Chestnut House
Sleeps 11-14
Minchinhampton, Cotswolds
Gardens and grounds
As you make your way through the far gate, approaching the house by way of its long drive shaded in the woods, and eventually coming out from under the trees and onto the grand sweeping drive, you’ll have your first impression of the unobtrusiveness of the 11 acres this house sits amongst.
Stretch your legs – you’ll want to use them here! Step out of the car and hear that first crunch as you light upon the gravel and look around wide-eyed. You won’t see it all just yet, and that’s the beauty of these grounds.
Stepping past the drive and the immediate external features of the house – large patio, 6-person hot tub, and fountain – the green begins: fit for cricket, football, picnics, parties and more, it unfolds by stages as you make your way past the chicken run and the children’s play area with slide, swings, climbing frame and trampoline. Find more paths: this way down to the barn and stables and that way up past the ménage and through the private field, leading to Nailsworth just half a mile away. You may even spot foxes, badgers, pheasants, deer and other wildlife that sometimes like to make an appearance at Chestnut House.
Living spaces
Step between the pillars and through the front doors. What’s the first thing you see as you step over the Rhodian solid marble threshold? It is the epitome of the years of attention to detail that has gone into making these interiors truly special: a hall stretching out before you, clean and white, gleaming from floor to cornicing in chandelier light.
On your immediate right and left you’ll find the formal dining room and living room, the former featuring an open wood fire and enough comfortable seating for all your guests; the latter comprising modern glass-front wood fire; 50” SMART TV with Sky, Netflix and more; as well as the plush and luxurious sofas on which to lounge while watching your movies.
Moving down the hallway, you’ll find to your right the games room, let the kids go at it while we carry on. You’ll find an extensive bookcase filled with a variety of literature and lots of popular board games, and finally you’ll find more quality sofas before a log burner and a 55” TV with the same great channels and apps. From both the living room and the games room, open the doors and shutters for instant access to the patio – just a quick bare-footed hop to the hot tub!
Cooking and dining
Limestone flooring surrounds the large centre island of solid black granite. See that control panel? At the touch of a button you have rising from the stone the extraction fan for your own teppanyaki grill. This kitchen does modern oh so well – electric and steam ovens, induction hob, large fridge-freezer with ice machine, as well as a range of cookery books and all the essentials you’ll need for making special meals – or for letting the professionals make them for you!
That’s right: whether you’re dining inside or out, whether you feel like a four-course formal meal or a BBQ meat feast, why not have a specialty catering company or private chef come to the house, bringing with them bespoke and effortless options. They’ll leave you more than replete and won’t leave the house until everything has been cleaned and tidied away. Alternatively, work up your appetite with a short walk into Nailsworth for tapas and cocktails at The Vault, delicious steaks and pastas at Wild Garlic, or fresh fish soup and oysters at William’s.
What people say
Time spent well in timeless settings
You may have finally escaped the city rush; not looking back for a second. But for just the right balance of adventure and calm, Gloucestershire boasts a variety of things to do with family and friends.
