By Gary Symons
TLL Editor in Chief
Disney is launching a wealth of licensing deals for Winnie the Pooh’s 95th anniversary, but we just had to draw your attention to a clever collaboration with travel brand Airbnb.
The partnership has now resulted in 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.
“For over 95 years, Winnie the Pooh has inspired generations with his memorable words, experiences and adventures,” said Tasia Filippatos, SVP, Consumer Products, Games and Publishing at The Walt Disney Company. “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.”
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.
Anyone familiar with Airbnb knows each property is privately hosted, and this one is no exception. The host of Winnie’s Bearbnb is none other than Disney’s Winnie the Pooh illustrator Kim Raymond, who curated the Bearbnb and has been drawing the iconic bear for over 30 years.
Raymond brought Pooh’s house to life taking inspiration from the original decorations of E.H. Shepard. “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,” he said. “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 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.
The Bearbnb is bookable exclusively on Airbnb, and includes a number of classic Pooh features. The house itself is built with exposed tree branches wrapped around the doorway with ‘Mr. Sanders’ inscribed above, and inside guests will find bespoke wallpaper designed by Raymond. If guests take a peek inside kitchen cupboards, they’ll also find shelves stocked full of ‘hunny’ pots.
“Winnie the Pooh is a childhood jewel beloved by families the world over,” said Catherine Powell, Airbnb Global Head of Hosting. “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.”
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 cosy 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 hunny-inspired meals.
Like all Airbnbs, there are some house rules you should be aware of before booking. These include:
● 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 and Piglets and Pooh Bears)
Booking details:
To view the ‘Bearbnb’ home on Airbnb, visit airbnb.com/winniethepooh
The Bearbnb is located in Ashdown Forest in East Sussex and Kim will host two separate stays on the 24 and 25 September for just £95 per night. The purpose-built Bearbnb sleeps a family of four. Airbnb reviews will be taken into consideration.
Airbnb anticipates a very high level of interest and available booking dates will go live at 2 p.m. BST on Monday Sept. 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.
Finally, in case you book this property, we’ve included below a handy map of the neighborhood.
