Grind down the gravel of the Minster Mill car park next to a fragrant flower meadow, and you’ll feel like you’re wandering not into a hotel but a small hamlet, complete with rental pastel Pashley bikes propped up against thick stone walls.
Built on the foundations of a mill mentioned in the Domesday Book, the 38-room hotel in the Cotswolds village of Minster Lovell received a £4.5m refurbishment in 2019.
Most of the rooms are in the linear stone building dedicated to a restaurant and spa — where you can enjoy views of the Windrush River or a lazy swim in the pool. There is another group of rooms on the river front and six in an elegant annex nearby.
Rather than offering endless hidden corners inside, Minster Mill is a hotel that encourages outdoor exploration. The grounds fan out from the river front and the staff can arrange fishing masterclasses with a ghillie (fishing expert) for guests unfamiliar with lures. Away from the water, with its glittering dragonflies, there’s a tennis court – and the beehive-filled wildflower meadow to explore.
Countryside idyll: Tamara Hinson checks into Minster Mill (above), a hotel on the River Windrush in the Cotswold village of Minster Lovell
Swim laps in the pool at the hotel’s Garden Spa, which also has a rock sauna and an aromatic steam room.
Sit by the water wheel for a lovely secluded picnic. It should come with a warning: if you’re prone to naps, the rhythmic, swampy thump will lull you to sleep in seconds.
The bedrooms combine Scandinavian-style coziness and mid-century furniture with farmhouse chic. There are sloping ceilings under a maze of beams and every room is bathed in natural light.
If you want to overdose on the latter, consider choosing one of the riverfront rooms, which have a private patio and a wood stove or fireplace. For privacy and lots of natural light, with the all-important waterwheel soundtrack, try Packraum 101.
Built on the foundations of a mill mentioned in the Domesday Book, the 38-room hotel underwent a £4.5m refurbishment in 2019
“The bedrooms combine Scandinavian coziness and mid-century furniture with farmhouse chic,” says Tamara
Rather than offering endless hidden corners inside, Minster Mill is a hotel where outdoor exploration is encouraged
Caffeine addicts will love the Nespresso machines in each room, along with the mugs — real mugs, not ceramic shot glasses — and their animal motifs, the prettiest of which are floppy ears.
Awarded three AA rosettes, the restaurant is cozy and airy with its beamed ceiling and large fireplace. Choose the Turbot Dieppoise served with clams and lobster for hearty comfort food true to the area. Or there is aged venison with cherry ketchup or beef tenderloin with black garlic.
The vaulted bar above is a great place for a nap or further exploration of the wine list – aficionados should try Grace Koshu Kayagatake, a wine from Japan’s Yamanashi Prefecture.
Sample a glass of Grace Koshu Kayagatake, a wine from Japan’s Yamanashi Prefecture, at the hotel’s vaulted bar
Tamara says: “The three AA Rosette restaurant (above), with its beamed ceiling and large fireplace, feels cozy and airy.”
For breakfast, enjoy a full English breakfast with Laverstoke Park Farm Black Pudding – if the name sounds familiar, it’s because it’s one of Waitrose’s best-selling brands.
Want to make up for your indulgences? The Garden Spa features an indoor pool, a rock sauna and an aroma steam room.
Therapy suites offer treatments for both residents and non-residents, and day packages are popular with couples and friends.
Otherwise, staff are happy to recommend local walks, including one that starts near the village’s ruins of English Heritage-listed 15th-century Minster Lovell Hall.
Take a look at the information board – the opening times say “any reasonable time” by the way. It perfectly sums up the relaxed atmosphere in this part of the world.
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James is an author and travel journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a love for exploring new cultures and discovering unique destinations, James brings his readers on a journey with him through his articles.
