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Cowley Manor

By Carla Bevan on Thursday 30 October 2008

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Marie Claire Reviews: Cowley Manor

Cowley Manor in the Cotswolds hardly needs an introduction. Winner of numerous awards, adored by the glitterati and wealthy alike (yes that was billionarie Lakshmi Mittal we spotted at breakfast), it tops 'best hotel' lists around the world, however, for this journalist, it's also the place I used to go to Brownie Camp.

Yes, back before it got its multi-million pound revamp, Cowley Manor was just a crumbling pile owned by Gloucestershire County Council and the place my teacher parents used to go for training courses and where I stayed in rust-covered bunk-beds during my summer holidays.

My, how things have changed. In fact, the only thing that remains the same is the flock of ducks who still wake you in the early hours as they quack along the lake outside.

OK, so the exterior itself and the grounds have always been fabulous (albeit the grass looks more recently mown today), and there are still plenty of original fireplaces, but those bunk-beds have been replaced by high-end, comfy mattresses, our old pillows from home swapped for fluffy down versions and, my interior design highlight, fabulously colourful rugs run along each and every corridor and brighten up all the bedrooms.

The bedrooms – ranked as Good, Better, Great, Exceptional and Best – are a curious mix of old and new with plenty of modern pieces of furniture juxtaposed with those ancient fireplaces and original features.

The bathrooms though are nigh on perfect with gigantic baths, blissful showers and gorgeous products from Cowley Manor's own on-site spa, C.Side.

Breakfast too, was fantastic and, I hear, the restaurant's pretty damn good too, although if paying for your room has left your purse a little light, I can personally vouch for The Green Dragon Inn just down the road. My mother, who visited with me, says it's as good today as it was when she and all the other Brownie pack parents used to sneak away for a much-needed drink after a day of supervising hyperactive kids.

Details: Cowley Manor, Cowley, Near Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL53 9NL (01242 870 900, www.cowleymanor.com)

Review by Carla Bevan

Release date: Thursday 30 October 2008