Hot tub, gardens and grounds
The south terrace is the ideal venue for sipping cocktails. It’s all part of a two-and-a-half-acre package that’s all yours for the duration. Challenge your folks to a duel on the all-weather tennis court, or supervise from the Breeze House, a cosy hideaway hut nestled court-side, ideal for unwinding and taking in the views of the surrounding grass labyrinth and Shropshire countryside. Play croquet and rounders on the lawn, or shoot the basketball hoop awhile.
Wander the landscaped gardens, enjoy scenic walks right from the door, stay out late under the stars in the six-seat hot tub. De-wrinkle around the firepit, with late-night chatter and drinks. Stock up on burgers and bangers from one of the local butchers for that belt-loosening barbecue.
Living spaces
Make the most of country living, raise your everyday experience and sip sophisticated drinks by crackling fires in wonderfully proportioned reception rooms. After you’ve prised yourself from the luxury cashmere mattress, it all begins in the morning room, where you’ll soak in the views through the bay windows over your morning coffee.
Walk the hills, cycle the trails, then come home to the drawing room, a place of pre-Georgian splendour with floor-to-ceiling sashed windows and softly faded silk curtains. It’s the perfect spot to mingle for pre-dinner drinks before you head in to the spectacular formal dining room for a lavish meal. With space for 30, there’s no better spot for a celebratory dinner with family and friends. After dinner, head back to the morning room for board games and banter before a crackling fire.
For a special experience, head down to the basement, pour a drink from the bar and settle back on the enormous comfy modular sofa with popcorn. Every night is movie night here in the cinema room, with its 2.26-metre screen and choice of Sky, BT, Amazon Prime and Netflix all powered by 70mbps superfast fibre. Compete for the title with some friendly competition in the games room.
Cooking and dining
Special occasion? Anniversary, big birthday or just a long-overdue get-together? Make it all the more special with a private chef. Bide your time in the drawing room until the bell rings with pre-dinner drinks and nuts, then invade the spectacular 28-seat shuttered formal dining room for a lavish dining experience.
Cooking for yourself? It’s no hardship in the fully fitted kitchen with the two fan ovens and four-burner induction hob. Stock up the American-style fridge/freezer and spare fridge with local meats from master butchers Perrys of Eccleshall, and some fine wine from Tanners Wine Merchants delivered to your doorstep, and let the dishwashers do your dirty work when you’re all done.
Al-fresco dining? Eat out in the sunshine on the south terrace. Stay out there for the hot tub and firepit. Pop out to pubs such as the peaceful Wharf Tavern in Market Drayton where the lawns sweep right down to the water’s edge and the steaks are described as ‘the best ever’, or The Cock Inn in Stafford for spicy Szechuan chicken.
Only five minutes away is Goldstone Hall with a creative menu inspired by its kitchen garden & award-winning wine list, set out for modern British cooking in The Bear Inn in Hodnet with butcher’s cuts from their own cattle and The Fox in Newport for pan-fried salmon or ribeye steak.
Bedrooms
With a two-and-a-half-acre cushion of soulful silence around you, you’ll drift off beautifully here on your Hypnos Lansdowne cashmere mattress in luxurious, fine bed linen. The only trouble will be getting up in the morning. Good luck. Six double en-suites here accommodate 12 with a double sofa bed sleeping two kids.
Bedroom one (Rose) offers a super king sleigh bed with en-suite and elegant bathtub, while bedrooms two (Magnolia), three (Camellia) and four (Hydrangea) are also en-suite king sizes with a zip-and-link twin option. Bedroom five (Peony) has a super king four-poster with en-suite.
Finally, bedroom six provides a zip-and-link super king with en-suite and double sofa bed. For that special time on your own, head to the private bathroom on the first floor and allow yourself to meditate and relax in the rolltop tub.
Children welcome
At the end of that long and winding journey sits a country-house experience packed with all the things kids love, plus all their favourite people. With space for 12 adults, two children and a baby, you can bring all the family and keep everybody happy. There’s also plenty of flexibility packed into the six family bedrooms.
What will kids love most? Maybe the basement cinema room? The pool table and table tennis in the games room? While you top up at the bar, they’ll be making themselves at home on the enormous comfy sofa in front of the 2.26-metre TV screen that beams Sky, BT, Netflix and Amazon Prime at them. There’s even an Xbox and alternative viewing on the 40” morning-room TV.
Out in the 2.5-acre grounds, there’s croquet, rounders and basketball to be played and an six-seat hot tub for older kids who’ve forgotten when bedtime is. And don’t forget the all-weather tennis court. Rackets provided. Make a night of it with steaks from the barbie and chat around the firepit.
What people say
Visit a world heritage site, conquer walls
Discover the people and places that shaped our lives at Ironbridge Valley of Invention. Conquer the walls at the Climbing Hut or your fears at The Edge Adventure. Hit the fairways at Market Drayton, the paddleboards at Alderford, or Billington’s for gingerbread. Meet furry friends at Exotic Zoo, or brave The Curse at Alton Towers.
