ASHDOWN FOREST, U.K. (WKRC/CBS Newspath) - A Winnie-the-Pooh-inspired house in the Hundred Acre Wood is available to book on Airbnb as part of Disney’s 95th Anniversary celebrations of the loveable children’s character.
The Bearbnb is situated in Ashdown Forest and is inspired by A.A. Milne’s original tales in the Hundred Acre Wood. With two separate stays available, the Bearbnb sleeps up to four guests at a time, giving Winnie the Pooh fans the opportunity to immerse themselves in the iconic world of Pooh and Friends.
Hosting the Airbnb stay is Disney-appointed Winnie the Pooh illustrator, Kim Raymond, who curated the Bearbnb and has been drawing the iconic bear for over 30 years. Kim brought Pooh’s house to life, taking inspiration from the original decorations of E.H. Shepard, and he notes, “I have been illustrating Winnie the Pooh for thirty years and I continue to be inspired by the classic decorations of E.H. Shepard and the more recent Disney stories. The ‘Bearbnb’ is a unique experience that brings the charm of Pooh to life for fans, whilst honoring the original adventures that have been so important to many people for 95 years.”
The custom-built ‘Bearbnb’ and entire stay, bookable only on Airbnb, is fit for Pooh and his adventures with Piglet, Tigger, Eeyore and friends.
The house is built with exposed tree branches wrapped around the doorway with "Mr. Sanders" inscribed above
The bespoke wallpaper was also designed by Raymond.
If guests take a peek inside kitchen cupboards, they’ll find shelves stocked full of ‘hunny’ pots
Alongside the charming references to the original Pooh tales, the house is fully kitted out for guests to enjoy a relaxing family stay, including a double bed on the ground floor, and a mezzanine area with two comfortable single beds.
The lounge space comes fully-equipped with a cozy seating and dining area for guests to appreciate a “smackerel” or two. During each stay, guests will be taken on a guided tour through the original Hundred Acre Wood, play Poohsticks on the iconic Poohsticks Bridge, and enjoy locally sourced honey-inspired meals.
The ‘Bearbnb’ will also be stocked with a host of wellness products to encourage guests to embrace their natural surroundings and live more like Pooh, who is famous for going at his own pace. The products include yoga mats, journals, and throws. And for those not quick enough to book one of the stays, they can recreate their own tranquil retreat at home with help from the new Winnie the Pooh range available on shopDisney.co.uk.
Catherine Powell, Airbnb Global Head of Hosting said, “Winnie the Pooh is a childhood jewel beloved by families the world over. This year, the original books celebrate their 95th anniversary. What better way to commemorate A.A. Milne’s classic work than with these two once-in-a-lifetime stays in the original Hundred Acre Wood. A perfect place to do nothing. As Pooh said, 'Doing nothing often leads to the very best something.'”
Tasia Filippatos, SVP, Consumer Products, Games and Publishing at The Walt Disney Company said, “For over 95 years, Winnie the Pooh has inspired generations with his memorable words, experiences and adventures. These timeless tales explore life’s simple pleasures and in that spirit we hope guests are able to sit back and relax in the ‘Bearbnb’, and ‘be more Pooh’ for the day.”
House Rules:
- Strictly no heffalumps inside the house
- Hands are to be kept out of the honey pots
- A snack of “a little something” encouraged at 11 o’clock in the morning
- Poohsticks is mandatory
- Multiple naps are permitted
- No pets (other than Roos, Tiggers, Eeyores, Piglets, and Pooh Bears)
- Maximum four guests per stay; up to three children
- No smoking, you’ll upset the bees
- For safety reasons, it’s recommended that only guests aged 6+ sleep in the single beds on the mezzanine level. A cot or camp bed can be provided on the ground floor for younger guests.
Booking details:
To view the ‘Bearbnb’ home on Airbnb, visit airbnb.com/winniethepooh.
The Bearbnb is located in Ashdown Forest in East Sussex and Raymond will host two separate stays on September 24 and 25 for just 95 per night (about $131).
Airbnb anticipates a very high level of interest and available booking dates will go live at 2 p.m. BST on Monday, September 20. Interested guests should note that the booking shall be conducted in strict adherence to local COVID-19 guidelines; i.e. only current UK residents will be eligible to book.