Wanting to itch the travel bug without going too far from home, Mark and I decided to do an early Valentines staycation.

The Hotel

Located in the leafy Pittville Circus neighborhood of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, the Cotswold Grange Hotel is in a historic 1840s building with period features and high ceilings. Updated rooms offer a fresh feel, and the hotel’s restaurant and bar are a classy place for a meal or drink. Easy on site parking and a location walking distance from the centre of town makes this 20-bedroom hotel easily accessible. Personalized superb service is what you’ll find as the hotel has an intimate bed and breakfast feel.

The Rooms

Cotswold Grange rooms range from superior doubles to junior suites and deluxe four posters. Our room was a superior double with a comfy double bed, couch, armoire, vintage desk, and flat-screen TV. The interior boasted a relaxing tan and white colour scheme and the large window in our room offered a view overlooking Cheltenham with the Cotswold hills in the distance.

The Bathroom

Normally I’d include the bathroom when describing the hotel room – except in this case the bathroom was almost the same size as the room! Even for this American who is used to large spaces, I was pleased with the ample area in the bathroom. A full soak tub and walk in shower offered options for bathing, with the skylight adding a natural light touch. Heated floors warmed up our chilly feet, and it was easy for two to get ready at once with the large vanity and mirror.

The Location

Cotswold Grange is ideally situated on a quiet, tree-lined street in Cheltenham just a short ten minute walk from the restaurants and shops in the town centre.

The hotel is also a short drive or bus ride to the countryside and villages of the Cotswolds, an area of outstanding natural beauty.

Dinner and Drinks

Dining was a pleasure in the hotel’s Drawing Room Restaurant, as it was snowing during our stay and we gladly welcomed avoiding the cold in the hotel’s ground floor restaurant.

Head Chef Mark Young offers a delicious a la carte dinner menu, in which we started with a savoury confit duck served with chutney and brioche. My main was a well-portioned sirloin steak served with homemade chips, cherry tomatoes, and a garlic butter sauce. Mark chose the lamb with fondant potato, roasted carrot and butternut squash. A complimentary glass of wine is offered with each main meal ordered by hotel guests, so we both enjoyed a glass of Argentinian Malbec.

The Breakfast

Breakfast at the Cotswold Grange is included for all guests of the hotel and is served in the hotel’s grand dining room.

You can nibble on a buffet of yoghurts, cereals, and pastries while the chef prepares your cooked selection. I opted for smoked salmon and eggs with granary bread, while Mark tucked into a full English.

Many thanks to Cotswold Grange Hotel for hosting my visit. All views and opinions are, as always, my own.

More Information

• Hotel: Cotswold Grange Hotel
• Location: Pittville Circus Road, Cheltenham, England GL52 2QH
• Price Range: Mid-range; rooms from £62-£120