Clare Teal: Memorable jazz festival that really takes the biscuit

I won't lie – it was a terrifyingly early start for a Sunday morning. Up at 6.58am, should have been 6.30am but just couldn't do it.

As the journey had been so bad (six hours, thanks to a few inopportune road closures) Muddy and I hadn't dared stop for sustenance, nor had Grant.

We finally arrive starving and set upon the biscuits like wild things possessed. A few minutes later, a lady came to retrieve the hobnobs as they were needed for another band's cup of tea. We stood red faced as she stared in disbelief at the virtually empty packet.

Having way overstepped our biscuit welcome, we tried to make amends in the music department. It's quite tricky for just two musicians to hold an audience for 90 minutes, but the picnic-ing masses were well up for it.

Standing on the stage looking towards the hall, you can't help but be impressed. It's a stunning building. The last owner was a fella named Sir Marcus Wickham-Boynton but when he died, in 1989, having no son and heir, the entire estate was handed down to his cousin's son, Simon Cunliffe-Lister, aged er…12.

As he was busy at school, his mum, Susan, held the fort for him until such a time as he was ready to take over, transforming the scrubland gardens into something quite breathtaking.

At 33ish, Simon doesn't look much older these days, now married with a young family. Our man loves his jazz and is a very keen saxophonist. In fact, he and his band, featuring singer Saffron Byass, closed this year's epic swingfest.

As well as the three-day jazz festival, Burton Agnes Hall hosts a gamut of other events including an Easter Egg Hunt, a Classic Car Rally, a Gardeners' Fair and a Michalmas Fair. It's well worth a visit.

I sincerely hope this delightful festival continues to grow. The programme was good and varied, and the organisers genuinely care. A beautiful setting to hear wonderful music.