WHEN it comes to experiencing the Malvern area, Eastnor Castle offers something slightly different in terms of both history and entertainment.

Undoubtedly a must for any visitor, the castle has managed to combine its history with top-drawer events and people have responded by flocking there.

Once a run-down shell, its current incumbents are sitting on a shining example of commercial success.

Built around 1810 by the Earl of Somers, the castle was temporarily abandoned during the Second World War, after which the family restricted themselves to smaller, private rooms and put their energies into farming.

After inheriting in 1988, James Hervey-Bathurst and his wife Sarah began the long process of restoration required to make the castle and its estate a viable place in which to live and work.

Mr Hervey-Bathurst said: "The success at Eastnor Castle has been based on a combination of factors.

"The quality of decorative scheme that my wife has put in makes the house attractive to view. The rooms look right for their period but are comfortable for modern users. So the house looks good, which is good for its reputation.

"But the thing that brings people back with their friends and relations are the special events that we put on."

This year events have included a Spring Country Craft Festival, Steam Fair and Country Show, Festival of Wood, three concerts, sculpture trail, hot-air balloon meet, children's fun week, armoury exhibition and Living Heritage Country Show.

On top of that the castle hosts corporate events, including off-road driving days, shooting nights and conferences.

It is also licensed for civil weddings, where guests have the run of the castle's grand reception rooms and balcony terrace overlooking the lake. Eleven sumptuous bedrooms complete the picture, making it the perfect wedding venue, as TV presenter Davina McCall found out last year when she chose Eastnor as the venue for her nuptials.

Mr Hervey-Bathurst said: "The house has been open on and off since the 1880s, when it opened one day a week for charity.

"My mother started opening the house in the 1960s and when we came here we extended the opening. It's now open 75 days a year - Sundays between Easter and October, bank holiday Mondays and every day in July and August, except Saturdays, when we tend to have weddings.

"Last year we had more than 50,000 visitors and this year we had 46,500 up to the last week in August. It's good but, of course, foot and mouth has driven people into closed paces. They couldn't visit our park, so what we gained in the house we lost in the park. We had to cancel events but we are still about up 10 per cent on last year.

"Overall, Eastnor Castle has got a lot of business going on and I hope the benefits are being felt beyond Eastnor, in terms of local community, hotels, B&Bs and that sort of thing."