The best apartment accommodation in the UK. Period
Andrew J Wood

CHELTENHAM UK: The Montpellier Town House is a magnificent luxury town house in Montpellier, Cheltenham. At weekends it’s home to high rolling guests for over £2000 a stay (and rather more during Race Meetings at the famous Cheltenham Racecourse).

Yet mid-week things slow down a bit in this fashionable spa town. Book a Monday to Friday stay and the award winning five bedroom property, sleeping nine, is a far more modest £400 per night. For smaller parties, it can be taken as a two bedroom “apartment” – essentially the entire property for yourself with the top floor simply closed off – for as little as £250 per night. Nothing short of an absolute bargain.

The Town House comprises five luxurious bedrooms; two spacious lounges, a large breakfast/dining area and an outdoor patio. It’s adjacent to a fully equipped kitchen that’s big enough, it could easily be in a fine dining restaurant.


Photo: View from the service area of the kitchen


Photo: The dining room

The house has all your modern comforts including flat screen TVs, WiFi and laundry yet is packed with gorgeous antiques, artworks and the most exquisite little details. It feels like your own private house and once you are settled in and have been shown around, you are left to enjoy the house in privacy. The large double door fridge has bare essentials (milk, water etc) so you can always make a cup of tea day or night, and there’s a great expresso machine.


Photo: Exquisite little details

If you need help it’s just a phone call away, and if you need more serious help; butlers, catering, cars and limousines are all on the menu, if required.


Photo: The lounge with gorgeous antiques & artworks

It’s a perfect venue for visitors on business or leisure. It’s ideal for special events, such as a special birthday treat or anniversary or a large family gathering.

We loved the fact that Montpellier Gardens are literally across the road. A stroll through the grounds and tea and cakes with the morning papers was a daily delight. It’s busy with activity: tennis players, joggers, walkers, Mum’s with kids, dog walkers and people just getting from A to B.

We enjoyed dining out – Cheltenham has some serious foodie credentials. A few steps away the Côte Brasserie is a firm favourite for wonderful breakfasts, long lunches and perfect dinners with great house wines.

As a true “destination restaurant” try the Daffodil, located within a magnificent art deco gem of a building, a converted 1930’s cinema. A table upstairs in the Circle gets you great views of the whole restaurant. Their calves liver deserves a special mention. There’s an excellent and (mostly) reasonably priced wine list too.


Photo: The Patio at Montpellier Town House

Cheltenham also known as Cheltenham Spa, is located on the edge of the Cotswolds, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, in Gloucestershire England. Famous for horse racing and in particular the Cheltenham Gold Cup, it has however, many strings to its bow including art and antiques fairs. The Cotswolds Antiques, Decorative & Art Fair (12-14 August 2016), takes place this year at Westonbirt School. The Cheltenham Music Festival now in its 72nd year, is also one of the oldest music festivals in Britain, held annually in June and July since 1945. The festival is renowned for premieres of contemporary music.

We found it a great base for touring. Wonderfully British villages and the gorgeous Cotswolds countryside are there to be ‘discovered’ less than 30 minutes away.

For the Montpellier Town House official YouTube short video (2’03 mins) visit http://youtu.be/dc1TmIJJJOw

About the author

Mr. ANDREW J WOOD

A professional hotelier, Skalleague, travel writer and director of WDA Co. Ltd (tours/travel), Andrew has over 35 years of hospitality and travel experience. He is a graduate of Napier University, Edinburgh (Hospitality Studies.)

A UK national, Andrew was born in Yorkshire and prior to moving to Thailand Andrew gained valuable post graduate experience with Thistle Hotels (UK); Hilton Intl (Paris) and Sheraton Hotels & Resorts (London). He started his hotel career in Thailand with Shangri-La Hotels, Royal Garden Hotels and Resorts and the Landmark Group of Hotels (Thailand and UK) and later became General Manager of some of the country’s leading hotels including the Royal Cliff Beach Resort, Pattaya.

Andrew is a former board member and Director of Skal International (SI), National President SI THAILAND and President of SI BANGKOK. He is a regular guest lecturer at various Universities in Thailand including Assumption University’s Hospitality School.

Due to his extensive hospitality and travel experience, Andrew as a writer is widely followed.