General Stores and Malt House

The General Stores is a large, medieval property in the Gloucestershire village of Mitcheldean. Together with its adjoining converted Malt House, the property dates back to the 15th century. It is a fabulous big space, available for holidays or business lets, full weeks or weekends/midweek breaks, for team building and training, for weddings, for photo shoots, as a film location and for families and friends. Family get-togethers and hen parties are particularly well catered for, and a lot of thought has gone into facilities for these particular groups.

The property sleeps between 4 and 36 – there are four units sleeping 4/6 which can be hired by individual family groups and the main house which can sleep 17.

The General Stores is a 45 minute drive from Bristol, and has easy access from London, Birmingham, Cheltenham and Gloucester. Being on the edge of a village gives guests immediate access to a late shop and off-licence, a take-away, a family butcher, two pubs and a post office. Yet its courtyard layout means that the garden is completely private and quiet, and has great views up to the bracken-covered hills behind the village.

There are playing fields and swings in the village, and some beautiful right-of-way walks up the wooded hills as well as lots of toys, DVDs and outdoor play equipment at the house.

The General Stores was featured in Grand Designs magazine when it was for sale, prior to being bought and lovingly converted by fashion and textile designer Liz, and her partner Mark.

View the General Stores and Malt House video here: General Stores and Malt House

The General Stores sleeps 17 in proper beds, plus 2 on a sofa beds. Each bedroom is fascinating and unique in its décor, with a wide range of styles. The Four Poster room, for example, has retro wallpaper in muted colours, vintage linen curtains and a free-standing bath beneath the vaulted ceiling. The Japanese room is the largest and most impressive (sleeping 3) with a double-glazed window onto Mill End Street. It has antique, oak floorboards and one double and one single sleigh bed. Lavishly-lacquered bedside chests, a fantastic red leather sofa and black and red oriental silk furnishings, gowns and screens make this a memorable place to sleep. Then there's a similarly themed, en-suite Chinese room; the White Room with lilac toile de joy textiles; the Blue Room(sleeping 3); a Bunk Room for younger members of the party with decorated boxes, decoupage mirrors and funky paintings; and the Butterfly Room which has a vintage sleigh bed and a day bed with butterfly textiles and a vintage butterfly collection.

The main sitting room has three leather sofas, a red chinoiserie panelled TV cabinet, lush animal print textiles and cupboards with DVD and CD collections, books for small children, family games and a trunk full of toys for babies.

The big kitchen has full equipment for baking and breakfasts, including a bread maker, a biscuit press (fun for kids) and a commercial mixer. There's a breakfast room seating 20, a snug/playroom with zebra-print furniture, and various baths and shower rooms.

The Malt House forms the divide between the garden and the off-street parking. The Upper Malt House sleeps 4 comfortably, though the rooms each have an additional bed space for a child. There are two bunk bed rooms, an open plan kitchen, a dining/training area seating 30 and spa facilities (infra red sauna cabin and steam shower room plus a mezzanine mini gym (water rower, power plate, exercise bike, free weights and a large ball). There are also ball games and an extensive climb and play area for kids to use in the upper garden.

The end wall of the malt house is south facing and gets the sun all day. It has rare 'bee skep indentations' , historically used for keeping bee-hives warm at night, and a small, circular 'owl window' used historically for controlling the mouse population in sheep fleeces stored in the upper level.

Jovial Colliers Apartment sleeps 4 in two double rooms (sharing a bathroom). It has a galley kitchen (popcorn maker, ice crusher doughnut press …) and a pool and music room. The Lower Malt House is the unit owned and lived in part time by the owners, full of vintage textiles and artefacts. It sleeps 4 (+ 1 on a sofa bed) and can be hired in addition to the other three units. Therefore the whole property sleeps 30 altogether. Catering is available - please contact the owners for details.

2 washing machines

1 tumble dryer

5 dishwashers

3flat screen TVs with built in DVD and free view

1 small TV linked to DVD player

2 iPod docks 3 radio/CD players

3 solid fuel stoves (from 2011)

WiFi + range booster

Extensive outdoor play area

Outdoor hot tub

Indoor pub sized pool table

Indoor steam sauna

Indoor infra red sauna cubicle

Indoor mini gym

Facial steamer and foot spa

CONFERENCE FACILITIES

Meeting room seating 30

Wifi

OHP and Audio visual equipment by prior arrangement

The house runs alongside a road leading from the village centre, and so is not in a completely rural situation. However, the rear garden is secluded, quiet and private and has views up the hill and walks into beautiful woodland, which can be taken immediately from the house, without need of a car.

Nearest airport: Bristol International

Nearest station: Gloucester

The Royal Forest of Dean, Vale of Leadon and Wye Valley offer you the opportunity to see typical English Countryside at it's best! The Royal Forest of Dean was designated as a National Forest Park in 1938, the first in England, and offers you its natural beauty and outdoor leisure.

The Forest of Dean is steeped in history, from ancient megalithic sites through to the industrial revolution and the coal mining of the 20th Century.

The Forest of Dean lies in the western part of Gloucestershire, between the rivers Wye and Severn and on the borders of Wales and Herefordshire. It is one of the most distinctive areas of Britain having a seductive charm and character that is uniquely its own. Its range of stunning landscapes and spectacular scenery has inspired artists, craftspeople, inventors, poets and playwrights, as well as the many visitors who return to the area year after year.

The Forest of Dean consists of four quite different landscape areas: The ancient Royal Forest lies at the very heart of the district with the market towns of Coleford and Cinderford offering an insight into the industrial heritage and history of this fascinating area.

The Wye Valley is an area of outstanding natural beauty and forms the western border of the Forest, separating England from Wales. This unique area offers endless opportunities for outdoor activities such as canoeing and fishing on what is perhaps Britain’s most unspoilt major river.

The Vale of Leadon is a quintessentially English area featuring rolling farmland, vineyards and black and white timbered buildings centred around the picturesque town of Newent in the northern part of the district.

The Severn Valley, through which flows the country’s longest river, is famous for its tidal bore, Blaisdon plums and perry pears. The old Severnside port of Lydney is the area’s main town, and is a thriving business and shopping area. Steeped in history, abundant in local food, rich in culture, and bursting with spectacular scenery, the Forest of Dean offers you the chance to discover a part of England unlike any other. Why not stay for a few days to fully explore the very best that the Forest has to offer.

£2,000 for two nights

£2,600 for three nights

£3,000 for bank holiday weekends

£4,000 for a weeks stay

£5,000 for Christmas andNew Year 2012

One night minimum stay, mid-week self-catering Four Poster Pamper Package for couples.

Two night minimum, weekends