Description
Summary
Bridge Hill Cottage is a picture-postcard Cotswold-stone house, situated near the church in the lovely village of Hook Norton. The house is beautifully furnished, with many antiques, and boasts a wealth of character features, including 200-year-old oak beams, an inglenook fireplace with fitted seat, a “minstrels’ gallery” and a functioning bar-billiards table. Complementing these period features, the house has modern facilities, including wireless internet access and a TV with DVD player and Freesat. The layout of the house, including two back-to-back living rooms, both with real fires, makes Bridge Hill Cottage an ideal retreat for families or a group of friends.
The cottage sleeps up to 8 people: four in two double bedrooms, two in bunk beds and two on a sofa bed in the minstrels’ gallery. There are two bathrooms, as well as a downstairs WC/utility room.
Description
Bridge Hill Cottage is situated on Bridge Hill, a small lane that becomes a footpath a few yards below the property and leads down to a stream.
The cottage has a small front garden, with four steps up to the front door, which opens into an entrance hall. This leads to:
- Kitchen/dining room: The dining room has seagrass matting on a tiled floor, a large window-seat, traditional oak dresser and oval dining table. Adjoining the dining room is the well equipped kitchen, including an electric cooker and hob, fridge freezer and microwave;
- Main living room: The heart of the house, with exposed beams, a large inglenook fireplace with a wood-burning stove, grandfather clock, antique bureau and stereo with CD player and iPod connection;
- Utility room: Contains a toilet, hand basin, washing machine and tumbler dryer.
From the main living room, five steps lead up to:
- Second living room: A spectacular room for both adults and children, containing a fabulous old bar-billiards table (the rules are on the wall!), an open fire, exposed beams and a TV with DVD player and Freesat. There is also a piano, however please be aware that this may not be properly tuned. Stairs from this room lead up to the minstrels’ gallery, overlooking the piano and bar-billiards table, which contains a full size double sofa bed (see Key Features below);
Returning to the main living room, stairs go upstairs to a landing, which features an antique washstand and leads to:
- Bedroom 1: A dual aspect room, with double bed, dresser and built-in wardrobes;
- Bedroom 2: Another dual aspect room, with double bed and built-in wardrobes. Bedroom 2 has access to bathroom 2 (see below), enabling it to be used as an en-suite bathroom, if desired;
- Bedroom 3: Bunk beds and a chest of drawers;
- Bathroom 1: Newly refurbished, with a bath (with shower attachment), toilet and washbasin;
- Bathroom 2: A newly built shower room, with toilet and washbasin. This “Jack & Jill” bathroom can be accessed from the landing or from bedroom 2, allowing it to be either a shared bathroom or bedroom 2’s en-suite bathroom.
Returning downstairs, the enclosed patio and raised rear garden (with a very low wall on the side of the garden that adjoins the neighbour) is accessed either from the entrance hall, or via double French windows from the main living room. The sheltered garden has a patio, barbecue area and small lawn, with views towards the church tower.
Key Features
Booking and payment
Character Cottages is a marketing agency and we do not own or manage any of the cottages listed on our website. Bookings made via us form a legal agreement directly between you and the property owner.
For bookings commencing more than 10 weeks in advance, a 30% non-refundable deposit is required to confirm the booking. The balance payment is then due 10 weeks prior to arrival.
All payments are made subject to the cancellation policy set out in the standard Booking Conditions.
Security deposits
Security deposits are not required at Bridge Hill Cottage.
Occupancy
The maximum occupancy of the property, including its garden, is 6+2 guests, at any point during your stay. Unauthorised over occupancy is a breach of our terms and conditions and may result in the cancellation of your booking and additional charges. Please consult us prior to booking if you wish to discuss the possibility of having more than 8 guests at the property.
Infants who sleep in a cot do not count towards the occupancy figure, however, due to space restrictions, the occupancy figure may only be exceeded by up to 2 additional infants.
Pets
Bridge Hill Cottage accepts up to two small dogs, at a cost of £20 per booking, per dog.
Bed linen and towels
Bed linen and a bath towel per guest are provided, with hand towels in all bathrooms.
Arrival and departure times
Arrival time at Bridge Hill Cottage is after 3pm and departure time is by 10am. If your arrival will be delayed beyond 8pm on the start date of your rental period, you must contact the person whose details are given in the location details. If you fail to do so, you may not be able to get into the property.
Bed sizes and configurations
- Bedroom 1: Double bed
- Bedroom 2: En-suite room, with double bed
- Bedroom 3: Two bunk beds
- Bedroom 4: Double sofa bed
Please note that bedroom 4 is an open mezzanine floor above the second living room and the bed is a fold out sofa bed. We do not recommend this bedroom for young children, due to the absence of spindles between the hand rail and the stairs up to this room.
Fuel and logs
Electricity and oil are included in the rental price. There are two real fires: a wood burning stove in the main living room and an open grate in the second living room. An initial basket of logs is provided.
Services provided
Bridge Hill Cottage has free wireless internet access, a TV with Freesat and a DVD player, and a CD player with iPod connector. A telephone is available for incoming calls only.
Please note that the wifi signal is quite weak in some parts of the cottage.
Parking
Bridge Hill Cottage is located on a quiet lane and free parking is usually available directly outside the house for two or three cars. Additional free parking is available on adjacent roads.
Housekeeping
Where a letting exceeds nine nights, a mid-stay clean, bed linen and towel change may be included in the price. Please check with us to confirm. Additional housekeeping services are available on request.
Child friendly facilities
A travel cot (without linen) is available on request and there is a fixed stair gate at the top of the main set of stairs.
Initial consumables
A small quantity of initial consumables is provided for your convenience (eg. washing up liquid, hand soap, toilet rolls); however, you should not expect the quantity of these provisions to be sufficient for the duration of your stay.
Accessibility, health and safety
Bridge Hill Cottage is an old property, located on a hill, which has many character features, including narrow and steep stairs, low beams and two floors, which could pose difficulty to guests with limited mobility, or carrying babies, both in terms of their general movement and their ability to exit the house quickly in the event of an emergency.
The smoke detectors operate on a sound only basis and, therefore, those who have serious impairment of hearing may not be able to hear the alarm systems and could be at risk.
Smoking
No smoking is permitted throughout Bridge Hill Cottage.
Photographs
In order to provide you with as much detail of our properties as possible, we sometimes use wide angle photography, which can make certain rooms, or spaces, appear larger than they actually are. Wherever possible, we try to include a floorplan, with detailed dimensions of rooms and areas. If you have any queries regarding the size of any rooms or spaces, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Reviews
Bridge Hill Cottage was launched as a Holiday Let with Character Cottages in November 2011 and is in the process of building up customer feedback. With its outstanding presentation and ideal location, we have little doubt that Bridge Hill Cottage will be a favourite with guests.
Other Customer Feedback:
- "The bar billiards table is amazing. Do not get rid of it!", Patrick, March 2017
- “Great cottage, deceptively roomy. Loads of character and well equipped. Lovely private garden.”, Jamie, February 2017
- “Nicola was very accommodating in us arriving an hour earlier than planned. The cottage is full of character. Thank you for such a memorable visit:) Highly recommended.”, Mark, January 2017
- "Great cottage in a lovely village! Very comfortable and well equipped." Rob Norcup, September 2016
- "Lovely place, very cosy. Fell in love with it the moment I saw it. Would love to come back.” Megan McTaggart, May 2016
- “The only bad thing about the cottage is that I cannot come and move in! And with so many of us staying (8) I was surprised that it didn’t feel crowded”. Robin Moore and party, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, April 2016
- “Wonderful stay. Delightful house. Hope to be back soon!” Sosse Botha and family, Cape Town, March 2016
- “We very much enjoyed our stay and we will all return home much better bar-billiards players thanks to several evenings of hard-fought competitions. A very nice village and the perfect base for our trips to the Cheltenham Festival. We’ll be back” Paddy, Anna, Matt & Helen. Manchester, March 2016
- “Such a welcoming house. We just loved it”. Prettyman family, Norfolk, March 2016
- “We had a wonderful stay in this cosy cottage. The village is super, our days out in Oxford and Stratford were a treat and Nicola looked after us wonderfully well.” McInnis family, Fremantle, Western Australia, December 2015
- "Bridge Hill cottage was a perfect venue for our family reunion and the proximity of The Sun Inn provided family with a perfect location to stay. (we booked a totally of thirteen nights accommodation there). Having to cook Christmas lunch and family meals for as many as thirteen I found the kitchen very well equipped. The three rooms provided ample space for family of all ages to chill and enjoy the Bar Billiards. The decor was authentic and yet quirky which enabled us to relax and enjoy the festive spirit. Bathrooms are very clean and functional. Only comment: it was only when I left that I discovered the recycle bins, maybe a note in the information pack. Please pass on my thanks to the owners for a memorable fantastic stay in their eclectic home x x." Bev, December 2012
- "Dear Andrew, We loved staying at the cottage! It has a lot of character and is a great size for a small family get-together - big enough to accommodate and small enough to feel 'cottagey'. The room with the minstrels' gallery is most unusual and there are several other touches, like the brass-rubbings, which make the house different and interesting. It's very well appointed and had everything we needed for our stay and Hook Norton is a great centre for exploring and walking. The only drawback is the smell of the oil tank that permeates the back patio area - since we had very little sitting-out weather this didn't bother us very much but it detracts from the nice garden. In all, we really enjoyed our stay in the cottage and would love to stay there again another year." Jessica, June 2012
- "We loved it! Very nice spot." Arthur, May 2012
- "Hi Andrew, We had a great time thanks, we used it for a family get together for my mums 70th. The cottage was really nice and suited our needs well. We were a party of 7, 3 couples and a 1 year old. There was plenty of room and we enjoyed chilling out in the games room in the evening. Also the location was good. We and went to the children's farm and water fowl sanctuary and then up to Stratford. Unfortunately we didn't he to the brewery as it wouldn't have suited my daughter. I hope this is useful for you. Cheers." Guy, April 2012
- Excellent cottage for a family reunion on my birthday. The games room was a big hit. What a super village! My granddaughter wants you to know that her bunkbed was very comfortable. A great time was had by all. Families from London, Suffolk & South Wales
- It was lovely to stay in a Cotswold village without tourist coaches. Great food at the Feathered Nest between Stow-on-the-Wold and Burford. Family from Kingston-upon-Thames.
- A lovely setting, with great pubs and walks. And I recommend a tour of the Hook Norton Brewery. Families from London and Bridport.
- A lovely area to spend a holiday. Lovely walks. We had a very comfortable stay in this lovely home. Thank you. Family from Iowa, USA
- Charming cottage, peaceful location, excellent pubs. Delightful. Family from Connecticut, USA.
- An excellent place for a family celebration. Not far from the pubs and with lots of nice walks throughout Hooky and the surrounding area. Lovely cottage with nice family touches: furniture, pictures, antiques, etc. It's been great. Thank you. Two families from Northamptonshire.
- A beautiful cottage. We had a fantastic weekend. Group of friends from Portsmouth.
- A fantastic weekend in a beautiful setting. We particularly enjoyed the bar billiards table. Many thanks. Families from Newcastle and London.
- Good place for the six of us to get together. We loved the cottage, the village, the pubs and the billiards. Family from New Zealand.
- Fantastic and homely. We'll be back. Many thanks. Couple from Greenwich, London.
- Wonderful house, especially the billiards and the piano. Good pubs and friendly folk! Family from London.
- Lovely cottage, very comfortable. We liked the books! We'll definitely come again and the sooner the better. Family from Bedford.
- Had a fantastic time. We hope to return. Very relaxing and pleasant and cosy. The fireplace is great and we loved the games room. Many thanks. Family from Eastbourne.
- A happy place for a family reunion. We enjoyed sitting round the fireplace while it rained and rained outside! Family from Toronto, Canada
- We had a fantastic time and there was plenty to do. Great pub and great food almost next door. Feeling refreshed and relaxed. Thanks. Family from Great Yarmouth, Norfolk.
- We've had a wonderful time here. The pub was very handy round the corner with great food. The country walks were fantastic. Its a very peaceful cottage. Thank you. Family from London.
- Lovely comfortable cottage. We enjoyed the village and the local beer. I hope we didn't leave any baby toys behind! Family from Brighton.
- Very enjoyable cottage AGAIN! We enjoyed the fireplace, local scenery and pubs. Family from Eastbourne.
- Lovely cottage. We had a great weekend. The Sun Inn pub does great food. An enjoyable weekend was head by all. Five girls from Hampshire and Norfolk.
Inventory
Our aim is for you to enjoy Bridge Hill Cottage as if it was your own home and this information is provided to ensure that you are aware of, and are able to use, all the facilities that are available.
| Main appliances, furniture and facilities |
|---|
| Cooker and hob |
Freezer |
Fridge |
| Kettle |
Microwave |
Washing machine |
| Toaster |
Tumble dryer |
Barbecue and utensils |
| Outdoor table and seating |
Bar-billiards table |
Bed linen, bath sheets and hand towels |
| DVD player |
Stair gate |
Travel cot (without linen) |
| TV with Freesat |
Wireless internet |
|
| General provisions |
|---|
| Bin bags |
Hand soap |
J cloths & scourers |
| Toilet roll |
Washing up liquid |
|
| Other equipment and facilities |
|---|
| Dustpan and brush |
Mop and bucket |
Vacuum cleaner |
| CO detector |
Fire blanket |
Fire extinguishers |
| Fire guard |
Smoke alarms |
Torches |
| Iron |
Ironing board |
CD player with iPod connector |
| Tourist information |
Visitor’s book |
Games |
Travel
Bridge Hill Cottage is located on a quiet lane in the centre of the village of Hook Norton, approximately 100 yards from the village shop, three pubs and the church.
Travelling by car
Hook Norton is easily accessed by car, being approximately 10 miles away from junction 11 (Banbury) of the M40 and approximately 4 miles away from Chipping Norton, which is located on the A44 running from Oxford to Evesham.
Travelling by train
The nearest railway station to Hook Norton is Banbury (approximately 9 miles away), which has regular, direct services to London Marylebone, with a typical journey time of less than 60 minutes.
Travelling by plane
Hook Norton is within easy reach of the following international airports:
- Birmingham International Airport: 50 miles, approximately 60 minute drive;
- Heathrow International Airport: 67 miles, approximately 90 minute drive.
