures, have already invested over £70,000 in Carphin Mansion House near Cupar, which now offers five-star facilities akin to top hotels.
Just last weekend, an access road was laid, connecting the house and estate to the village of Luthrie.
It’s the latest in a long line of improvements and investment in the location which has seen over a million pounds spent inside and outside the Mansion House, which dates from 1790.
The property is now complete with nine bedrooms, seven of which are en-suite; an impressive drawing room; a ten-seater dining room and a spectacular open-plan kitchen with was formerly three rooms that have been knocked into one to create an amazing space for entertaining.
Whether for a wedding or event, those using Carphin House have exclusive use of the venue for the duration of their stay.
Staff can be supplied to provide occupants with silver service and generally take care of their every whim or they can use it on a self catering basis.
The property is also complete with a brand new 150-seater Marquee in the grounds, again purchased by Fusion.
Stuart Evans, of Fusion Estate Management, takes up the story: “We are hugely excited about Carphin which is indicative of what Fusion Estate Management can achieve by taking a property – in this case an inherited one in a state of disrepair – to create a multi-functional business with masses of potential.
“We are in a strong location only eleven miles from St Andrews. Just looking at the local market, Fife has a limited number of five star venues and even fewer are exclusive use.
‘Particularly as relates to weddings, brides who have not been able to book several years in advance will find that most places are fully booked, certainly at weekends.
‘We are saying to them come to Carphin, we are here with a five-star venue which offers real flexibility and is ideal for those who like to put their own individual stamp on a wedding.”
With many years experience in the hotel and hospitality industry behind them, Stuart and his business partner, Alex McKie, have decided to do things a little differently as regards wedding bookings and Carphin is providing the perfect vehicle for their philosophy which puts the customer at the heart of the operation.
Those booking a wedding at Carphin will find that they are not tied into any specific caterer or drinks supplier; there is a flexible deposit payment scheme; late check-out as standard and no corkage charges for 2013.
“We’re calling it the Carphin Way,” said Alex McKie, Fusion MD.
”We will even hold the venue without a deposit or give you the deposit back if you change from another venue to ours. These are areas which are not recognised industry practice but they are for us – just another example that we want to shake up the industry with this great venue.”
At a corporate level, coming soon in 2013 is ‘The Carphin Club’ offering varying levels of membership and benefits for business clients. One of Fusion’s largest corporate clients, Heineken, already enjoys attending bespoke events at Carphin.
As well as making the customer central to the business at Carphin, Fusion Estate Management are using local Fife companies, suppliers and individuals to make the business grow.
Local tradesmen have been involved in the renovation of the house and estate and a local wedding and events planner from the East Neuk, Louise Barclay, has been employed to oversee weddings and events on a full time basis.
“We are happy to engage with local business networking groups,” said Alex.
“We feel that the ‘Carphin Way’, as we like to call it, will spread out much further from Cupar and St Andrews to Dundee, Tayside and other parts of Fife and beyond. Tourism is very important in this part of the world and of course St Andrews has global appeal.
“We will consider supporting charity events at Carphin too so if any local group want to get in touch we will be very pleased to speak to them.”
For further details on Carphin by St Andrews check out www.carphinbystandrews.co.uk or call 01337 870401.
An Open Weekend and Wedding Fayre will be held 24th and 25th November 2012 11am-4pm.
Further details on Fusion Estate Management at www.fusiongroupuk.co.uk.
ENDS
Issued: 7th Nov 2012
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For further information please contact Clare Graham at Advantage PR on 01383 731358, 07879 682339, email Clare@advantagepr.co.uk.
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