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October 30, 2018

The Old Barn – A Magnificent Stay for 12 in the Idyllic Village of Chelsworth

The Old Barn, Chelsworth is one of the most memorable places I’ve stayed in a long time.  With one of my best friends getting married in the stunning historic village of Chelsworth, we scrolled through the properties on the Suffolk Cottage Holidays website and were instantly struck by this one property which looked like the perfect fit for the wedding party to stay in.  However, it wasn’t until we arrived, that we realised just how amazing The Old Barn truly is.

The charming village of Chelsworth is home to a stunning medieval church, country inn and the river Brett, set against rolling countryside and houses which date back to the 14th Century.  The telephone box is even listed by English heritage!  As a result, you’ll feel like you’ve been transported back in time with beautiful thatched cottages and idyllic gardens filled with flowers.

In contrast, The Old Barn, set back from the main road and just one mile from the charming pub The Peacock, is modern and contemporary with industrial fittings and ultra modern styling.  With traditional beams and brickwork, the architecture is truly impressive throughout, from the big driveway which can cater for six cars, to the hidden storage areas at its entrance, through to the fluid design of the main kitchen and lounge area and its six bedrooms spread across four floors.

‘WOW’ was pretty much what sprung to mind when we entered the main room.  Expansive and fluid, the open plan kitchen proved to be the perfect sociable spot for serving up food, while the long central dining table (with room for 16!) became the heart of the barn and the main area for us all to congregate at – whether that was for wedding hair and makeup, dinner, drinks or for making a plan for the day ahead.  At the far end of the main space, we discovered the lounge area with flat screen TV was great to retire to in the evening with a glass of wine or two, and the floor to ceiling doors which led out onto a big patio area with table and chairs ensured there was even more space for guests on the eve of the wedding.

We were all blown away with the basement bedroom which was perfect for the wedding couple with its enormous spa bath, king sized bed and separate bathroom.  On the ground floor, another impressive bedroom with en suite bathroom and  French doors leading out to a terrace overlooking the rolling hillside… The first floor, home to three bedrooms and the main family bathroom was just made for all of the bridesmaids to occupy, while on the top floor, we discovered the master bedroom with en suite bathroom and dressing room.  In total, room for 12 to sleep comfortably without the feeling of living on top of each other.

Three days at The Old Barn and it was beginning to feel like home.  With so much space, it never felt cramped, even at full capacity, and on the morning of the wedding, it was the ultimate haven for the bride and wedding party to get ready, complete with wedding dresses, bridesmaid dresses, manic ironing and sewing, hairdressers, make up artists and photographers.

For many of the guests, The Peacock pub proved a great place to stay – we also all ended up in there for last orders, long after the wedding had finished!

For big celebrations, family gatherings or special events, The Old Barn Chelsworth is everything you could wish for and more.  Search for it now on the Suffolk Cottage Holidays website with prices between £1765 and £2780 per week.

Click here to book.

Written by Luxuria Lifestyle UK’s Ashleigh Whitfield

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