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The West House
Llantwit Major, near CardiffThis is the sister hotel of The Bear at Cowbridge, one of a mini-chain (The Town & Country Collective) of hotels owned and managed by a local family, the Hitchcocks. Hitchcock the film director is definitely no relation and the Bates Motel, his famously nightmarish creation, is as different from The West House as you… Read more »
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Fort Road Hotel
MargateSince opening in 2022, this place has quickly anchored itself in Margate’s evolving and stylish community. After being forgotten and overlooked for many years its new owners Matthew Slotover, Tom Gidley and Gabriel Chipperfield have turned the building into a breezy, unpretentious choice for a seaside retreat. Echoes of the trio’s art-world backgrounds reverberate throughout…. Read more »
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The Classic Stetteneck
OrtiseiThe name is fair enough: this is a magnificent Tyrolean Art Nouveau mansion that started in 1913 as a butcher’s shop with flats above. Decades later, in 1964, it was converted into a bed and breakfast, before becoming a hotel in 1972. It’s a key feature of the pedestrian zone in the graceful town of… Read more »
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The Cartford Inn
LancashireIn a little-visited corner of the North West, on a peaceful bend of the river Wyre, this place’s real heart, soul and energy is that of owners Patrick and Julie Beame. This husband-wife duo’s passion for their community seeps into every nook of this old 17thC Inn and its assortment of outbuildings. The hotel and… Read more »
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Terra Rosa
CalveloNew to our small but growing Portugal selection, an agriturismo with style and individuality. A collection of farm buildings has recently been converted to provide rustic-chic rooms and delightfully relaxed public spaces. Reliable sunshine in summer, it’s surrounded by vineyards of the Minho region of northern Portugal, bordering Spain. It’s relatively sleepy – slow right… Read more »
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Les Florets
GigondasThis ticks most of our boxes. The hotel stretches across 80 hectares of the Vaucluse, among Gigondas vineyards at the foot of the Dentelles de Monmirail. Expect delightful views of a narrow valley, looking out over hills and vineyards. It has been in the hands of the Bernard family for four generations, and dates back… Read more »
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Hotel Villa Kastelruth
CastelrottoWhat began in 1887 as a ‘thermal guesthouse’ for people passing through Castelrotto on the newly built road quickly developed into a renowned holiday destination. The guesthouse, was developed in 1903 into the then-fashionable villa style, and still combines a breath-taking location with the convenience of being near the centre of charming Castelrotto. It’s also… Read more »
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Hotel Madrisa
Gargellen, AustriaThis long established Vorarlberg institution is outside our usual size range but its ethos and atmosphere is so hard to reproduce that it can’t be ignored. Family run for three generations, the pine clad building stands 25 m or so above the road through Gargellen, a modest, but relatively high resort not especially known to… Read more »
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The Angel Inn at Hetton
SkiptonThe old Angel Inn at Hetton has been reborn since the last edition as a superb new contemporary place to stay, worth a detour if only for the food. Chef Michael Wignall (once at Gidleigh Park, Devon) has returned to his northern roots to be awarded a Michelin star for sophisticated, inventive dishes such as… Read more »
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La Villa Leopoldine
GrenadeIf you are an enthusiast for off-piste, perhaps whacky hotel experiences, try this place conveniently located in a large but peaceful village 20 mins from Toulouse Airport. It describes itself as a hotel confidential – which means you wouldn’t recognise it immediately as a hotel. For sure, from the street it looks at first glance… Read more »
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The Jolly Sportsman
East ChiltingtonHidden in the South Downs National Park, the Jolly Sportsman is a warm and homely country pub with a sense of slow living. There are just four adequately sized yet comfortable bedrooms and a terrace for great views of the countryside. We found the team’s dedication to maintaining a low carbon footprint especially impressive. They… Read more »
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Antonia’s Pearls
CornwallYou can’t take a private atmosphere for granted any more on Cornwall’s south coast, but in these nicely restored serviced cottages you can really be yourself. They appeal to independent people who find a homely ambience helps them to relax. You can be fully self catering if you wish, but most prefer to pre-order Antonia’s… Read more »
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The Lord Poulett Arms
Hinton Saint GeorgeThe Lord Poulett Arms is a traditional 17th-century thatched inn located in one of the best-kept villages in Somerset. Part of The Beckford Group this inn showcases what Dan, Charlie, and Matt do best – warming hospitality, comforting food, great wine, and charming interiors. Expect to feel completely at home in rooms with views of the… Read more »
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The Bath Arms at Longleat
WiltshireWe have known about this Wiltshire institution for a long time – it was one of the first places our series editor Fiona Duncan reviewed for her Telegraph column. We didn’t include it in Charming Small Hotels until now because although good, it wasn’t quite individual enough for our selection. Now Dan Brod and Charlie Luxton,… Read more »
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Glebe House
SouthleighEverything’s about slow living here. There’s a vegetable garden, a swimming pool and a tennis court; farm animals, several hens and two Lop pigs (a rare British pig breed) call this home. The agritourism theme surfaces everywhere – vines grow on the outside walls; a wood burner awaits you in the hall plus the smell… Read more »
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Another Place, The Lake
UllswaterInspired by its sister hotel, Watergate Bay in Cornwall, Cumbria’s Another Place brings something new to the Lake District. By including it, we go a little off-piste, but what’s provided here is unique. The location between lake and hills is both calming and inspiring. Previously known as Rampsbeck Hotel, the Georgian-style house is next to… Read more »
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The Loch and The Tyne by Adam Handling
Old WindsorLuxury pub-with-rooms with a passion for sustainability
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Resort Fondo la Campagnola
Gargnano (BS)Unforgettable colours, headily perfumed garden, unique views of the lake and mountains. You can choose from ten exclusive apartments. The location is wonderful – you are surrounded by citrus and olive groves, and a beautiful English meadow. Sunsets are especially spectacular here.