Some country house hotels are almost too genteel, all Palladian pomp and manicured grounds. Calcot Manor, on the outside at least, is something a bit more rustic — this Cotswolds hideaway is made from a 14th-century stone farmhouse and associated buildings, and is both more intimate and more idiosyncratic than the standard country house, with a casual atmosphere that the more formal country houses can’t match.
Once inside you’ll find there’s very little that’s 14th-century about these rooms, aside from the occasional timbered ceiling. The thirty-five rooms and suites have had a pretty thorough look from a contemporary designer, and the result, however crisp and clean, manages to retain plenty of farmhouse atmosphere. Rooms for families are set aside in what was formerly the barn, giving the little ones plenty of room to spread out, while reserving a bit of quiet and privacy for romance-oriented couples.
Calcot Manor is home to two restaurants, one a casual inn-style gastropub, the other a white-tablecloth venue in the old conservatory. A small spa serves hotel guests only, and there are not one but two pools, one indoor and one outdoor. A supervised play program for the kids means a moment alone isn’t out of the question.
How to get there:
Calcot Manor is approximately a 20 minute drive from Kemble Airport. Please contact customerservice@tablethotels.com to arrange airport transfers.
author watson@mouselink.net, source www.tablethotels.com