GETAWAY: Old Swan & Minster Mill, Minster Lovell

THIS is England. The Old Swan & Minster Mill, resplendent in the heart of the Cotswolds - the sort of idyllic location that would make anglophile American tourists spontaneously combust with excitement.

Owned by Lana de Savary, wife of millionaire entrepreneur and former Millwall FC chairman Peter, the sprawling rural plot in the charming village of Minster Lovell is a far cry from The Den on a match day.

The venue is essentially split into two - as the name might suggest; The Old Swan, and the Minster Mill. The former contains a handful of elegant, quirky and spacious boutique rooms dotted around a gastro-pub, complete with log-fired bar and snug. It’s like staying in a beautiful medieval inn. That’s not to say the facilities are primitive, with in-room mod-cons like large flat screen TVs blending in as seamlessly as possible with decanters of sloe gin, fireplaces and wooden beams that decorate reassuringly asymmetrical ceilings. The pub itself provides the setting for dinner and breakfast, with locally-sourced ingredients making up a high-end menu befitting of the surroundings. It’s well worth a visit for non residents.

Across the road stands the Minster Mill, billed as ‘a slightly less posh country-cousin - a bit of an upstart’. Rooms are smaller, more modern and aimed at the business traveller, with conference facilities also on site. The best of this batch of accommodation sits right on the River Windrush with outdoor terraces and log-burners. But the Old Swan’s funkier sibling still retains Ye Olde English charm, with more roaring fires, coats of arms and suits of armour dotted around a stunning reception room. It sounds clichéd bordering on cheesy, but the venue is grand (and old) enough to carry it off with aplomb.

A new addition to the hotel’s accommodation options really steals the show, though. Swan Cottage was a tired residential property neighbouring the Old Swan until the de Savarys acquired it and restored it to dream country house glory. You won’t just want to stay there, you’ll want to live there. A night at the cottage won’t leave you much change out of £500, but it sleeps up to six people, so it works out as a decent deal for groups or families.

The hotel is animal friendly, with dogs welcome in specific rooms at the Old Swan and catered for (literally) in the pub. There are also a pair of resident ducks, Betty and Eddie, who happily waddle through the grounds providing the eggs for breakfast.

The village is tiny, but there’s plenty to do, with an onsite gym, tennis court, croquet lawn and fishing facilities available. Oxford, Cheltenham and Bicester are a short drive away for shoppers, and there are plenty of walking routes allowing you to enjoy the surrounding countryside or, if you’re particularly nosey, some of the extremely pretty properties in the village.

Any trek should take in the ruins of Minster Lovell Hall, a short stroll through the village. Legend has it that Richard III’s sidekick Lord Lovell died of starvation while hiding in one of the vaults. Most historians agree that this tale is almost certainly untrue, but it does the tourism footfall no harm. Partially dismantled in the 18th Century, the Hall’s ruins remain a site of historical interest - or just a perfect backdrop to a picturesque riverside picnic.

Minster Lovell is only 40 minutes from Swindon and perfect for a day trip at any time of year - but it’s even better if you make a weekend of it. Treat yourself.

The Old Swan & Minster Mill
Old Minster, Minster Lovell, Oxfordshire, Cotswolds, OX29 0RN
01993 768126.
www.oldswanandminster.com
For details on upcoming special offers email: [email protected]