about the site - Alde Garden

what time is check-in? - tent pitch & glamping arrivals are between 4pm & 5pm (*Badger Cottage excluded - see below). Check-ins at other times MUST be pre-arranged by email at least 24 hours in advance but strictly no check-ins after 9pm. Check-out is 10am. On arrival day, notify us of changes to your arrival time by text on 07849 119259.
* Badger Cottage guests can check-in anytime after 6pm, and check-out is before 11am

is the garden suitable for children? - We do accept children, but the site is not necessarily suitable for all families - for example there is no space for lively/ball games, and there is an unfenced pond in the garden. Parents must maintain an appropriate level of supervision at all times. For more information please read 'what is the garden like?' below.

can I bring my dog? - sorry, no pets. We have ducks and chickens running freely in the garden & they don't get on well with dogs - even well-behaved ones!

what's included in the price? - your booking fee includes the use of all our facilities including bikes, communal fire etc. Accommodation with woodburners is supplied with your first basket of wood free. Further baskets of wood & pizza oven fuel is available to purchase on site. For more information on what to bring please visit the 'facilities' page, and you will find a 'packing list' at the foot of each accommodation page too.

when is payment due? - for tent pitch bookings, payment is made at the time of booking. For all other bookings, you will pay a 25% deposit and the rest will be due 6 weeks before the start of your stay. You will receive an email when the final payment is due

what is the housekeeping deposit for? - we take a £50 refundable housekeeping deposit for each booking (tent pitches excepted) in case of damage or excessive cleaning expenses.

when will I get my housekeeping deposit back? - we will be in touch to refund your housekeeping deposit (assuming all's well) within approx. two weeks of your departure. At busy times there can sometimes be a delay but rest assured we will refund it as soon as possible.

I would like to come with friends - are groups allowed? - enjoy the space with friends but, to maintain the communal atmosphere, groups are limited to 6 adults or, if there are children in the group, 2 sets of parents plus children. We are particularly fond of the warm & friendly feel that our communal spaces such as the fireplace and shelter have - but we've noticed in the past when a larger group is on site that others can feel excluded. Please respect our wishes and be mindful of this when booking.

can I book the entire site for a gathering or celebration? - sorry, our garden isn't suitable for exclusive hire.

I'm thinking of coming by public transport - how can I get about whilst I'm there? - we love it when guests holiday without a car. If staying in our pre-erected accommodation we will provide a free taxi to and from Saxmundham station. The area is perfect for exploring by bike - we are on a National Cycle Route - you can hire bikes locally - more info on the 'facilities' page. Local taxi & on-demand bus services are detailed on the 'getting about' page.

what do I need to bring with me? - please visit the 'facilities' page and read the 'packing list'

What is the garden like? The garden itself is small & peaceful. The compact nature of the site & shared spaces give the garden a friendly sense of community, yet each of the accommodation options are surrounded by trees/shrubs and offer a small secluded private outdoor space & have enough distance between them to have a feeling of privacy & space.

Set in what used to be the pub's beer garden, and tucked away behind a perimeter of hedges and mature trees, the various tents and structures are dotted about amongst winding pathways leading you through trees & wildlife areas. At night the garden is enchantingly lit by solar lights.

As you enter the garden from the car park you are first greeted by the communal areas: the fire place, field kitchen (a.k.a. 'the shelter'), & the more rustic facilities such as the jungle shower etc. Visible are the two yurts, and up a small hill a cluster of apple trees shelter the handful of tent pitches. In the far corner of the garden sits the gypsy caravan, hideout & bell tent. Follow the pathways through trees & shrubs and past the pond, towards the rear of the pub, and you will find a set of steps. At the foot of the steps there are flush toilets and an area with electricity sockets - where the fridge freezer, microwave and washing machine reside. For more about the range of facilities on offer in the garden please click here.

The back door of the pub offers an off-licence service for those wishing to enjoy drinks and snacks in the garden, but to go into the pub (during usual opening hours) you can do so via the main entrance on the roadside. See the pub's own website for up to date news on live music and other events.

To maintain the ambiance of the garden, cars are kept in a car park adjacent to the site (not next to the pitches) and we don't allow ball games, amplified music or large groups - so you can expect a feeling of tranquility alongside nature. Sometimes, however, there are families with children - so if you're looking for complete peace & quiet it's best to avoid weekends and school holidays.

The site is on the outskirts of the village of Sweffling - meaning that play areas, footpaths/cycle routes & open spaces are just a stone's throw away.