About Time: You Discovered The Painswick Hotel Under 30s ClubBy Francesca Brooking

We all deserve a holiday and now and again but you don’t have to travel out of the country to get your much-needed break. The Cotswolds, designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, is a picturesque landscape of rolling hills and quaint honey-coloured villages that draw in many a weary city dweller with promises of nature and tranquillity. So instead of going on a mini-break abroad why not head to this idyllic corner of the world and treat yourself to a luxurious staycation at The Painswick Hotel. For those who are under 30, the hotel also has a special treat in store.

The Painswick Hotel Review: The Lowdown

The Painswick Hotel is nestled in an idyllic village of its namesake in the Cotswolds. Just over an hour away from London by train, this grand Palladian house offers a perfect opportunity to escape the hustle and bustle of city life for a weekend. Indulge in the peace of the rolling hills, the village’s one corner shop and take afternoon tea on the hotel lawns. The Painswick, warm and inviting is an elegant retreat for those looking to escape for a few days. For under 30’s, now is your chance to bag yourself a membership and be awarded exclusive discounts on this boutique bolthole.

The Painswick Hotel: The Membership

In June 2019 The Painswick launched an Under 30’s Club which includes exclusive offers on getaways, feasting and cocktails. It’s free to join and those under 30 can now sign up by calling the hotel and quoting ‘Raise the Baaa’ to receive their club card. This exclusive membership allows access to 30% off stays on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday nights and 50% off cocktails as well as further offers, discounts and special events. Perfect for parties, this Under 30’s Club offers a fantastic discount to take over the whole house for an unforgettable experience. In October and November 2019, an exclusive mid-week hire of the hotel for the Under 30’s Club is just £5,000 for all sixteen bedrooms, breakfast and dinner, which is a staggering £1,000 discount off the usual rate.

The Painswick Hotel Review: The Rooms

The boutique hotel has an intimate 16 rooms to stay in and each one is delightfully luxurious. In keeping the interior decor simple with a soft colour palette of greys, lilac, bronze and cream, the thoughtful personalised touches shine through with a jug of water by the bedside table, a stack of books to read and a gorgeous ensuite bathroom filled with enormous fluffy towels to make you feel at home. All the rooms ooze stylish comfort with their enormous beds heaped with plump pillows and large headboards that grace the wall behind. If that wasn’t enough, two spa suites provide the perfect opportunity for a bit of pampering with a glorious view.

The Painswick Hotel Review: The Food

Now the most important part, the food. Starting in the hotel’s bar, a small Instagram-worthy affair with bottles of spirits gleaming in the windows, cocktails were aplenty and superb. Huge goblets of Gin & Tonic (or whatever else you fancied) could be enjoyed in the adjacent lounge, a large room with elegant seating and squashy sofas sprawled in front of an enormous fireplace.

The call to dinner revealed the hotel’s large airy dining hall which radiated country house chic with its soft blue-grey panelling, wooden flooring and exposed wooden window frames. Two mahogany long tables ran the length of the room decked with finery and waiters were on hand to ensure that your glass never ran dry.

Dinner was a three-course set menu and a sensational celebration of fresh British ingredients. The starter was cider sea trout, Isle of Wight tomatoes with sea herbs and lashings of gooseberry followed by a simply incredible plump melt-in-the-mouth Cotswold lamb with king oyster mushrooms, apricot, sheep’s cheese and fresh almonds. Vegetarians were treated to a delicate dish of Wye Valley asparagus, confit egg yolk and hazelnuts which preceded a summery plate of fluffy herb gnocchi, peas, broad beans and mushrooms.

I have to admit that I was a little sceptical at first because I’m not the most avid mushroom lover but I was pleasantly surprised. They were just the right amount of aromatic and flavoursome without being overpowering. Delicious. Both courses were polished off with a light dessert of Gariguette strawberries, lime, meringue and a hint of avocado followed by tea or coffee and truffles before retiring to the lounge for another round of cocktails.

For more information about the Under 30’s Members Club at the Painswick Hotel, see the website here. Kemp Lane, Painswick, Stroud, GL6 6YB