Just like a secret hideaway. Follow the pathways through the manicured gardens and they will lead you to a building housing everything that’s relaxing. All sitting conveniently at the bottom of the garden.
Belonging to the Cotswolds House Hotel, the Spa is intimate and extremely friendly with an expert therapist team who work hard to ensure every guest benefits from the experiences offered. These include a hydrotherapy pool and corner jacuzzi, a hammam steam room, a range of treatments and a dedicated relaxation room. From vitamin facials, aromatherapy wraps, a pepper & grapefruit detox to manicures, eyelash tints and a menu for men, the list is varied, creative and fits the bill.
The hotel is a honey-coloured stone Grade 11 Regency townhouse built in 1815 as a private home and from as early as 1920 has been welcoming guests. After expansion which included the adjoining coach house, it is today a contemporary-styled boutique hotel with 28 attractive guest rooms and three suites, a bistro, formal restaurant and spa.
A spiral staircase leads to the rooms decorated with country-chic touches of design. The suites are stylish and spacious with a flow-through lounge area and bedroom. Zany lighting and mod-cons accessorise it. The bathrooms are light and airy with The White Company toiletries. Many rooms look out over the gardens which reveal cut away crevices to hide and seek peace and relaxation areas with a mesmerising water feature in the centre. Calm and quiet and tranquil.
The Bistro is a popular venue for guests and locals with a buzzy atmosphere and good service. The gin tasting sessions are a novelty, boasting an impressive list of over 87 varieties. For fine dining, there is the Fig Restaurant and for something different, there’s a choice of three or five tasting menus. Chef’s choice dishes, such as Braised Beef Shin in Jack Daniels Sauce or Pan-Fried Sea Trout in Sauce Visage, are well worth savouring.
Free from city smog and the pollutants that come with it, the hotel enjoys pride of place overlooking the market square of central Chipping Campden in rural Gloucestershire. Attracting many a tourist, this quintessential English area retains its woven roots with fluffy toys, rugs and woolly wraps displayed in cubby-hole shop windows jostling for space with artisan crafts spilling out on pavements. Afternoon tea continues English traditions in quaint tea shops on every corner in buildings steeped in history each with a story to tell.
The Noel Arms Hotel is the town’s oldest inn. It’s a sister property to the Cotswold House Hotel and just a stone’s throw away. It attracts curry lovers to its restaurant which is not surprising, given that it holds the Best Pub Curry Chef Award as judged by the Great British Pub Food Awards.
Souvenirs, scones, stone terraced houses, local arts and narrow lanes passing village pubs portray the Cotswolds. Amidst this, the Cotswolds House Hotel & Spa stands proud offering Spa Breaks throughout the year laced with gastro specialities and warm service. Cosy, warm and stylish are hallmarks of a stay here.
It’s not every day that you can enjoy a professional massage in an elegant building at the bottom of a hotel’s garden. The Spa’s “Signature aroma blend refine and firm massage” is recommended. After selecting from a choice of oils, (geranium), specific focus (shoulders), and pressure (firm), the hour was pure bliss, dissolving knotted muscles and stressed thoughts. And be sure to visit the Spa early evening to enjoy dimmed lighting and the ambience while relaxing on one of the loungers.
So, if you are travelling to this picturesque area be mindful of what you find at the bottom of the garden.
Rooms at The Cotswolds House Hotel & Spa from £140 B&B in winter, £180 B&B in summer
https://www.cotswoldhouse.com/