The Old Rectory at Whitewell

An 1886 Arts & Crafts country house sleeping 16 guests across six beautifully furnished bedrooms and two heated shepherd's huts. With William Morris interiors, two fully equipped kitchens, two cosy lounges with woodburners, a games room, 17m outdoor swimming pool, year-round hot tub and heated pool house, The Old Rectory is the perfect setting for a relaxing countryside escape with family and friends. Pool heated seasonally, with out-of-season heating available for an additional charge. The space Built in 1886 by renowned architect John Douglas, The Old Rectory is a beautiful Arts & Crafts country house combining period character with modern comforts. Set in peaceful countryside near Whitchurch, it's been a much-loved family home for over 20 years and offers plenty of space for guests to relax, dine and spend time together. The impressive entrance hall leads through to the main kitchen, featuring an Aga, large breakfast bar and informal dining area. This opens onto a cosy lounge with woodburner and doors leading to the garden and pool area. For more formal meals, the elegant dining room seats 16 guests and is served by a separate, fully equipped catering kitchen which is ideal for preparing larger meals or bringing in a private chef. There's also a spacious TV room with a 65" Smart TV and woodburner, plus a games room with a pool table and piano. There are six individually styled bedrooms upstairs in the main house. Bedrooms 1 and 3 have super-king beds which can be converted into twins on request. Four bedrooms have en-suite bathrooms, while Bedrooms 3 and 4 share the family bathroom's shower. Bedroom 4 also has its own freestanding bath and WC. Extra beds can be provided upon request. Please see 'Other details to note' for more info. A short walk across the garden (approximately 50m), two heated shepherd's huts provide an additional two bedrooms, each with a king-size bed, Wi-Fi, kitchenette facilities and its own enclosed garden. The huts share a separate nearby bathroom with a walk-in shower. There are eight bathrooms across the property, plus an additional downstairs WC. The beautiful walled pool area is one of the highlights of The Old Rectory, featuring a 17m outdoor swimming pool, year-round hot tub and heated Breeze House with open fire, Smart TV and Wi-Fi. The swimming pool is heated to approximately 26°C from Easter to September, weather permitting. Heating outside these months can be arranged for an additional charge. Please see 'Other details to note' for more info. You'll also find a covered outdoor dining area, gas BBQ, pizza oven and sun loungers, while the main garden features a covered bar area, table tennis, trampoline and plenty of outdoor games. Located in the peaceful hamlet of Whitewell, on the Shropshire, Cheshire and Welsh borders, we're approximately 10 minutes from Whitchurch, with plenty of shops, supermarkets, restaurants and railway station nearby. There are lovely countryside walks from the doorstep, with Chester, Shrewsbury and the wider North Wales countryside within easy reach. More info can be found via Holt Accommodation Solutions. Guest access Access to all areas of the main house, shepherd’s huts and garden. We'll normally welcome you on arrival and show you around the property. One of our team may be based discreetly in the separate cottage at the bottom of the driveway. They will respect your privacy and will not disturb you during your stay. Please keep the parking space in front of the gate into the field free for their parking. Our gardener visits on Friday mornings from approximately 7am, starting at the bottom of the garden to minimise disruption. For stays of five nights or more, our maintenance team will also require brief access to the hot tub and pool for routine water-quality checks and maintenance. We'll provide advance notice and arrange a convenient time wherever possible. Other things to note SWIMMING POOL & HEATING Our 17m outdoor pool is normally heated to 26°C from approximately Easter to September, depending on the weather. Outside these months, our accommodation rates are reduced to reflect the pool being unheated. However, we can arrange out-of-season heating for a supplement. As heating costs vary significantly depending on the time of year and weather, we provide individual quotes based on your dates and length of stay, however this can range anywhere from £500 - £1,000. for a 2 night stay. Please enquire well in advance, as heating the pool from cold can take several days. Alternatively, the unheated pool may be available as a cold plunge by request. ADDITIONAL GUESTS & VISITORS Our standard rate includes 16 overnight guests. We can accommodate up to two extra guests in the main house using floor beds upstairs in Bedroom 1 or 2 or futons in the games room, or during the warmer months we can offer a furnished bell tent sleeping up to six additional guests. The maximum number of overnight guests is 18 within the house, or 22 if using the bell tent. Extra overnight guests are £50 per person, per night (including children over 18 months), and must be arranged in advance. We can also provide two travel cots and two highchairs by request. Day visitors are welcome by prior arrangement, up to a maximum of 8 people, at £25 per person. All visitors must be agreed, named in advance and depart by 6pm. EVENTS & CELEBRATIONS We may be able to accommodate modest daytime events for up to 60 guests, subject to prior approval. However, due to our peaceful rural location and nearby neighbours, the property is not suitable for lively parties involving loud music or elevated noise levels. Please ensure you discuss your plans with us before booking. For larger events, we require on-site staff, charged at £20 per hour, to provide practical assistance throughout the day and we may require a portable loo or marquee to be hired, depending on your numbers. Day visitors must depart by 6pm, and outdoor quiet hours begin at 10pm. We do not hold a wedding licence. DOGS We welcome up to two dogs for a fee of £50 per stay. Additional dogs may be considered. Dogs must remain downstairs and are not permitted on furniture or in the pool. The catering kitchen has a purpose-built indoor/outdoor dog run with heated flooring, and the shepherd's huts have their own enclosed garden area. SUNDAYS & LATE CHECKOUT We offer reduced Sunday-night rates for guests who'd like to extend their weekend. Alternatively, late checkout may be available until 1pm (£200) or 5pm (£400), subject to availability and cleaning arrangements. Standard check-in is from 4pm and checkout by 10am. SAFETY & HOUSE GUIDELINES The swimming pool sits within a gated, walled area with a shallow end (3ft), deep end (8ft), diving board and automated safety cover. Children must be supervised around the pool and when using the trampoline, and the pool cover must be fully opened before swimming and closed after use. The hot tub is heated year-round and is strictly for guests aged 18+. No glass is permitted in the pool or hot tub area, and relevant safety disclaimers must be completed before using these facilities. Outdoor quiet hours begin at 10pm. Smoking and vaping are not permitted anywhere on the property. We do not have an EV charger, and charging through household sockets is not permitted. ACCESSIBILITY As a historic property, The Old Rectory may not be suitable for guests requiring full wheelchair access. All six bedrooms in the main house are upstairs, accessed via a staircase with 20+ steps. There is a downstairs WC but no ground-floor bedroom or shower. The two shepherd's huts may be more suitable for guests with limited mobility. Each has one 30cm step at the entrance, nearby parking and access to a separate step-free bathroom with a walk-in shower and handrails, however this bathroom is 5-10m away. Please contact us to discuss any specific requirements. ADDITIONAL SERVICES We work with a wonderful selection of local suppliers who can help make your stay extra special. Private chefs, caterers, housekeeping, waiting staff, babysitters, beauty treatments, massages, yoga and Pilates, wine tastings, photographers and other experiences can all be arranged in advance. Please ask for our recommended supplier details or explore the options in our digital guest guide. HEN & STAG GROUPS Hen and stag groups are welcome, provided our house rules are respected. We want everyone to enjoy their celebrations, but as we're in a peaceful rural location with nearby neighbours, outdoor noise must be kept to an absolute minimum after 10pm. For hen and stag bookings, we require a refundable £50 damage deposit per person, which will be returned after departure provided there are no significant issues with the property or noise complaints. We also require a copy of ID for all guests who are part of a hen or stag group.