Entire home

The Chairman's Retreat, Slad, The Cotswolds, Gloucestershire. Space to relax.

Photo gallery for The Chairman's Retreat, Slad, The Cotswolds, Gloucestershire. Space to relax.

Golf
Outdoor dining
Exterior detail
4 bedrooms, desk, iron/ironing board, travel crib
Smart TV, fireplace, DVD player, books

Reviews

10 out of 10

Exceptional

Entire home

4 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 8

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
    Parking available
  • Washer
    Washer
  • Barbecue grill
    Barbecue grill
  • Outdoor Space
    Outdoor Space
  • Kitchen
    Kitchen
  • Fireplace
    Fireplace

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

The Chairman's Retreat, Slad, The Cotswolds, Gloucestershire. Space to relax.

The Chairman's Retreat is a light and airy house with all the comforts of home. It is totally self contained with a private garden and forms the rear half of our home. It's so private you probably won't see us during your stay but if you do need help we are generally just next door.

The House is in the middle of the Slad Valley, immortalised in Laurie Lee's beautiful book Cider with Rosie. It has great views across the valley from the garden and views up to Frith Wood from the house. It's a really peaceful retreat in a spot that is magical at all times of the year.

We don't have many street lights here so the nights are dark and the stars are bright. Pretty much the only noises you will hear at night are foxes, badgers, owls and the wind in the trees.

The house is really comfortable, with a mix of antique and contemporary furniture.

The entrance hall has lots of space for coats and muddy boots, a loo and a laundry room with separate washer and dryer.

The house is upside down with bedrooms mainly on the lower floor and the sitting room, dining room and kitchen upstairs.

Through the entrance hall is a small study area; you'll get good wifi throughout the house but if you need some desk space you'll find it here.

Up half a flight of stairs to the master bedroom, with its own en suite shower room and patio doors onto your own private terrace with a table and chairs for morning coffee or evening drinks. This room is easily big enough for a travel cot or child's bed.

Round the corner and down some stairs to a double bedroom and twin bedroom with a shared bathroom, which has a bath and shower.

Then upstairs to the open plan dining room and sitting room. The dining room has a table for eight; great for lazy dinners. The sitting room is part of the same space but up a flight of stairs. Complete with squashy leather sofas, a wood burner (your first load of logs will be waiting for you), a smart TV, toys, games, books and a DVD collection. There's lots to do and space to relax.

The kitchen has a big fridge, separate freezer and large range cooker. Lots of kitchen kit is available and if you need anything else we are just next door and happy to help. There is also a breakfast table and high chair for smaller guests.

The fourth bedroom is off the sitting room and down a little corridor and is a double with windows facing Frith Wood. It's next to a bathroom and while not en suite, it's pretty much your own. The bathroom is a tribute to the 80's and as you would expect, has its very own jacuzzi bath.

Outside there is a terrace with seating and a BBQ and two lawn areas, one of which is fenced to give some play space for younger guests. There is also a little herb garden, so feel free to help yourselves. You are welcome to use the paddock which is great for romping and frisbee but a bit too sloped for football. Take care with the electric fence around the chickens and do feel free to ask us about eggs.

There is great walking to be found all around the valley. You can walk from the Chairman's Retreat straight up into Frith Wood; down the valley will bring you to Tom George's racing stables and through the woods and over the hill will take you to Painswick, the so called Queen of The Cotswolds, with its unusual churchyard, lovely pub The Falcon and surprising Olivas Deli, St Michaels restaurant and a fine coffee shop. Painswick as about a 45 minute walk away and if you fancy a night out, it's a pleasant (if hilly) stroll home.

Closer to home is the Woolpack pub. Serving great food, local Uley Brewery and Stroud Brewery ales, it's cosy and popular and famed as an old haunt of Laurie Lee. If you want to be sure of a table it's worthwhile booking or letting us know and we will book for you.

Slad is only a few minutes from Stroud by car. Trains from London Paddington are direct and take around an hour and forty minutes. There is parking for two cars; if you need more space let us know and we can arrange it.

If you are coming from further afield, Heathrow is 1:45 hours away, Birmingham airport 1:20 hours and Bristol 1:20 hours away.

Stroud has a great Farmers' market on Saturday mornings - excellent local produce and yummy things for lunch. Our favourites are the Falafel wraps and the Tartiflet and if you can fit anything else in, Pippins Doughnuts.

Further afield Cheltenham and Gloucester are no more than half an hour by car with good shopping, the race course and The Everyman theatre. Gloucester Cathedral is amazing and hosts some great exhibitions. If you are around in the summer, it's also worth checking out Gifford's Circus, a small but perfectly formed avant guarde collection of craziness, popular with adults and children alike. It tours the Cotswolds in the summer and is really worth a visit.

An hour in the car will take you to either Bath or Bristol. Lots of history with the Roman Spa in Bath and HMS Great Britain in Bristol docks.

We usually have a 3 nights minimum stay. This may be longer for some busier periods.

There will always be logs and kindling available to light a fire on your first evening. We can supply further logs for £10 a barrow load; if you need some more, please ask us in advance or on arrival.

The Chairman's Retreat - your perfect holiday retreat to explore the Cotswolds.

House Rules:

- No smoking

- No pets

- No events or parties

- We would appreciate it if you could leave your outdoor shoes in the big downstairs hall or in the shoebox outside the patio door.

- The lovely garden space has some steep drops. Although we have a fenced area we would recommend that children are supervised in the garden at all times

- We all enjoy a glass of red wine but our carpets don't! Can you please only drink red wine in the kitchen, dining area and outside in the garden!

- You are welcome to walk in the paddock but please keep off the woodpile and out of the stable. The chickens are kept safe from Mr Fox by an electric fence, so please do not touch or you will be in for a shock!

- Please keep things quieter after 10 pm, to keep our neighbours happy!

Thank you!

Property manager

Chris Mercer

Languages

English

Property amenities

Internet

  • Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Onsite parking
  • Car recommended

Kitchen

  • Refrigerator
  • Stovetop
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Dishwasher
  • Electric kettle
  • Cookware/dishes/utensils
  • Coffee grinder
  • Blender

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 4 bedrooms
  • Bed sheets provided

Bathrooms

  • 3 bathrooms
  • Bathtub or shower
  • Jetted bathtub
  • Eco-friendly toiletries
  • Soap
  • Shampoo
  • Hair dryer
  • Towels provided
  • Toilet paper
  • Bidet

Living spaces

  • Fireplace
  • Living room
  • Wood stove

Entertainment

  • Smart TV
  • DVD player
  • Games
  • Books
  • Video library

Outdoor areas

  • Patio
  • Barbecue grill
  • Garden
  • Outdoor furniture

Laundry

  • Washing machine and dryer

Work spaces

  • Office
  • Desk
  • Desk chair

Comfort

  • Heating

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Area rugs in public areas
  • Handrails in stairways
  • Hardwood flooring in public areas
  • Thin carpet in public areas
  • Tile flooring in public areas
  • Smoke-free property
  • Note from host: Only smoke in the garden & use the stone ashtray.

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board

Location highlights

  • In a rural location
  • Near a hospital
  • Near outlet shopping
  • In a village

Things to do

  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Cycling nearby
  • Horse riding nearby
  • Swimming nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector installed (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
  • Smoke detector installed (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • Fire extinguisher
  • First aid kit

General

  • At least 80% lighting from LEDs
  • Recycling
  • Comprehensive recycling policy
  • Double-glazed windows

Similar properties

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
Note from host: Children in the garden must always be supervised.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation

We should mention

A car is recommended for transportation to and from this property

Property is also known as

Chairman's Retreat Slad Cotswolds Gloucestershire. Space Relax

About the neighborhood

Map
Stroud, Gloucestershire, ENG

What's nearby

  • Painswick Rococo Garden - 5 min drive
  • Cotswold Canals Trust - 6 min drive
  • Minchinhampton Common - 10 min drive
  • Gloucester Quays - 16 min drive
  • Gloucester Docks - 17 min drive

Getting around

  • Stroud Station - 9 min drive
  • Birmingham Airport (BHX) - 86 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Crown & Sceptre - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Curio Lounge - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪La Cantina - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪The Golden Fleece - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Fat Toni's Pizzeria - ‬5 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is The Chairman's Retreat, Slad, The Cotswolds, Gloucestershire. Space to relax. pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at The Chairman's Retreat, Slad, The Cotswolds, Gloucestershire. Space to relax.?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at The Chairman's Retreat, Slad, The Cotswolds, Gloucestershire. Space to relax.?

Check-out is at 10:00 AM.

Where is The Chairman's Retreat, Slad, The Cotswolds, Gloucestershire. Space to relax. located?

This family-friendly Stroud vacation home is located in a rural location, within 2 mi (3 km) of St Marys Painswick and St Mary’s Church. Stroud Bowl and Rococo Gardens are also within 3 mi (5 km).

The Chairman's Retreat, Slad, The Cotswolds, Gloucestershire. Space to relax. Reviews

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 35 out of 36 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 36 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 36 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 36 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 36 reviews" "

10/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Valerie H.

Liked: Cleanliness
Delightful hosts, very tasteful beautiful accommodation in beautiful area.
Wow! Beautiful, fully equipped and much more. So excellently presented. Our delightful hosts provided a number of edible surprises too. Most unexpected. Highly recommendEverything for our comfort
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

James H.

Liked: Cleanliness
10/10
Came over from the states for a short stay at The Chairman’s and had a fantastic time. Chris was excellent at communicating and the pictures don’t do the property justice. Walking distance to the woolpack and the back garden leads into some glorious walks. Chris and his wife left us eggs, orange juice and home baked goods as a welcoming gift. What a nice and thoughtful touch! Having stayed in a few other properties is slad I think the chairman’s is one of the best and Chris is natural host. 10/10 bravo. Thank uou sir
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Neena P.

Liked: Cleanliness
Wonderful stay
We had an amazing stay in this beautiful house. It was immaculately clean with everything we needed for a relaxing and comfortable weekend away. We were a group of 8 (6 adults and 2 children). The house is beautifully decorated and Chris and Suzanna gave very clear and helpful instructions on how to use alll the facilities and gadgets in the house. We really enjoyed using the garden and the stunning views! We would love to visit again. Thank you for an amazing stay!
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Seanna H.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful location and amazing house
We had a simply wonderful weekend to celebrate my husbands 50th Birthday, Chris was an exceptional host, very prompt responses to any questions and a warm welcome on arrival. The welcome gifts were also a really lovely touch. The location is idyllic with the most incredible views. We were a group of 4 couples and all the rooms were spacious and very comfy beds. The whole house has been planned with care and the kitchen was extremely well equipped. We had hired a private chef for the Saturday night and he had everything he needed to cook for us. We enjoyed the walk into Stroud which gave more wonderful views, and we also visited the woolpack pub a few minutes walk from the house. Thank you again for your wonderful hospitality it was a perfect way to celebrate.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

David S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great place in Slad
We had beautiful weather for our stay, the backyard was enticing and a great hang out spot. The excellent local pub was a short walk away and the walk to Painswick through Frith Woods is beautiful. A lovely property in a beautiful location.
Stayed 6 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Christine T.

Liked: Cleanliness
Excellent
Beautiful property and excellent location. Thank you
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kathleen B.

Liked: Cleanliness
A True Gem
Perfect, quiet getaway. Home is super clean with all high quality amenities and beautiful furnishings. Nestled in a quiet Cotswold village. A quick walk to The Woolpack for a meal, or drive to larger villages of Stroud or Painswick. Scenic views everywhere. Thanks Suzanne, Chris and family.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

John W., Maidenhead

Liked: Cleanliness
Wonderful property for large Family groupp
We had a fantastic Easter weekend at the Chairman’s Retreat. A great property for the 8 of us, perfect location for the activities we had planned. The property has everything you need if you were to stay in and cook, but a great location to drop into Stroud to try the local restaurants and the Farmers Market on Saturday morning.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Guy D.

Liked: Cleanliness
Fantastic property & location
We had a lovely stay in this fantastic, spacious property in Slad. The excellent hospitality pack including fresh eggs from the hens in the garden was much appreciated. The property is an easy stroll to an excellent pub serving great food. We would definitely return if we are in the area again. Thanks to Chris & wife for everything.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Erin H., GA, USA

Liked: Cleanliness
Fantastic Stay
Our group loved staying at The Chairman's Retreat! The house is exceptionally clean and well stocked, very comfortable with great amenities. Location was fantastic; easy drive to Stroud for groceries and lovely ride to various Cotswold locations for shopping and sightseeing. The hosts are TREMENDOUS! They went above and beyond to ensure we had everything we need and to give recommendations in the area. They even provided a sweet welcome card and homemade flapjacks when we checked in. We could not have been more pleased with our stay! Highly recommend!
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Alison P.

Liked: Cleanliness
Wonderful village retreat
We have really enjoyed our stay in the property while we attended a friends wedding in the village . The house is well appointed with everything you need for a weekend stay . We had our 2 year old grandson with us and he loved the brio trains that were thoughtfully in the house and the safe fenced garden. We loved the powerful showers and the comfortable beds. The kitchen had all the crockery and cooking utensils you need so if you wanted to cook a meal you could . Check and check out was easy and our privacy was protected by the hosts. We know the area well as we have visited on many occasions however the location lends itself for being central for many local attaractions as well as walks around the beautiful Slad valley . We will definitely return . Thank you
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Margaret T.

Liked: Cleanliness
Spectacular surroundings
Lovely property and surrounding area. The retreat had everything we could need for a lovely stay. Our hosts made sure we had all that we needed for our first wake up. They left us eggs, bacon, butter, milk, bread and wine. My sisters and I had a lovely time.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

sophie k.

Liked: Cleanliness
The Cotswold way
This is the way The only way Had a great time by the way Way sure we’ll be back A very well stocked property where we were able to eat in twice very clean and comfortable. Thank you Chris and Suzanne
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2022

10/10 Excellent

Gemma B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Weekend away
Great weekend. Thank you
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Pauline W.

Liked: Cleanliness
A fine home.
As a family group meeting up for our first get together for a couple of years this lovely home was perfect for our needs. We found the property spacious, very clean and filled with interesting 'homely' items and objects that added to the many other comforts provided. A proper cooks kitchen was enjoyed and the large television had all of the channels we needed for nights in. A meal at the local 'Woolpack Inn' was an evening highlight and the local area is great for walking trips. Plenty to do and see for all ages and a wonderful home to return to each evening. We highly recommend this rental.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Lindsay C., East Lansing, MI

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautifully decorated and cozy
This property is gorgeous on the inside, and sparkling clean. The Mercer’s were very helpful with any questions or needs we had.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

Richard B., Hertford uk

Superb location in the Slad valley
Modern conversion with character. Four good double rooms and luxury towels. Well appointed kitchen. Quiet garden for relaxing. Away from the house you can feed the chickens ( not noisy). Excellent hosts to welcome you there. Easy walk to the footpath and through the woods to Painswick. The local pub is unspoilt and serves good food and good ales.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2019

10/10 Excellent

Eric Y.

Had a fantastic weekend.
The cottage was amazing. Very spacious and very well equipped. Best welcome pack we've had with fresh eggs from the owners hens and bacon for breakfast, and a delicious home made lemon sponge for later. Perfect area for walking as we did 3 walks(8-12 miles each) from the house without the need to use our cars. Surrounding area was beautiful with woodland and hills with some fantastic views of the Cotswolds. Had a drink and a meal in the local pub, The Woolpack which was very friendly and the food was excellent.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2018

10/10 Excellent

Ann D.

Really great property in a beautiful area
Great house - really well thought out and spacious. Owners have taken a lot of time and care to furnish it with beautiful things. A lovely welcome from the owners with a delicious goody pack and lots of other extras to make our stay more comfortable. They definitely go the extra mile. Perfect location to go walking and see the surrounding area. Not far from the pub either, where we spent a bit of time and even had an impromptu cello concert from one of the locals. Everyone very friendly. All in all a great stay and would highly recommend.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2018

10/10 Excellent

Nick G.

Perfect location, host & accommodation
Fabulous home and wonderful host who was so welcoming and supplied our first day needs.....including eggs & bacon for our first breakfast! Loved it and would 100% recommend to anyone. Chris did an awesome job of remodeling with so many interesting touches.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2018

10/10 Excellent

Andy J.

Excellent
Really comfortable and plenty of space for all the family. Would really recommend it.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2018

10/10 Excellent

Sara H.

Outstanding 'retreat' in Cotswolds countryside
A perfect short stay for older family group with excellent facilities, good spacious bedrooms, very well equipped kitchen and some wonderful welcome goodies in the fridge. We used the patio garden quite a bit which had a good table and chairs and a BBQ, though we didn't use the latter. Very quiet at night. We didn't try the local pub which was busy, but visited the church with its Laurie Lee information and did a couple of walks. Would definitely recommend, only caution is there are four short sets of stairs to move from area to area though we felt this helped create the character of the place.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2018

10/10 Excellent

Dawn A.

Fantastic weekend
Had a fantastic weekend. House is amazing. Everything provided for even down to the bacon buttie and homemade lemon drizzle cake. Lovely hosts, with lots of information about things to do in the local area. Would definitely recommend a stay at this gorgeous home.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2018

10/10 Excellent

Caroline W.

Great property with loads of quirkiness!
Stayed here with a group of friends including some young children. We all loved it, lots of space inside (plus lots of bathrooms, great for groups of friends together...). Beautiful location, really quirky interior; beautifully decorated and impeccably presented. Kitchen very well stocked. Lovely, helpful and friendly owners, thoroughly enjoyed every minute.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2018

10/10 Excellent

Sarah T.

A great space with hosts that really look after you.
A real delight to spend time here.The whole house was very well equipped and fitted out and everything felt new and looked after. We were a group of friends celebrating my birthday. Enough space to be all together and to be separate too. The views are stunning and our hosts worked really hard to make us welcome. Nothing was too much trouble and we even liked the fact that their lovely cat wanted to be part of the party. Sarah Thewlis
Stayed 3 nights in May 2018