Hotel review: No38 The Park, Cheltenham

West Country mini-chain Lucky Onion has combined stylish ambition with cosy charm

No38 The Park

There’s no shortage of places to stay in the Cotswolds and Gloucestershire area; pretty architecture, rolling fields and proximity to London make it a hotspot for weekend breaks from the capital, as well as a preferred country jaunt for tourists looking for a “chocolate box” destination.

But what Sam and Georgina Pearman have created with their little collection of hotels and pubs is something a bit different - a clever combination of stylish ambition and cosy charm and at a price point that keeps it within the reach of mere mortals (the celebs can head to Soho Farmhouse for three times the price).

Of the Lucky Onion group, No38 is the one to fantasise in – the whole hotel, with its 13 rooms, can be taken as one for what would make an idyllic family or friends’ get-together.

From the wide, black and white tiled floor of the hallway, past a vast, stunning antique wooden drinks cabinet (not really the right word for something about 8ft long and containing every conceivable tipple, with an honesty bar system) to a small paved terrace at the side of the building, every detail has been attended to.

The vast drinks cabinet

We had a grown-up hen weekend with a generous, delicious dinner laid on in a private dining room - if you do fancy a house party, chefs, nannies and anyone else you might need can be brought in and those thick Georgian walls can absorb a lot of late-night shenanigans.

While we signed in, sinking quickly into vast sofas in the living room, we wondered if the rooms could be as divine as the shared spaces. They could, as it turned out. But perhaps my favourite room was the breakfast space at the rear of the house; a huge, rugged wooden table at its centre contains all manner of good things to eat and drink, plus a glass jar of remedies for hangovers. It’s light and airy, with enormous convex mirrors just made for reflected selfies.

The breakfast room

Location

At the other end of Cheltenham from sister hotel No131 Promenade, No38 The Park sits back from the road among the expansive townhouses and villas of the well-heeled; parking in front of the wide, Georgian white-stuccoed façade is a chance to play “let’s pretend it's my house”. It’s a five-minute walk from the town centre, but just two minutes in the other direction and you’re in a leafy park complete with boating lake, playground and a café.

We took our dog along and she loved bounding around (useful later, when we left her in the room to snooze while we quaffed cocktails at the Crazy Eights bar in No131).

Cheltenham, of course, has a racecourse and a thriving literary festival – but the Lucky Onion group has its own enviable array of guest chefs, cookery demos, sporty days and music events to draw guests. And you never know who you might be rubbing shoulders with – comedian Dom Joly has a favourite seat in the No131 bar.

Comfort

We had the bedroom on the ground floor (classed as “excellent”; others are “very good” and “cosy”), and if I mention that the bathroom is big enough to contain a sofa, two enormous basins, a freestanding bath and a shower area so wide I could stand with arms outstretched and not touch the sides, that gives an idea of what I mean by expansive.

The bed has one of those slightly bonkers TVs that sinks into the frame, but to be honest, the room’s so big you’d need binoculars to watch if it were against any of the walls.

A bedroom, with its freestanding bath

Upstairs the rooms are of more normal proportions, but Vivienne Westwood wallpaper, antique baths and radiators, geometric tilework, eclectic art and stylish touches like mohair throws and velvety wing chairs are certainly not identikit hotel décor. Lucky Onion has its own 100 Acres toiletries in every room, and instead of an anodyne mini-bar (head downstairs if you’re thirsty), there are quirky snacks.

Essentials

No38 The Park, 38 Evesham Road, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL52 2AH (01242 822929; no38thepark.com).

Rooms: *****
Value: ****
Service: ****

Doubles from £120, room only. Exclusive hire from £3,900 per night for 26 guests and a three-course dinner for all guests on one night (theluckyonion.com).