Barnsley House
The low-down
It’s a glamorous manor house with herbal spa and historic gardens. An adults-only retreat with 18 bedrooms, including spacious suites designed with ultra-chic interiors.
What makes it special?
Its four acres of famous gardens. They were designed by legendary gardener Rosemary Verey and draw in gardening buffs from all over. Today, a dedicated team keep them beautifully groomed season to season.
There’s also the suites; some of the most spacious we’ve seen in England. The Potting Shed, The Secret Garden Suite and The Rosemary Verey Suite are both hidden away from the main house, like your own little home in the Cotswolds. Statement furniture; cast iron bathtubs, wingback armchairs and fancy four-poster beds are set against a creamy green and brown colour scheme that creates synergy with the gardens. Plus, there are all the home comforts you could wish for. Did someone say home-baked shortbread?
Ideas for ‘us’ time
Wander through the gardens hand-in-hand (or book a tour). Hanging chairs and sun-trap terraces offer private hideouts to cosy up with your partner. Tucked away at the bottom of the garden is the spa, with herb-infused sauna and steam room, heated outdoor pool and relaxation lounge. Spoil each other with a treatment and then unwind in total tranquility. For something indoorsy, the hotel lounge has plush sofas and cracking fires. And don’t forget the cupboard full of games.
The dinner for two
The Potager at Barnsley House serves hearty meals that champion on freshness and quality. Much of the produce has been grown on the hotel’s vegetable patch or sourced from nearby farms. The cuisine is contemporary British with a twist from the Italian head chef. Highlights include the fillet steak and the Vincisgrassi, the restaurant’s take on a classic Italian dish. Intimate and elegant, it’s the perfect setting for a romantic evening meal. Be sure to pop into the bar beforehand for expertly-made cocktails infused with homemade syrups.
Anything else?
Barnsley House offers private movie screenings in their swanky mini cinema. The reception will happily book you a slot at no extra cost. During dinner hours, you can order from the à la carte menu to just about anywhere you like. So why not snuggle up with room service and dig into the hotel’s enormous DVD collection?
This spring, there’s a handful of masterclasses for you to get stuck into together, such as the ‘Picture Your Garden’ masterclass with acclaimed photographer, Andrea Jones (23rd – 24th April) and ‘Lives of the Great Gardeners’ lunch with The Times’s garden writer, Stephen Anderton (19th May).
Barnsley House, Cirencester GL7 5EE
W: www.barnsleyhouse.com
T: 01285 740000
E: [email protected]
Read our full review of Barnsley House
You must be logged in to post a comment.