В бывшем банке в Стowe-on-the-Wold открыли дизайнерские апартаменты

The market town of Stow-on-the-Wold, smack bang in the heart of the Cotswolds, has plenty to charm – think honey-coloured stone buildings and an 11th-century church door that is said to have inspired the Doors of Durin in Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. But it’s also a bit of a honeypot, with almost as many cream tea and souvenir shops as tourists. Most visit for just a few hours, but there is now a very good reason to linger a little longer, away from the crowds – The Vaults at Stow, a trio of thoughtfully designed one-bedroom apartments, housed in the unlikely location of a former Barclays bank. Bordering the town’s expansive market square, it is a pleasingly eccentric set-up. The ground floor plays host to the town’s pet shop, while the top two floors, which feel a million miles away from dog chews and bird food, are reached via the rear of the building and have been turned into apartments so jewel-like you’ll find it tricky to actually do any exploring beyond its walls. It is husband-and-wife owners Rory and India Hunter’s first project together – a fairly mammoth undertaking, considering that it was all strip lights and soulless commercial interiors before. Their mission was to create spaces that felt like a home from home, which they’ve delivered on all fronts: not only have they created beautiful, layered spaces with roll-top baths and all the home comforts you could wish for (think cashmere mattresses, dinky kitchenettes with Grind coffee machines, and Austin Austin toiletries in the bathroom), but they’ve made a space that functions somewhere in that zone between an Airbnb and a hotel. There’s a well-stocked mini-bar of goodies and a fresh loaf of bread waiting for you on the table, but there is also a complimentary concierge service, just a WhatsApp message away, to make everything from dinner reservations to spa reservations. Before you arrive, you’re also sent a guide, which is a cut above the usual, offering a little black book to the local area, including all the best pubs, brunch spots and sights. While the apartments each have their own distinct feel, all have been decorated in a similarly characterful way, featuring layers of textiles, antiques and palettes that feel particularly English in their sensibility. We were in Shilling up on the top floor, arguably the loveliest one, owing to the fact that its huge private roof terrace, which looks out over honey-toned buildings and towards the rolling countryside beyond, provides the perfect spot for a sundowner or morning sunbathe if the weather is on your side. Inside, it’s all soft pinks and greens from natural paint specialist Edward Bulmer. You enter into the spacious living space, with a little kitchenette for making morning coffee and toast and a relaxed sitting and dining area. As parents on a rare couple of nights away from our toddler, we actually enjoyed sitting around the table for a couple of meals, picking up fish and chips from the family-run Greedy’s (a three-minute walk away) and the picnic of all picnics from D’Ambrosi (their fried chicken and shrimp rolls attract legions of fans), which is opposite, meaning you can scope out the queue from the bedroom window. India, who oversaw the decoration, has done a wonderful job of creating a space that feels elevated and special, but also relaxed and welcoming. Curtains in Penny Morrison’s ‘Magda’ fabric sit alongside clean-lined, rush-seated Zara Home dining chairs, a well-placed Original BTC floor lamp and an antique dresser that she sourced locally. The bedroom is similarly soothing, with a super-king bed, and an en-suite bathroom that looks out onto the terrace and features both a freestanding roll-top bath and generous pink-and -white-zellige-tiled shower, both with tip-top fittings from Lefroy Brooks. Lampshades are from Hum London, hand-painted with celestial scenes that somehow speak of this little apartment’s magic. Frankly, I would have been very happy to hole up here for a couple of days and not leave. Thanks to the concierge, we did, however, venture out, making the couple of miles’ trip to the Fox Inn in Broadwell. We drove, but you could actually walk there thanks to a lovely footpath, which we discovered the next day and takes you past Stow’s historic wells and down the Monarch’s Way. It’s exactly the kind of country pub you dream of stumbling upon – charming, simple interiors, full to the brim with happy chatter, and serving delicious, honest food. We drank margaritas, shared Coombeshead saucisson, before opting for steak frites and Torbay sole. The next day, we ventured out to Whichford Pottery, which is about a 20-minute drive away and a joy for anyone who likes gardening or ceramics, thanks to the fact that it is one of the best places still making traditional handmade English flowerpots. A real highlight was the Straw Kitchen – so-called because it’s partly housed in a barn made from straw bales – which is in the grounds and serves up wonderful, homemade food to everyone from cyclists to weekend visitors. I have reflected a lot about how lovely it was to sit in the sun at one of their mismatched tables, eating a hearty beetroot salad, which was quickly followed up by an equally hearty piece of rhubarb and cinnamon cake, all served on an artful array of ceramic and enamel. And then, of course, it was time to return to our lodgings. I spent a good few hours soaking in the bath, the window open and the sounds of the church bells ringing. A nicely curated selection of books are dotted throughout, setting the tone for your stay and providing all the stimulation you need. It’s a place to unwind, and somehow, up in the top apartment – even though a flat white is available just around the corner – we felt a pleasingly long way away from real life. The Vaults-at-Stow, Stow-on-the-Wold, Cheltenham GL54 1AF