Brook Barn Country Hotel, Letcombe Regis (Oxfordshire)

These recently converted stables are wonderfully managed to reflect the perfect English country experience.

Summary 20th century buildings Breakfast included Free car parking (on site) No smoking Facilities Free broadband access Shared gardens Food and Drinks Restaurant Continental breakfast (included) English breakfast (included) Dinner available (at additional cost) Bar

Nearby recreations Recommended walks Pub (walking distance) Museums (a short drive) Historic houses Gardens Golf course (a short drive) Recommended restaurants (a short drive)

Introduction

Brook Barn has been awarded the coveted, ‘highly commended 5 Yellow Stars’ by the AA Guest Accommodation Scheme along with their egg cup and pie award for ‘very special breakfasts and dinners’ so you can be sure of a wonderful stay.

Brook Barn is situated on the outskirts of a small, Oxfordshire village, 25 minutes from Oxford, 30 minutes from the Cotswolds and just over an hour from Bath, Cheltenham and London. The house is a jewel of a hideaway with its fabulous mix of traditional design, comfort and unique atmosphere.

Brook Barn, up until a few years ago, was two barns incorporating stables, bull pen and a hayloft. It has been converted into a stunning family home retaining many of the original beams.

Brook Barn has been created by Sarah-Jane and Mark Ashman. Sarah-Jane has run many a country house and a few years ago joined Mark on his luxury charter yacht, both of them entertaining guests and cooking delicious meals in a very small galley. "We have been in the service industry for the last ten years and know what is important to our guests: cleanliness, friendliness, efficiency, an atmosphere which makes you feel immediately at home, delicious food and a break from the hurly burly of everyday life".

"Brook Barn is not just a bed and breakfast but also our home and we think we offer the perfect combination of ambience and comfort typical of the English country house with the high standards of a top hotel".

History to the present day

The name of the village, and also of Letcombe Bassett, probably derives from the Saxon ‘Ledge Valley’. An old legend says the name really stems from a battle at this latter site between Danes and Saxons, when the enemy’s blood ran down the valley and the villagers shouted, "Let it come! Let it come!"

Letcombe Castle is a huge Iron Age hillfort covering twenty-seven acres which is a short walk from Brook Barn and offers fabulous views and a wonderful walk.

Some of the earliest history of Wantage is the reference to the town being the place of birth of King Alfred. The 'Life of King Alfred', possibly written by Bishop Asser, gives his date of birth as 849. King Alfred is not only known for burning cakes but also for being passionate about education. There is a statue of King Alfred, commissioned by Lord Wantage, and designed and carved in 1877 by Count Gleichen, (a cousin of Queen Victoria) in the town centre.

Wantage lies at the foot of the Downs and there are numerous racing stables in the surrounding villages, Lambourn being the most famous.  Nearby is the historic, probably pre-Roman, Ridgeway track running from Ashbury to Streatley on the Thames. The Downs are also the site of the famous White Horse carved into the chalk hillside which is to be found in Uffington.

Food and Drinks

Food at Brook Barn is incredibly important and we try very hard to source all our meat and vegetables from local producers. We are in the process of converting our paddock into a vegetable garden and chicken run. By next summer we hope all our vegetables will be home grown and our eggs, instead of coming from our neighbours, will be from our chickens and whenever possible our meat comes from local farms some of which are certified organic.

We take great pleasure from offering our guests not just a continental breakfast or English, but both. Every morning you will be able to help yourself to hams, cheeses, homemade muesli, cereals, croissant, pain au chocolat and we will cook you a delicious ‘fry up’ consisting of eggs, bacon, sausages, mushrooms from The Ridgeway in season and toast made from freshly baked bread.

Coffee, tea (a large selection of fruit teas are always available) and freshly squeezed orange juice are, of course, provided. If you prefer to have breakfast in the privacy of your own room we can organise a tray of your preferences.

For those of you who need to leave early we have the Early Bird breakfast; a cup of coffee or tea, orange juice and a bacon bap which should set you up for the day ahead. The Early Bird is served between 5am and 7am

We know it’s not usual for a bed and breakfast to provide dinner but we have often felt when staying away from home that we don’t want to go out the moment we arrive or when we have been out all day so we like to offer our guests the opportunity to have a delicious dinner with us.

Grounds and gardens

The house is set in over an acre of gardens which include an orchard, wild flower meadow and a beautiful chalk stream, with benches and chairs thoughtfully positioned for guests to enjoy the peace and tranquillity of the Oxfordshire countryside.

The main feature of the garden is Letcombe Brook which bubbles its way through the centre of the garden. There are some lovely areas for sitting and watching the local wildlife: trout, ducks, moorhens and the kingfishers that speed up and down the stream.

Witha wild flower meadow which with each year is becoming more and more beautiful and is always fun to walk through and see all those flowers that we used to see growing in the hedgerows during our childhood.

Other facilities

The hot tub, in our ‘Mediterranean garden’ is a perfect way to rid yourself of any stresses and strains. Surrounded by ‘hot’ plants and a beautiful water feature it is easy to forget that you are in England.

The library is a fabulous room to curl up on the sofa and read a good book or the daily newspapers and glossy magazines. Our CD and DVD collection is available for you to choose from, if that takes your fancy.

If you come to Brook Barn for a holiday why not try out some of our fun games? In the garden we have croquet which is always accompanied by accusations of cheating! We find that a jug of Pimms in the Pagoda eases the pain of losing rather well.

The trampoline is tucked into the wild flower meadow and isn’t just good fun for children. We have seen many an adult determined to show off a somersault or two; it’s a great way to get some exercise.

We have bikes for your use so that you can explore the local area; the Ridgeway Walk is close by and the views are spectacular; Letcombe Bassett and Regis are lovely villages with pretty thatched cottages and are well worth cycling through.

Arrival information and how to find us

Address: Brook Barn, Letcombe Regis, Oxfordshire, OX12 9JD, United Kingdom

Address: Brook Barn, Letcombe Regis, Wantage, Oxfordshire, OX12 9JD

Directions: Mid-way between London and Bath, Brook Barn is ideally situated; surrounded by the honey coloured Cotswolds; Wiltshire the county of “contrasts and diversity”; the fascinating heritage of Berkshire and the “exciting, cultural and entertaining Oxfordshire countryside” boasting long walks, the unique White Horse and, of course, the city of dreams, Oxford.

From the North M40 / A34
Head south on the A34. Take the Milton Interchange exit sign posted for Milton, Didcot and Wantage. At the roundabout take the 4th exit onto the A4130 towards Wantage. After 1.7 miles take the 3rd exit at the roundabout onto the A417 (sign posted for Wantage). Continue for approximately 4.4 miles (watch out for the speed camera) until you come into Wantage. Go straight across the first roundabout, the Lord Nelson Pub will be on your left, after 0.4 miles there will be another roundabout; take the first exit. At the traffic lights (this is a staggered junction) go straight across (sign posted for Ashbury and Uffington). After 0.6 miles turn left to Letcombe Regis; continue around a sharp right hand bend and past a creamy house. Our drive is about 400 feet on your left after the house. If you come to another sharp bend you have gone too far. Brook Barn is at the end of the drive with the black wrought iron gates and orange coloured roof with a wind vane on top (PLEASE DO NOT BEAR LEFT, this is Long Barn). Use the buzzer on the right hand side for entry.

From The South A34
Take the A4 exit sign posted for Hungerford, Newbury and Donnington. At the roundabout take the 3rd exit onto the B4000. Continue on this road for 6.2 miles until you come to a T junction. Turn right onto the A338. After 1.4 miles you will go through Great Shefford and pass the Swan Inn on your right. Continue on the A338 for another 6.5 miles when you will see a left hand sign for Letcombe Regis. Take this road (Court Hill Road). At the bottom of the hill (1.3 miles) turn right sign posted to East Challow and Wantage. You will pass Mill Paddock on your left after which there is a very sharp right hand bend (signed for Wantage). Our drive is 370 feet on your right hand side just after the bend. Brook Barn is at the end of the drive with the black wrought iron gates and orange coloured roof with a wind vane on top (PLEASE DO NOT BEAR LEFT, this is Long Barn). Use the buzzer on the right hand sign for entry.
 
From M4 East and West Junction 14
Get onto the A338 (Baydon Road) heading towards Wantage.  After 2.1 miles you will drive through East Shefford. The Swan Inn will be on your right. Continue on the A338 for another 6.5 miles until you see a left hand turning for Letcombe Regis. Turn left here into Court Hill Road. At the bottom of the hill (1.3 miles) turn right signposted for East Challow and Wantage. You will pass Mill Paddock on your left and then go around a sharp right hand bend signposted to Wantage. Our drive is 370 feet on your right hand side after the bend. Brook Barn is at the end of the drive with the black wrought iron gates and orange coloured roof with a wind vane on top (PLEASE DO NOT BEAR LEFT, this is Long Barn). Use the buzzer on the right hand sign for entry.
 
By Train to Didcot Parkway London Paddington approximately 40 minutes Oxford approximately 15 minutes Bristol approximately 45 minutes Bath Spa approximately 45 minutes. It is about 20 minutes by taxi to Brook Barn.

More photos of Brook Barn Country Hotel, Letcombe Regis

Brook Barn Letcombe Regis	The Garden Room	The Garden Room	The Garden Room Terrrace	The Garden Room Terrace
The Garden Room Terrace	The Garden Room Terrace	The Bullpen	The Bullpen	The Bullpen Bathroom
The Bullpen	The Bullpen Bathroom	The Bullpen Bathroom	The Bullpen	The Bullpen Bathroom
The Garden Room	The Garden Room	The Hayloft Suite		Brook Barn
The Brook Bedroom	The stream Brook Barn	The Stable Bedroom	The Stable Bedroom	The Stable Bedroom
The Stable Bedroom	The Brook Bedroom	The Brook Bedroom	The Garden at Brook Barn	The Garden
The Hayloft Suite	The Hayloft Suite	The Bullpen Terrace