New to Sleeps12 for Christmas 2020 and beyond is Hesdin Hall, a sumptuous dog friendly holiday house for groups with a pool and games room, close to Bath and just 1 hour by train from London. 8 ensuite bedrooms sleep 18 guests and there’s room for 6 more at an extra charge per person. With stunning interiors, a fabulous 12m pool, hot tub, sauna, 2 games rooms, a gaming zone/movie room and an amazing outdoor kitchen this is one supersize holiday house that fits the bill perfectly for gatherings of friends and family, private celebrations, hen weekends and self catering corporate breaks.
Not so long ago Hesdin Hall was a working farmhouse and Georgian country manor rolled into one, but times change and following a major transformation, it now offers luxurious group accommodation on the border of Wiltshire and Somerset. Space, style and substance combine with exquisite original features and up-to-the-minute facilities in a private setting with views over fields where you can see the resident alpacas and goats grazing; it’s high end country living that’s hard to beat for holidays and short breaks any time of year.
Just look at the photos and you’ll see what we mean when we talk about the gorgeous interiors; a carefully chosen mix of vintage, tribal and contemporary combine to give a very welcoming feel, and what’s really noticeable is the gentle ambience that pervades every nook and cranny of this impressive holiday house for groups with a pool and games room. If you’re looking for the perfect backdrop to a very special celebration, this is it, it’s a seriously sociable place. You can all mingle happily throughout the ground floor and garden because there’s plenty of room. The kitchen is well equipped for catering for fabulous feasts, whether you do the cooking yourself or hire professionals from our Extras list to come in and do it all for you. Gather round the chef’s table for a natter, wander through a very striking glass walled dining room and out onto the terrace; ideal for cocktails and canapes, or for brilliant barbecues and pizza parties, making full use of the outdoor kitchen.
Step up to the lawn, take a dip in the pool or have soak in the hot tub – a treat and a half on a clear night when the sky is laced with stars; both are kept warm by a retractable cover so can be used any time of year. Beyond the walled garden are the private 20 acre grounds so there are views over fields where deer come down from the woods to feed.
A wide hallway has doors to a light and airy drawing room, a gaming zone/movie room and a games room with table football and air hockey. Contemporary furniture and statement lighting sit well with the period features - the fireplaces, window seats and architraves; lots of kooky bits and pieces bring homely touches. It’s just all so utterly fabulous – you’ll go home full of inspiration! All but one of the bedrooms have zip and link beds, so you can have them arranged as super kings or twins, and if your group is made up of a few families, you can make use of additional beds (small extra charge each) so younger children can snooze in with parents.
And of course, each bedroom has the luxury of an en suite shower room, all kitted out with top notch fittings and kept crisp and clean with a simple but very effective black and white theme. On the top floor, Bedroom 7 has a free standing bath as well as a shower room, oh and something else we love – there are two staircases, back and front; when affluent landowners lived here, the back one would have been purely for use by the servants. Now it makes for a barrel of fun playing hide and seek!
Just down the road is Longleat Safari Park so don’t be surprised if you hear the roar of hungry lions, the howling of wolves or the chattering of happy monkeys. There’s a choice of market towns if you need to pop to the shops for anything – Warminster, Westbury, and the more eclectic Frome, huge on vintage and artisan, with the brilliant Frome Independent Market held once a month in the spring and summer season. The main street is lined with stalls that wind up the cobbled hill, and the town car park becomes a huge flea market; there’s live music and street food and an unmistakable upbeat vibe that it feels good to be part of. You’ll love it.
Bath is only a short drive away and oh, there is SO much to do there! What a brilliant day out! You must see the world famous Roman Baths and Pump Rooms of course, and the Royal Crescent, but the glorious abbey ought to be on your list too - and the Fashion Museum and American Museum. The city streets are full of quirky shops, there’s often street theatre, and the architecture is adorable. If you want to escape the crowds, pick up the Bath Skyline Walk and hang out in Prior Park for a while.
If you prefer the great outdoors, go and discover the spectacular landscapes in this neck of the woods; the beautiful Cranborne Chase, Wiltshire’s famous white horses, and the tranquil Kennet & Avon Canal. Or don’t. It’s entirely up to you and if all you want to do is stay put, well, who can blame you, when you have such a wonderful house for your holiday, with your own pool, hot tub and games room.
Come and stay, come and live the dream, more memories for the stash. Check availability and book today!
