I hope since this video is titled "Tea Time" that means this is what you decided to call the series because that is the perfect name for a British manor sit-down chat! Or if you want to include fire, then do "Fireside Tea Time" or "Tea Time by the Fire".

A Folly! That's what you are talking about building. Perhaps a mock castle?

I wish $$$ were not an issue. I'd love to visit Mapperton. I'm not interested in big cities but in the English countryside, old houses, and quaint cottages. My family dates back to James I; he is my 13th great-grandfather, so England holds high interest for me. Maybe before I'm too old, I'll get the money together,. Until then, I will watch your channel. And actually, I live 2.25 hours from the nearest city, so we drive that far on 2-lane, long, winding roads at least once a month for various activities.

When i come to the UK im definitely coming to visit you, i dont care if you're in the middle of nowhere. Massive fan here.

You both have great ideas for your beautiful, home and grounds . Recently at one of our historic homes in Ponca City, Okla. We had a Royal Tea Party where we served in proper courses of the tea. It was a real hit and people loved being served . It was a time reminiscent of a bygone era and a chance to dress in 1920's era clothing. So much fun!

I really enjoyed this fireside chat.

yeah np, seeing the house restoration and renovation is very relaxing and interesting, your digital platform should be to instrumentalize repairing the house in a sustainable way for a long time into the future, turning lots of old unused structures would be the way to go so no one is displaced and they don't always need to be big or fancy but just someone serviceable to allow for more wants, you want to make the house more lasting for the next century or two, the digital platform could get you a lot of money for that

Wonderful ideas! Hope you can get some of them up and going soon. ❤

Here in New Zealand 2 plus hours is nothing for a day trip we do it all the time.

Golly, there are so many factors to consider to get the right balance. You guys are busy bees! I hope you get some good ideas from the comments. Definitely enjoyed this video.

6:30 Absolutely! I live in Arizona and we often drive 2+ hours for day trips. When I lived in Florida, I had to drive over an hour just to go across town to visit my mother. Many of us routinely commute over and hour, each way, for work every day. Long drives here are definitely the norm. :)

Of all that has been discussed here in this great video I think you both are right that this digital community that has been created is wonderful. It does bring people together that under any other circumstances you would never have had the opportunity to meet and learn about your immensely interesting life. I admire your passion and how very down to earth you both are. My husband and I look forward to every video here and in Italy! This was a great idea.

As someone who has a large aquarium, you can actually have a filter without chemicals. It would just involve different types of mechanical and biological filtration. Oase makes great pond filters. You should contact them to see if they would like to do a collaboration.

Medevil authentic dinner and tournaments with knights jostling would be so cool. Is there any acting groups & caters in England that you could partner up with to put such an event on during a glorious summer afternoon early evening

What about taking to schools, high schools & universities to do heritage tours for students learning or studying about their country's past in their educational programs. Also, to help with some of the construction needed to be done, there are programs that you can hire the students on volunteer service as they earn their certification in their chosen certification program under their trade teacher or instructor

I love this new series!

An estate is very expensive to run, I would say that for a majority of aristocracy who have these big estates offset the costs with the tourists and let them have tours of the home. I mean its absolutely necessary to maintain these homes and the land.

Do you have a barn available that’s got lots of antique character for smaller weddings? Because some of us really like having smaller weddings of under 100 people - like 60 people ish

Yep, 2 hours is a chip shot, no big deal 😂

If you build new housing MEANT for tourism you aren’t taking it away from the population- and they have new business to cater to - the rates shop the pub - I think it’s great

I think your location would be great for birding groups. Generally speaking a very respectful group, low maintenance. Smaller groups that usually happily pay to be in a beautiful countryside setting to enjoy birdwatching. Cheers

Yes we would Luke....We would drive 2 to 3 hours for an exciting quick trip in the USA. Can you do a package deal with a transportaions company out of London, plus a hotel/restaurant .venue nearby to bring more people.in to your area, Tourists all over the world would LOVE to visit an estate or two, but it has to be easy for them. People HAVE the money...but they're intimidated/afraid to do anything on their own.....I love you guys!!! Donna from Mi.

I really think you toffs urgently need to get a grip on the real world. You own property in London, several houses in surrounding villages around Mapperton, a house in Italy, and you own 1,900 acres of land on your massive estate - yet you moan endlessly about being strapped for cash! Why don't you sell off a few remote acres on the outskirts of your estate, to social housing associations and local councils, so they can build decent houses to provide urgently needed housing for those impoverished citizens who are struggling to keep a safe roof over their heads? The solution to your financial "woes" is staring you in the face - yet your sense of entitlement seems to have blinded you to any insight. You could pocket the profits of the land sales, and also provide a haven for those in desperate need of a simple council house. Who the hell needs 1,900 acres to live on?! Most people - in the real world - consider themselves fortunate indeed, if they are able to live with their family on a quarter of an acre block in suburbia. Listening to pampered people whining about their lack of loot, is rather sick-making. Do try to cultivate a sense of perspective. As Tennyson so wisely wrote - "Kind hearts are more than coronets."

Sir, 2 hrs can be a commute to work in the USA 🇺🇸 and an hr is EASILY a commute. Two hrs is NOTHING to an American- frankly in Los Angeles I can spend MORE than that driving the 19 miles from Pasadena to Santa Monica. Create a lovely “village” where people can stay - I can see lots of cottages for you guys - you need another 4 or 5 more cottages and that’s about it- and some safari tents and you are good. You have those barns!! You can have destination weddings that way - do not have people in your home - I would advise against that - just have another few cottages. And the visitors I would have MORE around Christmas- I would have some sort of light thing.

Maximum driving in NZ is about an hour, as UK. America is like Australia. Can drive for hours from A to B. Holiday letting sounds good. Cabins be great out on your farms. There's a lot to think about for sure.

Thank God for Julie! There's one american that we aren't embarrassed or ashamed of!

Very enjoyable and informative fireside chat Luke and Julie. Will look forward to more of these chats about the nitty gritty of running the estate. P.S Australia also has long distances to get to places and we used to travel a couple of hours to state forest parks etc for our family trips. Best wishes to you both from Australia 🇦🇺

Like camping at Disneyworld Fort Wilderness cabins fun Mappertons Wilderness camp what fun

Can't think of a more lovely place for a hot cream sweet lively cup of tea

Reality show would bring in money. Julie, I agree with you! I'm from PA and my friends/family drive 3-4 hours to NYC just for a day trip. We drive 2-3 hours for the beach. Are there any hotels, inns or B& B's in town? I would worry about people stealing things from your house!!!! Please do more cooking videos in your house kitchen from foraging with both of you!

Ive got it… Call Ruth Watson, elementary my dear..elementary

Fireside Chat is brilliant 🎉! Yes, tours from cruise ships would be great! Can you add more things to your Online store that U.S. citizens can purchase? Maybe, ask schools to do field trips there? Not sure if that would help.

You seem to be focusing on all the reasons why something can not work. How about using what you have? Yes, you might be 1.5 hrs away...then the thought process might be "unique retreat, nestled in..... become specialized on highend expensive events whereby you host fewer events, but make more income. I was interested to hear your fire side chats, but it seems too negative for me, which I'm sure is not your intention.

Luke & Julie - I love this format plus it's productive for you guys! I have an idea to elaborate on the bus tours: Call it The Art of Antiques - bring in an antiques/historical expert to "hold" the tour, and explain the antiques throughout the house, their history, the different types of antiques, how to spot real ones versus fakes, etc. People LOVE to learn about antiques!!! There's that added expense of the expert, but it may be a trade-off for not having a meal to serve, and increasing the busloads!! (p.s. to Julie - no need to fight your natural development of the accent lol, I hear it sneaking into your vowels!)

Oh yes i did enjoy the fireside chat and looking forward to more ! Wow im exhausted just listening to all your fingers in all the pies phew ! Dont know how you get time to eat or sleep even ! Deff need a few managers to delegate to ! Was going to say about glamping or pods etc my son is always staying in them and the more rural the place the better ! How about as well as your xmas market a antiques fair - crafts fair - summer market etc etc How about a marquee for the weddings instead of opening up the house i agree far too many valuable objects around ! Im a huge vintage fan and dealer i wish i lived nearer and could come and volunteer - i will join your patreon …. Thank you so much for sharing ❤

So much goes into a photo shoot!! I never imagined! You all look great!

I don’t understand or missed how much is needed 🤷‍♂️- but if you use what you have. Just work with that. Charge a simple entrance fee or use fee no matter what is offered. Strictly enforced $28 per person? If you have 15k already regularly coming , i mean thats like 420,000 …you should atleast get by on that or live on less. ?

Julie you are right! As someone who lives in New England, I many times will travel 2 hours to visit somewhere just for the day. And and much of this is on country roads. Really enjoy your videos! All of your channels are wonderful!

Mapperton House is not findable on Airbnb. I’m a host and if I can’t find it, I bet others can’t. May I suggest that you use Hostaway or something similar and the direct booking option to have your own link to see dates and prices available if you don’t want to have your guest pay the Airbnb fee . My opinion is that just having an inquiry form on your website to inquire about staying at the house is too much friction, not enough information and people will just leave and look for something easier with prices shown.

With regards to the sign. I know it's more than likely redone by now but I would put Mapperton CAFE & SHOP and the website address below but the words Cafe and Shop would be huge. One way to bring in clientele is to contact bus tour companies to see if they have tours in your area and, if yes, suggest your place as a stop over for refreshments on their tour(s).

Do you have historic photos of Montegu weddings and births?

How many servants lived here back in the day? Is there a servant's floor where they lived? Can we see the rooms?

Is Luke’s “job” managing Mapperton or does he have a job outside of Mapperton?❤❤❤❤❤

Nice~I will get to hear about my ancestors and see their paintings and stuff. Where did the Montegue's go to school and university? Can we see photps?

Corporate / Exec retreats; have your own coaches (buses) from a central point. Get on the workshop/retreat circuit for special topics (beyond yoga); host regenerative farming conferences… all probably need more housing.

Corporate / Exec retreats; have your own coaches (buses) from a central point. Get on the workshop/retreat circuit for special topics (beyond yoga); host regenerative farming conferences… all probably need more housing.

Why don't u work on consort with literary organizations such as have a Jane Austen weekend which includes lecture on JA, day trip to where JA was born, lived etc. Or how close r u to where Agatha Christie lived and wrote?

Julie is correct, we love an adventure and will drive hours for a day trip. Y’all need a Day Trip Special, maybe include the train ticket and have a Mapperton snack or tea box for the ride home. Yoga day trippers. Mom groups who kids love to ride the train… lunch, play all day, grab your tea box and back on the train.

Here’s an idea for another use for your property: If you could get your estate to be used as a film or television show location, you’d get a big draw in just fans wanting to see it. You’re welcome 😊

Business retreats! Just make sure you have a suitable room for all day meetings and a couple of break-out rooms/areas, food. Think about partnerships with regional food/other events. London partnerships as well. ---To increase income, find suitable sponsors -- historic, travel, American historical theme (to get Americans there) as part of a larger planned trip, etc.