The Potting Shed is the quintessential 5* Cotswold escape. Following an 18 month restoration completed in May 2019, this stone barn conversion has just been launched. Located within the grounds of an elegant Grade II listed Georgian town house on Cecily Hill - voted one of the prettiest streets in England, this romantic getaway is accessed by a private stone bridge which leads through through a formal kitchen garden to a stunning private terrace.
The Potting Shed is a self-contained converted stone barn which occupies 550 sq ft of living space and has a generous 200 sq ft private terrace. This gorgeous hideaway sits in our grounds but, with its own separate entrance, it is a very private cottage.
Following an extensive restoration from the ground up in 2018/19, we have used local materials and Cotswold craftsmanship to create a retreat that’s been decorated to a very high standard throughout using beautiful fittings, Farrow and Ball paints and designer fabrics.
Upstairs under the eaves, with their original lime-washed oak beams and exposed Cotswold stone walls, are 4 heritage double glazed conservation windows, fitted with black out blinds for the light early mornings. The king sized double bed (Nb. Can also be set up as a twin room) occupies one end of the bedroom while a generous cupboard sits at the other end with hanging rails for your clothes and space for your bags. All the upstairs lighting controls are conveniently located next to both sides of the bed.
Downstairs features a great living space with excellent wifi and underfloor heating installed throughout. There’s a fully equipped kitchen containing a Nespresso coffee machine, dishwasher, fridge with ice compartment, gas cooker, microwave and masses of kitchen utensils, pots and pans… so if you fancy dining in, there’s everything you need to create delicious meals while the drop-leaf dining table can be extended from 2 to 4 places.
In the cosy living area, there’s a deep sofa and a 4k TV with access to both Catch-up and Netflix. Finally, for those chilly evenings, a stylish Chesneys gas fire will keep you lovely and warm and as it’s operated by remote control, you need only to lift a finger!
The luxurious bathroom is also located downstairs and is equipped with underfloor heating and high end fittings such as a Hanns Grohe shower, Burlington taps and natural Bramley bathroom products, all designed for complete indulgence.
To ensure your stay is as comfortable as can be, we’ve kitted out the cottage with a fully integrated heating system operated by Nest, which also controls the underfloor heating. But your safety is vital so we’ve also installed an intelligent AutoMist® fire suppression system.
Outside, the terrace is perfectly set-up for alfresco drinks and dining and it is there exclusively for your use. There is a shared formal kitchen garden or potager, bordered by a mature hedge which forms the boundary of the shared space, beyond which the rest of the garden is private. The Gumstool Brook bridge was also rebuilt last year and the iron decorative railings and pillars which we added won the Cirencester 2019 Civic Design award.
Checking-in, Dropping off & Parking
The Potting Shed is set up for self check-in, with a keypad entry system on the bridge and a key safe by the front door. Unfortunately, we do not provide parking on site, however there is a drop off point at the end of the Gumstool Brook path, where guests can unload. Cars can be parked at The Old Station, The Brewery, Waterloo or The Beeches car parks; there is also free off-street parking on Baunton Lane (subject to availability) just 3 minutes’ walk away. Alternatively, private parking can be arranged for a small charge, including a Type 2 EV charge point. For those travelling without a car, Kemble train station is situated 10 minutes from Cirencester – and trains from London take 1hr 20mins.
From May until September, the beautiful Cirencester open air swimming pool, with its warm spring-fed water, is open from 7am. It’s a couple of minutes' walk along from the Gumstool Brook bridge so why not go for a refreshing early morning dip!
