10 inns with brilliant bathtubs
10 inns with brilliant bathtubs
Where better to relax than in an oversized, bubble-filled tub? Our Collection of pubs-with-rooms has a brilliant selection of freestanding baths to unwind, admire a lovely view and sip on a cool glass of interesting wine - here we've rounded up 10.
Serving the community for over 300 years since first opening its doors as an ale house, The Swan Inn is part of the niche Stay Original group of pubs which boasts a winning combination of boutique swagger with a real sense of heritage and period charm.
Just north of Ludlow The Clive Arms, a striking 18th-century farmhouse, is impossible to miss. It was once occupied by Clive of India - his original coat of arms hangs above the fire in the vaulted and beamed lounge bar. The Oakly Park Estate on which land it sits took control of the operation in recent years and totally revamped the place in 2019, redesigning the interior and adding three extra bedrooms to create a very stylish and informal inn.
Step inside The George & Dragon and you are transported back to 1645 - find wooden floors, simple benches and a log fire blazing in an impressive stone fireplace. It's been famous for fresh, beautifully cooked fish and seafood for many years, plus it is a great base for exploring the Caen Hills Locks on the Kennet and Avon Canal.
Hidden away in rolling downland on the edge of Salisbury Plain in the sleepy village of East Chisenbury is this charming 18th-century thatched freehouse. Despite its rustic exterior and rural setting, the Red Lion Freehouse is much more than just a local pub.
Renovated by Brakspear in 2018, this rambling 16th-century inn is now a stylish Cotswolds bolthole, close to Cheltenham and some of the Cotswold's most sought-after spots. With added wow factor and amazing attention to detail, The Frogmill boasts traditional beams and flagstones which complement more contemporary features and warm heritage hues.
Situated in the market town of Northleach, Lucky Onion's creeper-covered and country-smart Wheatsheaf Inn boasts a fabulous dining room, characterful bar and 14 glamorous bedrooms. With well-chosen artworks, leather armchairs and open fireplaces, it is the kind of place you can squirrel yourself away for a day or two, and there's even a treatment room if you need some pampering.
With a rustic French-style design, Mediterranean inspired dishes, and relaxed bistro feel, the charming Roebuck Inn feels closer to France than Cheshire's rolling countryside. Downstairs, find red and black tiled floors, stripped brick walls and leather banquettes, whilst upstairs, freestanding copper tubs and delicately beautiful glass chandeliers create a calming milieu.
A cracking community pub and dining destination, The Bell is a fabulous and offbeat place to stay. There's plenty to delight and inspire: original sagging beams ooze historic charm, modern art beckons from the walls, and books are stacked from floor-to-ceiling. Add to this an array of 1930s suitcases, stuffed taxidermy and vintage typewriters, and you have a quirky aesthetic that's bound to amuse.
Moulton resident Philip Turner snapped up his seriously neglected village local back in 2013 and lavished money on the place, transforming it into very cool country inn - the first for his niche Chestnut Group of pubs across East Anglia. The whole place may look pristine, with a stylish interior and innovative menus, but it's still a pub at heart, with a buzzy bar and a big local drinking trade.
Situated between Newcastle and Edinbrugh, this former 17th-century coaching inn has been totally transformed into two quirky and very distinct venues - a gastropub-with-rooms and fabulous hotel and wedding venue next door. Whilst Le Petit Chateau focuses on weddings with a uniquely styled celebratory chapel, opulent rooms and an exotic Mediterranean garden, the William de Percy has been reinvented as a chic inn offering eight fun bedrooms and a French-boudoir vibe throughout.
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