Nothing is as it seems. Mobile phones that are digital cameras, watches that are MP3 players and even trainers that are computers designed to tell you how much exercise you are doing. Everything today seems to have more than one use. And it\'s not just products like phones that have to do more than one thing at a time. At work we seem to be doing the work of two people just to keep our heads above water. This flexibility and doubling up truly is everywhere.

So it\'s no surprise then that venues and attractions across the country are picking up on this trend and seeing that, if they turn there hand to more than one specific area, they could be looking at a goldmine. Large country houses, parks museums and galleries are looking at providing the public with more variety when it comes to a visit to a place of interest or a country club. Essex is one area of the country that is particularly prevalent in this area.

The growing popularity of golf among the population has seen the resurgence in fortune of the humble golf and country club. Essex has its fair share and these bastions of Victorian values and rules and has been quick to pick up on the trend. Many venues have seen major refurbishment projects as a result and some have even invested heavily in new buildings and facilities.

A few years ago many of golf clubs and similar houses and attractions were in a state of disrepair and were facing an uncertain future; or even no future at all. It didn\'t look good for the fate of the traditional English country club. Essex, though, is a good example of how this was overcome with the result that the future has never looked better.

Corporate Events and Conferences - The traditional Essex country club has always had a reputation as a stuffy place, inhabited by old men in tweed jackets who smoke pipes and don\'t let a woman within 50 feet of the door. All that has changed as the economic reality of excluding any section of society from a club has hit home. Many of the Essex country clubs now stage corporate events and conferences on a regular basis and make thousands of pounds each year doing so.

There is a growing trend among businesses to invest in team building exercises that can be held outside the normal work space. These can involve both physical and mental tests designed to promote smarter working practices. An ideal place to hold such activities is a country house. Essex, being so close to London, has benefited greatly as a secluded place, not to far from the city, where team building activities can be held.

Concerts - The number of festivals being held every year grows each year. The big festivals like Glastonbury are as popular as ever but there are an increasingly large number of smaller festivals as well. Some of the festivals are aimed at specific areas, like jazz or country but all of them need a site to take place; what better place than in the back garden of a country house. Essex now has a festival or music event of some description on every weekend throughout the summer. Just one more area that is bringing in much needed funds for these old buildings.

Restaurants and Hotels - One of the most popular areas of diversification that country houses have looked into is catering. Many now open there doors to the public for lunch and dinner and are making a great success of providing a fine dining experience. A quality restaurant seems like the perfect addition to a country house. Essex now has some of the best chefs in the country working in some of the most impressive country houses.