2019-07-01_Country_Homes_Interiors

T

hego-toGloucestershire

boltholeforkeenepicureans,

Thymestartedoutasa cottage

offeringcookeryclassesbutnow

betterresemblesa smallvillage.

Overa numberofyears,thesitehas

slowlyreworkedderelicthistoric

buildingsanddiscreetlyaddednew

onesallunderthewatchfuleyeof

CarynHibbert,Thyme’sfounderand

creativedirector.Todaytheestate

containseverythingfroma luxurious

hotelandrusticspa,toa working

farm,countrypubandthecookery

school,whichis popularasever.

ESCAPEITALLMostofthe

bedroomscanbefoundinThe

Lodge,a handsomebuildingand

quintessential example of Cotswolds

stonearchitecture.Therearethree

charminglynamedroomcategories

• Cosy,Elegant,andDivine– allof
  whichareindividuallydesignedand
  havea vintage-glamourvibe.A
  scatteredcollectionofoutbuildings
  areavailableforlargerbookings,the
  mostexpansivebeingTheTallet,a
  four-bedroom,open-planliving
  spacewithitsownprivatecourtyard.
  Whereveryouendup,youcan
  expecttreatssuchasroll-topbaths,
  TrueGracetoiletries,fluffytowels
  andhomemadebiscuits.
  COUNTRYGASTRONOMYThe
  newestadditiontoThymeis OxBarn,
  acasual,contemporarydiningroom
  withlowhangingbeamsand
  emerald-huedseatingbyOchre.
  HeadchefCharlieHibbert’sseasonal
  menuincludesbraisedbeefwith
  pickledwalnuts,wintertomatoes
  withricotta,anda delectable
  vegetariandishofpavédpotatoes
  with cime di rapa and wild garlic.

Elsewhere,thecelebratedcookery

schoolattractsbothhotelguestsand

dayvisitors,offeringaccessible

classesthatfocusonseasonalBritish

produce– mostofwhichcomesfrom

thekitchengardensandfarm.This

July,coursesincludebreadmaking,

simplesuppers,a southeastAsian

masterclass,andAndalusiancooking

withtapasmaestroJoséPizarro.

OUTANDABOUTWhenyou’renot

scoffinginOxBarnorloungingin

yoursuite,there’splentytoexplore.

Thesage-greenMeadowSpaboasts

anoutdoorpoolwithnaturalspring

waterandtreatmentsbyAurelia

ProbioticSkincare.Thirstswillbe

quenchedatTheBaaorlocalpub

TheSwan.And,ofcourse,the

Cotswoldsarerightonyourdoorstep.

HOWMUCH?Doublerooms start

fromaround£275night.

Thyme,SouthropManorEstate,

GloucestershireGL73NX,

01367 850174, thyme.co.uk.

EXPLOREA

COTSWOLDSTOWN

Eightmilesawayis the

medievaltownofBurford

• knownasthegateway
  totheCotswolds,it’sa
  jumbledcollectionof
  oldstonebuildingsand
  cobbled walkways.

VISITTHEHOMEOF

WILLIAMMORRIS

Oncethebelovedcountry

retreatofBritishtextile

designerWilliamMorris,

KelmscottManordisplays

someofthecountry’s

finestdecorativeartsand

furniture from his time.

DINEATTHE

ORIGINALGASTROPUB

Forlongerstays,venture

tothesleepymarkettown

ofNorthleach,hometo

TheWheatsheafInn.A

goodmealhereis

guaranteed– it’sknownas

the original gastropub.

TheHollyhockroom

is setinitsown

secluded garden

TheLodgeis

an18th-century

rectoryandhas

eight hotel rooms

A counTrysidecookeryschool

Turned chic coTswolds reTreAT

A weekend AwAy At

While youÕre there...

TheOxBarnrestaurant

uses producegrown

on the farm

Thyme

FEATURE

PATriCk HAMiLTOn COurTnEy

LIVE LIFE WELL