Today we bring you an interview with Ben and Billie Mitchell, a talented couple who moved to France to live a more creative life and start their own business.
Ben is a composer for film and TV, a producer and a musical artist in his own right. During his 20-year career he has recorded over 250 singles and 18 albums from his CanCan studio. He’s also composed ad soundtracks for some of the world’s biggest brands including Adidas, Nike, Nokia, Samsung, BMW, Bacardi and Swatch. His gorgeous wife Billie has sung with legends like McCartney, Sting, Prince, Lionel Richie, Beverley Knight and Annie Lennox and is the female lead vocalist with popular 80s band, Heaven 17. She’s a writer and a soloist and she still performs regularly in France and the UK.
1. How are you leading a life ‘doing what you love’?
We’re living in rural France in our dream house. We’ve been lovingly restoring it for the past three years and running it as a hip B&B and self-catering holiday venue as well as a centre for group events, retreats, courses, weddings and parties.
Billie & Ben in the grounds of La Grande Maison
2. When did you decide to live the French dream – how did it all come about?
Originally, moving to France was part of our 10-year plan. We had made a short list of requirements for our dream property which included a river, a ballroom for concerts and events, room for a large recording studio, 10 bedrooms, at least three acres of land and outbuildings for gites. One day, out of the blue when we were online, we came across a house which had everything on our list. We took a winter break in Saumur and decided to have a look at the house while we were there as part of our research. It was love at first sight. From the moment we walked through the gates our lives changed. Our 10-year plan went out of the window and within six months we’d bought the house and moved to France.
La Grande Maison
3. What did you both do before you decided to change your lives in such a big way?
Actually we’re still doing it! We’re both musicians and have worked in the music industry for a long time. We’re building recording studios here. We run a soul choir in our ballroom as well as running music and vocal courses. Thanks to a good internet connection it’s possible to continue with compositions, rehearsals and concerts here and still perform in the UK too. Our lives have changed but we feel we’ve brought the best parts of our old life with us.
4. You took a leap of faith… how did it feel? Did you ever wonder if you were doing the right thing?
Most of the time it’s not what you do in life that you regret but what you don’t do. When making the decision we felt we only had two choices; to walk away and spend the rest of our lives talking about what could have been, or to go for it. It hasn’t always been easy but we’ve always agreed that it was the right thing to do. With the main renovation work finished now, most of which we’ve done ourselves, the dream is just getting better and better.
5. What lessons have you learnt along the way?
How to speak French! We didn’t speak any before coming here but learning is fun and part of the challenge. In general we’ve realised that with huge effort comes huge reward. That philosophy applies to both our vision for the house and business, and to our quality of life here. We’ve had to work incredibly hard but as a result we have a lifestyle that we could have only dreamed of in the UK.
The terrace by day…
…and by night, dining alfresco
6. Tell us more about La Grande Maison… what can people expect from a stay with you?
La Grande Maison is an historic house situated in the Loire Valley. Parts of it date back to 1745 and can be seen on the area’s Napoleonic Cadastoral plan. Previously it was the chateau of the Count and Countess of St. Leon and later it was the home of a renowned French botanist who planted our huge sequoia tree and built the ballroom, winery and orangerie. We have three acres of wooded land which leads to our river, perfect for fishing, wild swimming and kayaking.
Wild swimming in our river
The house can accommodate 22 people in five suites and we have a games room, summer kitchen, wine cellars and a ballroom, which is perfect for weddings, group events and parties. People can expect elegant surroundings, a chilled out atmosphere where they’ll feel at home and delicious local food and wine. For groups the experience is like hiring your own hip hotel in a beautiful rural setting.
Our old wine press – great for Aperos!
7. What do you offer? Is there anything special coming up?
We offer everything from singing and choir courses (beginner level to advanced) and book club and choir hen weekends to language workshops, cycling holidays and French cuisine and wine courses. Groups are also welcome to come and use the house for their own retreats and courses. We offer a complete package for these, including accommodation, catering and the use of our ballroom, art studio and grounds. At the moment we’re looking for people to run wellbeing and mindfulness workshops.
An evening of traditional French music around the wine press
A choir course in action
This winter we are excited about launching our Supper Club. It’s a weekend break for a group which includes dinner in the ballroom prepared by a guest chef. There will be chill out music at the start of the evening then later on, a full club session with a DJ. It’s ideal for a special occasion.
8. What do you like most about living in France?
The climate which has 1,000 hours more sunshine per year than the UK. Great wines and personally knowing it’s makers, great food, the French people, their culture and the joie de vivre! It’s so easy to get around the country with amazing high speed trains and empty roads. Paris is just 2 hours away by train and the historic towns of Saumur, Angers, Poitiers and Chinon are close by for a bit of culture. We’re surrounded by wine producers and some of the beautiful Chateaux of the Loire.
Totally in love with the local markets
9. What advice would you give anyone who dreams of starting a business abroad?
Research everything before you commit! All the info is out there on sites like Anglo-info which is a worldwide site for English ex-pats. There is lots to think about: Tax; health care; education, if you have children; local bureaucracy; and a sound way to make a living when you are here. A dream can soon turn into a nightmare if you are not prepared.
10. What else would you love to do in life? What does the future hold?
We love everything creative – music, art, writing and architecture – and we want to fulfil all of our creative ambitions here. We want to explore more of France and hope the future is a balance of adventure and creativity.
Ben & Billie’s snapshot…
Happiest moment:
Ben – The birth of our daughter.
Billie – The same, and our wedding day.
Ben – Oops, yes that too!
Most inspiring book you’ve read:
Ben – The Lonely Sea and the Sky by Francis Chichester
Billie – The Olive Farm by Carol Drinkwater
Biggest light-bulb moment:
Ben – Seeing La Grande Maison for the first time
Billie – Dawn the day after seeing the house; we’d been up all night talking about it and had made the decision to buy the house.
Anything is possible… what’s your wish?
Ben – A seat on Virgin Galactic
Billie – To live to see our daughter grow up happy and healthy, and for her to witness her dad going into space.
Quote you live by:
Ben – Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today.
Billie – Never do today what you can put off ’til tomorrow.
Find out more about La Grande Maison here. If you’re interested in running your own workshop, course or retreat at La Grande Maison contact Ben at [email protected]
