Take over your own, Grade II listed, 17th century coaching inn! The Mermaid Inn, in the Staffordshire Moorlands, right on the edge of the Peak District, blends a minimalist style with comfort and historic character. With 13 en suite bedrooms that can be made up in various flexible ways, the property suits groups of up to 34. Some of its most striking features include 400-year-old oak beams, and a single dining table for the whole group with gorgeous views of The Roaches and beyond. There are no less than three lounge areas to relax in and it even retains the old bar area for you all to use.
The Inn has had a complete makeover by new owners, and has some exciting décor - cool fabrics, leather sofas, quartz work surfaces in the kitchen - alongside original parts dating back to 1653.
View the Mermaid Inn video here: Mermaid Inn
There is an abundance of space for the group to relax in - aside from the magnificent dining area there are a further three lounges, all with leather sofas, as well as the old bar area complete with oak tables, a pool table, table football and a 42" TV.
There's ample room outside with a patio area with picnic benches and a large stainless steel BBQ looking out over The Roaches. A large grassed area is ideal for games.
The kitchen is beautifully equipped for large group cooking, with two hobs and two cookers, an American style fridge freezer (plus a second beer/wine fridge for all those extra bottles), two dishwashers, and a washer dryer. The dining area has a blazing wood burner.
Those groups not wishing to cook for themselves can arrange for all their dining requirements to be catered for by local suppliers.
The 13 bedrooms have flexible bed layouts, but are basically six rooms downstairs (five twin/doubles and one family room), and 7 rooms upstairs (4 double/twins, 3 family rooms). The family rooms each have a double bed and a set of bunks (the bunks are suitable for adults if necessary). All rooms are en suite - 4 bathrooms, 9 shower rooms.
Stereo system with iPod dock
2 42" TVs
DVD players
Additional bar area complete with pool table, 32 inch TV, DVD player and karaoke (NB: the bar pumps are not in service, but a fridge is supplied to chill drinks).
Wood burning stove in the dining area.
Simple but luxurious linens, large soft towels & hypo-allergenic duvets Freshly-filtered Peak District water sourced from the Inn's own spring.
High quality Siemens kitchen appliances, designed to cope with big group requirements.
CONFERENCE FACILITIES
Table that seats 34, projector screen, Wifi, four breakout areas.
A rural, Peak District location, with stunning, panoramic views to the Cheshire Plain, Liverpool bay and on a clear day as far as the Snowdonia Mountains. Conveniently situated between Buxton & Leek, in an area of complete seclusion. There are excellent walks from the door, including a 500m stroll to the famous Mermaid Pool, scene of the only inland mermaid legend in England.
Tesco and Waitrose offer online deliveries to the house. There are three pubs within three miles.
Nearest airport: Manchester (33 miles)
Nearest stations: Leek (5 miles); Buxton (10 miles)
20 minutes from the historic spa town of Buxton and about 40minutes from Chatsworth house and Alton Towers.
Nearby activities include Go Ape! In Buxton, walking, archery, quad biking, boating, pony trekking, canoeing, paint balling, clay pigeon shooting, mountain biking, horse riding,fishing, golf, hang gliding, pamper nights, climbing walls & rock climbing.
Less than half a mile away is the 'Mermaid Pool', legendary locally. Although listed in The Telegraph's Top 50 places to swim in the UK (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/features/3637639/Top-50-places-to-swim-outdoors.html, taking a dip is only for the hardy & local legend declares the pool bottomless (& indeed it resisted local attempts to drain it which gave rise to its famous heart shaped appearance).
Short breaks from £2,800, ie £83pp, S/C (+C)
Stays of 3-7 days.