If you’re looking for luxurious accommodation in Gloucestershire, you won’t be short of choice, but only a handful of venues have managed to secure the AA’s coveted five-star rating.
To obtain the accolade, AA requires hotels to have ‘luxurious accommodation and public areas’ alongside ‘a range of extra facilities and a multilingual service’ to be available. In addition, guests must be greeted at the hotel entrance, with a high-quality menu and wine list available.
B&Bs have slightly different requirements to meet the five-star standard including an ‘awareness of each guest’s needs with nothing being too much trouble. All bedrooms require and en-suite with excellent quality beds and furnishings.
Listed below, in no particular order, from three-bedroomed B&Bs to impressive destination hotels, discover which of Gloucestershire’s five-star accommodations have made it into SoGlos’s top 10.
1. Ellenborough Park
Ellenborough Park is the only place in Gloucestershire to receive a five-star hotel rating and three Rosettes for its superb food.
Rurally-situated on the outskirts of Cheltenham, this stunning 15th-century country estate offers 60 rooms and suites, a serene spa and leisure facilities, and a selection of on-site restaurants and bars.
2. The Slaughters Country Inn
Quintessentially Cotswoldian, The Slaughters Country Inn is home to 31 individually styled bedrooms, cottages and suites. Decorated in a contemporary style, The Slaughters Country Inn is family friendly and boasts ‘crisp white linen and dreamy beds.’
The on-site restaurant and bar uses Cotswold produce in its delicious dishes, served up alongside a vast choice of local ales. For the ultimate indulgence, guests can enjoy and afternoon tea featuring homemade scones and sandwiches.
3. The Village Pub
The self-professed home of food ‘made strictly for the soul’, The Village Pub in Barnsley is a charming British country pub, offering everything from delicious local ales through to comfortable, contemporary rooms – ideal for exploring the Cotswolds.
This picturesque pub is home to six rooms, decorated in colours which sing of the countryside. Its ground-floor restaurant is certainly something special, boasting locally sourced butcher’s cuts from a farm down the road, and even day-long stewed bacon jam!
4. Old Stocks Inn
The Old Stocks Inn is a newly renovated boutique hotel housed in a stunning 17th-century former coaching inn, situated in the heart of the Cotswold village of Stow-on-the-Wold.
Offering 16 stylish rooms and delicious menus, sourced locally and prepared with love by the Old Stocks team, an evening spent at this Cotswold bolt hole will not disappoint.
5. The Bradley
The Bradley is a boutique bed and breakfast, located in a smart town house in the centre of Cheltenham. Highlights include a four-poster bed in one of its rooms.
Decorated in a luxurious and traditional style, The Bradley also offers lovingly prepared breakfast served in its breakfast room, or sun-drenched orangery which overlooks a lovely courtyard garden.
6. The Fleece Hotel
The Fleece Hotel in Cirencester is centrally-located inside one of the town’s oldest buildings. Providing the perfect location for a romantic break, guests can book one of 28 rooms within the hotel, each steeped with characterful 17th-century features and modern styling.
Food and drink can be enjoyed in a number of comfy booths, window seats and cosy nooks around the restaurant, where dogs are also welcome to enjoy a tin of homemade treats.
7. Foxhill Manor
Foxhill Manor, sister to Dormy House, is an eight-bed boutique house hotel situated on the stunning 400-acre grounds of Farncombe Estate.
This luxurious venue has an unusual ethos, encouraging guests to roam the manor as they please, coming up with their own menus, and having the option to eat anywhere they want within the venue. Guests can also make use of the spa facilities at Dormy House during their stay, or hire the venue exclusively for an amazing house party!
8. The Porch House
Rumoured to be England’s oldest Inn and dating back to the 10th century, The Porch House in Stow-on-the-Wold has 13 individually designed rooms – including a dog-friendly room.
Guests can also relax in the conservatory and dine at its well-regarded restaurant – with a private dining area for up to 12 people, perfect for intimate gatherings.
9. The Wild Rabbit
The Wild Rabbit in the Cotswold village of Kingham boasts 15 rooms, many of which are named after countryside wildlife including The Hare, The Mole, The Otter and The Hedgehog. Each room includes luxurious bathrooms and crisp white linen amongst natural features such as Cotswold stone walls and traditional oak beams.
The restaurant and inn are part of the Daylesford Estate, with The Wild Rabbit providing locally sourced and organic ingredients in its award-winning kitchen. Cooking seasonally, the venue is well-respected for its traditional British menu juxtaposed with contemporary flavours.
10. Abbots Grange
Abbots Grange is a luxurious manor house nestled in the heart of Broadway, in the Cotswolds. The oldest dwelling in the village, the building has a number of rooms, suites and chambers boasting four-poster beds and steeped in medieval charm.
Fans of the venue’s historic features will be pleased to discover that Abbots Grange can also be exclusively hired, making it an excellent choice for family gatherings and group-getaways.
By Melissa Hamblett
