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fionaan
My daughter recently purchased a Groupon voucher as a present for my husbands birthday. I tried to contact Mr Tebbutt to book the Owl Experience but there is no answerphone for Simon Tebbutt Falconry so I sent several e mails which went unanswered.Eventually after several days of trying I managed to contact Mr Tebbutt after 5pm and I just started to enquire about availability when he "barked" at me "28th of XXXX 10.30". He was rather brusque on the phone and I was annoyed that he had not even given me a choice of dates. I then said that this date would be fine, when he asked for the Groupon voucher number. Apparently no Groupon voucher when trying to book the experience = no booking. (Most companies, I understand only want the Groupon voucher on the actual day of the experience and the company should only redeem the voucher when the experience has been " experienced".)I explained that I was at work and did not have the voucher to hand but had tried to contact him several times by both email and phone and had not been able to make contact. I asked if he could provisionally hold the date for me and I would contact him as soon as I returned home with the voucher details. I asked when the best time was to attempt to make contact but the phone line went dead.I kept trying to contact Mr Tebbutt with the Groupon voucher but again could not make contact so I e mailed the voucher details. I immediately received a response tagged on to my e mail saying he had received for the voucher number.I tried to contact Mr Tebbutt again to ask had he held the provisional booking as he had previously advised me that he would not take a booking unless he was given the voucher code. Again, I never received a reply.I tried to contact Mr Tebbutt numerous times by phone and as a last attempt sent a final e mail asking quite bluntly " do I have a booking, you have my voucher number but have not advised me if there is a booking for the 28th xxxx"I never received a reply. My husband said he was not going to travel a fair distance to the Falconry Centre if Mr Tebbutt could not be bothered to confirm if there even was a booking.This was a real shame as it was my husbands birthday and my daughter had bought the voucher as a present.I am sure the falconry experience is wonderful so long as you can contact the elusive Mr Tebbutt.I would like to say a big Thank You to Groupon who have now refunded my Daughter.
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travel4me2010
I bought a pair of Groupon vouchers in as a gift and we both had a nice afternoon learning about the birds and getting to handle them a bit. The event was well organised and very informative. Its a decent location and the hotel facilities conveniently on hand.There were more than twenty in our group which I thought was on the large side, everybody got to handle all of the birds, but not for very long. Our experience was 90 minutes, not the two hours billed, but as it was bitterly cold and our time actually handling the birds limited this was long enough. Overall I was happy given what I had paid, but would have been pretty disappointed if I had paid the full price.
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Chris12344556666
I went on Sunday with my girlfriend and had a great couple of hours. Really good fun. Very informative too which I wasn't expecting. I'm not sure why. Saw four great birds, got to handle all of them. The bird flight experience was the highlight. A present well worth buying!!
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janetN235
I bought a voucher as a birthday gift and we have just spent the most enjoyable afternoon, as a spectator i paid £10.00 in addition to the birthday voucher and it was definitely value for money.Simon and Alex really know their stuff and have organised the afternoon brilliantly everyone that had a voucher got to handle 5 different birds and fly 2 and as a spectator i held beautiful Bob the Eagle Owl we were all encouraged to take photos and given plenty of time to do so.We also had a picnic lunch at Rutland Water which is near by, Thank you for one of the best days out we have had in a long time.
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233clairet
Simon obviously knows all there is to know about falconry and shared aĺl his knowledge with my friend and I. The birds were magnificent and we got to handle and fly them all, a truly amazing experience. I would recommend this to anyone. Thank you Simon for the best day out in a very long time. Claire and Tracie.
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morganlefae
Bought as 'discounted' voucher through Amazon for my two boys as a Christmas present. Tried to book '2 hr experience' in Feb for Easter hols. Next most suitable date was August! When time neared to going and I wished to confirm venue and that all still ok, I rang a number of times to hear a message that he was out with no opportunity to leave mesage. I sent a text message - no reply. Visit day arrived and I sent 2 messages to get confirmation - no reply. We went to hotel to find - all was ok afterall - though reply would have been nice. Whilst walking to birds, my boys told him excitedly about this being a long awaited present from Santa. He responded by telling them that he didn't think he'd get so many people coming and to walk to the furthest point of the shelter to fit everyone in which were 20-30 adults + 3 other children. My boys were a bit disappointed not to be nearer cos we had arrived half an hr before others only to stand behind the pillars which blocked their view during the talk. The talk with the 4 birds that came out over the 1hr and 40 min (yes 20 min shorter!) was very interesting and informative. Those holding vouchers all did get a chance to hold each bird but it was only long enough to take a quick photo (in silhouette cos the sun was behind.) My youngest said "Mummy, I didn't get to see the bird." I realised I had asked him to look at me to smile for the photo! Voucher holders all had 1 chance to fly a bird to hand and some adults, which he seemed to be selecting based on their tall height or large frame, to fly another bird. (Sorry kids!) He mentioned a number of times that he had taken birds into schools but at NO time did he talk or look at any of the kids in the group. Simon was interesting about the birds but seemed to talk AT or rather OVER the group. Smiled - yes, engaged - no. He came across as being great with birds but not with people. Alex his assistant had a lovely manner. As for being a spectator, was not worth £10 each. Not terrible, but have been to better, more entertaining displays and cheaper.
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Autab
My husband bought this on Groupon for us and we had no trouble at all booking it. Simon and Alex were very friendly and answered all questions fully. Simon was a very good host and made sure all the people who had booked got a turn holding each bird. There were also many photo opportunities. Health and safety was paramount and we knew what we could and not do . I had the most wonderful, interesting and fun afternoon and would really recommend it.
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zorda1234
Booked this on Amazon Local for me and a friend.I have been on 2 other similar events with other falconry groups.This one was an excellent informative, fun and hands on 2 hours.Both Simon and his helper were great and we had a fabulous time and he made excellent opportunities for you to get some great photos. Would recommend this to anyone of all ages as he made time for the young ones to be involved.
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G1866AUsarahw
We had an amazing 2 hours experience with simon tebbutt falconry my son loved it, worth every penny. thankyou for a brilliant 2 hours with the birds we learned so much
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243maxinem
I cannot comment on the falconry experience I was bought as a gift, as I was unable to actually book my experience. I did phone Mr Tebbutt several times on both the landline and the mobile number provided and actually spoke to him on at least 4 occasions. He was off-hand, irritable and rude on every occasion and I was made to feel that I was causing him an inconvenience by trying to make my booking. My various attempts to make the booking over the course of several days were frustrating to say the least: I usually got an answer machine informing me 'We are out flying birds at the moment, please try after 6pm' and no opportunity to leave a message; when I did get hold of Mr Tebbut on the first occasion, he told me he was out with the birds (in a tone of voice which implied I should know that though telepathy!) and couldn't do it now, could he?; on the second occasion he informed me , again in an irritated tone, that the computer system had been just turned off so he couldn't do the booking (but it was after 6pm as instructed by voicemail!); on the third occasion he was 'busy' and could I phone the next day at 5.30?; No answer on landline the next day at 5.30 and he also ignored his mobile...for the rest of the evening! My friend who bought me the voucher contacted Amazon today for a refund. Amazon also tried to make the booking on my behalf...needless to say, Mr Tebbutt was just as 'unhelpful' and my friend will be receiving her refund!Having looked at some of the other reviews, I am actually glad I didn't get to go on my experience.My advice? Do NOT purchase a voucher for this experience - he clearly wants the money but doesn't seem to want to fulfil his obligations!NB I have had to rate the place as if I did go so I can place my review.
