We all know that part of the fun of going on holiday in the UK is to discover the fabulous selection of pubs and restaurants all around the country. From beautiful countryside inns with thatched roofs and roses around the door, to coastal fishermen’s retreats dotted along our stunning coastline, we would be more than happy if we could discover a different one every day. That said, there is just one thing to top this holiday activity – and that is having your very own little pub in your holiday home!
A place to have a quick drink after a long day when your feet can carry you no more, or perhaps you’re going away for a special celebration and nobody is offering to be the designated driver. Whatever your reason, our houses with their own bar make for happy group holidays – choose a property with a games room and bar, a house that pretty much has its own actual pub inside, or even one with a jukebox for fun nights with friends! We've handpicked five of our favourites,
The Mansion | Crickhowell, Brecon Beacons
Sleeps 19
Bar style: stately and traditional
Escape to the serenity of the Brecon Beacons with a stay at this beautiful Regency mansion set in acres of private lawn. The perfect getaway for birthday parties and sparkling celebrations, as well as sleeping up to 19 of your favourite people, it has a terrace for dining alfresco with the backdrop of the Brecon Beacons a delightful companion as you blow out the candles. Let younger members of the party run around the 3 acres of flat lawn and play games as you wander around the pretty rose garden and play a gentle game of croquet.
If the weather allows, cook up a feast on the huge BBQ, and if it isn’t playing ball, dine inside in the elegant dining room which seats up to 36 guests. Treat your guests to pre-dinner drinks in the formal drawing room, settle back on antique furniture or on one of the comfy sofas and toast your toes in front of the open fire with a glass of something celebratory. No night is complete without a post-dinner tipple at the handsome wooden bar – it has its own sink for washing up the next morning, as well as a chiller cabinet to make sure that the champagne is permanently cold.
Sleeps 12
Bar style: neon contemporary
Tucked away down a long country track in rolling Devon countryside, this detached converted farmhouse is just the place for a stylish celebration. While it’s obviously perfect for a smaller party, allowing up to 12 guests and two dogs, if you are looking for something gorgeous for a larger gathering, there are other properties at the farm that can be booked alongside the farmhouse for extra party goers. With a traditional country décor, huge open-plan living spaces, a cinema room and contemporary bar as well as a hot tub, the property caters for all your needs.
Walkers and dog walkers alike will love the trails that can be reached directly from the house, although the garden is also a great place for just messing about with the dogs. On sunny days, throw open the French doors to the large patio for outside dining, or snuggle up in front of the wood burner when the cooler nights set in. Evenings were made for the property’s games room with its neon-lit bar and pool table. Whizz up some cocktails Top Gun style (it never gets old) and then retire to the cinema room with its sofas, bean bags and coloured mood lighting. Dim the lights, choose your favourite retro film and relax.
The Temple | Matlock Bath, Peak District
Sleeps 34
Bar style: elegant and a little Art-Deco (as well as a whole other pub downstairs!)
No need to go out to the pub when you stay at this historic Peak District property in the spa village of Matlock Bath – this gorgeous house has its own private pub on the ground floor as well as an additional elegant bar upstairs. A boutique-style former hotel with a variety of light and airy social spaces, this Georgian delight is set on 2 acres of hillside. It was even once visited by Queen Victoria, not that your guests will be any less important! An ideal spot for an important birthday where you can welcome up to 34 guests, the original parquet floors, leather armchairs and wood burners give a smart and sophisticated feel to any celebration. Outside, two hot tubs, two BBQs, a trampoline and a garden dotted with pub-style benches are the perfect places to relax of an evening before settling back for a dreamy night’s sleep in any one of the sumptuous bedrooms.
In the ground-floor pub, with its full wooden wraparound bar surrounded by stools, built-in seats and show pumps, you’ll be sitting down for a swift half-pint in no time at all. If you feel the need for music, sit down at the piano and bang out the tunes as your designated barman make the drinks. Or upstairs, cosy up on cold winter nights by the wood burner in the modern bar and challenge your pals to some air hockey, table tennis or pool in the next-door games room. If you fancy channelling your inner Rita Ora or Mick Jagger, grab the mic of the 6-speaker karaoke and belt out a few verses as coloured lights shine on your already sparkling performance.
Sleeps 18
Bar style: rustic modern
Seriously chic with envy-inducing interiors, this 14th-century country house set in 22 acres of grounds is one of Herefordshire’s loveliest country retreats. Reached by a long private drive, its 5 acres of orchard, landscaped terraces and lawns make the perfect country escape. Sleeping up to 22 lucky guests and one pampered hound, it has a cinema, pool room and bar for those looking for some inside entertainment.
Outside, dining alfresco comes easily. Two fire pits, a charcoal BBQ and a summer house provide the food and location, and don’t forget the children who will have lots of opportunity for outside games as well as a treasure hunt and nature trail. During the winter, head instead into the formal dining room for dinner, then end the night relaxing on the bean bags and sofas in the cinema room. Those who want a nightcap can prop up the bar in the property’s dedicated bar room or sit at one of the wooden tables if making a night of it.
Port An Eilean | Pitlochry, Perth and Kinross
Sleeps 24
Bar style: comfy and inviting
A lochside setting on the banks of Loch Tummel, excellent views and sleeping 24 of your best mates? Only a bar could make this set-up better, and this property has that too! An imposing and ornate country house with tower and courtyard, its grandeur is apparent the moment you walk through the door. Tartan stair runners and chair covers give a loyal nod to its location, while large roaring open fires welcome you back from waterside walks, fishing trips and boat trips, all of which can be arranged from the property. With a path leading down to its very own jetty, you can hire a boat and skipper and see the sights of the loch without so much as lifting a finger. For those who want to keep fit, however, there’s also an all-weather tennis court in the grounds with the loch as an inviting backdrop. Just make sure that you concentrate on your game and not the stunning views!
Back at the house, there are various spaces to catch up with the rest of the group. The games room in a heated outbuilding is great for a game of pool or table tennis, or why not sit down at the enormous windows and tinkle the ivories at the piano overlooking the lake? The pièce de résistance and the reason for its inclusion in our blog, is the warm and inviting private bar area in the library, just the spot to sample a wee dram before bed.
Should you fancy a stay in one of our stylish properties, with or without a bar, have a look through our portfolio of large houses. It’s not just about the bar – we also have a range of luxurious properties with pools, spas and hot tubs, houses which offer access to pampering beauty treatments, as well as those where you can hire staff or even book your own private chef. All over the UK, our properties will transport you to some of the most beautiful places across the UK – have a browse through and find the perfect property for your next getaway.
More large houses with their own bar:
Disclaimer: Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information at the time of writing,
please ensure you check carefully before making any decisions based on the contents within this article.