With the distant sound of corks popping, rows of rooms proudly named after famous tipples, and winding corridors featuring black and white portraits of winemakers knee-deep in squelching barrels of grapes, a stay at Hotel du Vin in Cheltenham immediately proved thirsty work. But luckily for us, a heady bottle of merlot was left to breathe as we took in the deluxe surroundings of our home for the night – the luxurious La Grande Dame suite, hidden in the eaves of the Montpellier retreat.

Twin roll-top bath tubs took pride of place in the centre of the room, with thoughtfully sweeping curves meaning romantic couples can simultaneously face twin flat screen televisions when the conversation runs dry. Long-handled scrubbing brushes, huge slabs of scented soap and fluffy white towels were laid alongside a waterproof remote control, so an evening can be spent soaking your troubles away without so much as a stretch to flick from channel to channel.

Square-eyed guests would also be impressed to find that each flat screen swivelled – one to a pair of green velvet sofas, with an array of aspirational magazines and design books for further entertainment, and the other to face the soft bed covered with crisp white Egyptian linen and a duck feather quilt, overshadowed by an oil-painted canvas of the suite’s eponymous La Grande Dame vintage champagne. And if further washing was ever required, a squeaky-clean finish could be found from the adjoining slate-lined bathroom, with a walk-in monsoon shower and even more cheeky wine-themed monochromes lining the walls.

After a glass of red – or two – we left our lap of third-floor luxury to head for the surprisingly quiet Champagne Bar for an aperitif, but not before peeping in on the Grape & Grain Bar – complete with a controversial tongue-and-cheek mural of drunken jockeys and sloshed socialites that made us, if not others, chuckle. Marvelling at a show-stopping chandelier of wine glasses, we made our way down a sweeping spiral staircase to the Bistro du Vin restaurant – which again, wasn’t as busy as expected, but meant that our dinner of British classics was an efficient affair accompanied by yes, you guessed it, more wine chosen by the sommelier from a well-stocked walk-in cellar.

With a nightcap hardly needed, after dinner coffees were sipped in the tranquil bar before the temptation of the twin baths beckoning from the suite proved irresistible. A long soak, a track or two from the Bose sound system, a great night’s slumber and sausage and eggs the next morning came around all too quickly and before we knew it we were at the reception desk once more with our fist clamped tightly around the keys we didn’t want to give back.

The battle through Cheltenham’s rush hour traffic had been instantly forgotten as soon as we had arrived the day before, thanks to an exceptionally welcoming receptionist. And despite being located just minutes from the Promenade the atmosphere of tranquillity immediately-achieved lasted until we were forced to re-enter the world on our departure. ‘We hope you will come back and stay again soon?’ the receptionist chimed as we trudged to our car. We most certainly will drink to that.

A one-night stay for two people at Hotel du Vin Cheltenham costs from £165.

Don’t miss the Hotel du Vin Cheltenham photo gallery and, to find out more about the staying at the hotel, call (01242) 588450.

Michelle Byrne
20 April 2008