Evania
Bentham, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, The Cotswolds, UK
Built from Gloucestershire stone but with a beating heart firmly in the Mediterranean, this luxury self-catering home in the Cotswolds is a calming oasis of luxe tranquillity. Enjoy breakfast in bed under Romanesque columns, recline in the shade of 300-year-old olive trees and float beneath the stars amidst waterfalls in the outdoor swimming pool. Evania is pure paradise.
Introduction
Inspired by the Mediterranean, this Gloucestershire holiday home hailing from the 1700s is the perfect self-catering retreat. Settled in the heart of the Cotswolds, surrounded by rolling hills and lush countryside, Evania is wonderfully placed for enjoying both rural rambles and quaint chocolate box villages. Amble in the footsteps of queens through Sudeley Castle, enjoy Broadway Tower’s stunning views and explore the regency spa town of Cheltenham. After a day of English adventures, return home to an evening gathered together in the bright and lofty kitchen before sinking into the hot tub under the radiant glow of the moon.
Inside
Inside is a perfect coming-together of modern design and classic architecture; glass walkways allow views from the ground floor high into the rafters, while squishy Chesterfields and ostrich feather lamps invite long evenings by the log burner. For nights of unadulterated repose, five beautifully appointed bedrooms await. Soak tired muscles in one of the luxurious baths and feel your mind and body relax under a mountain of lavender-scented bubbles, before hopping into bed. Somewhere peaceful for couples within the group, the master (with king-size bed and standalone bathtub settled in front of a woodburner) is a true romantic escape.
Outside
A sheltered, honey-hued private patio area nestles in the crook of Evania's arms. Thriving olive trees and the gentle sound of waterfalls cascading into the heated swimming pool only serve to deepen the sense of being somewhere far, far away. For a quiet morning, squirrel away under clambering vines laden with plump grapes while the brood slumber. When everyone is awake, tease noses with the smell of fresh, sweet pastries served with steaming pots of tea on the al fresco dining area. On summer days, you could be forgiven for thinking you’d awoken under the blues skies and beating sun of the Mediterranean. Play croquet, plash around in the pool and enjoy all Evania has to offer.
The Facts
- SleepsUp to 10 guests
From £4,750 per week, £3,750 per short break
Day hire options are available - Alternative group optionsUp to 4 or up to 6 guests
- Bedrooms and bathroomsThere is one double bedroom on the ground floor with super king-size four poster bed, dressing room and en suite shower room. On the first floor are three double bedrooms, one with super king-size bed and bath in the room, one with a king-size bed and en suite wet room, and one with king-size bed and en suite bathroom with Jacuzzi bath and handheld shower. There is also a first-floor twin bedroom in the separate annexe, which also has an en suite bathroom and handheld shower attachment. Please note that the annexe bedroom and area is unavailable when booking the smaller group option.
View bedrooms - FeaturesOutdoor heated swimming pool (May - September), hot tub, games room with table football, pool table, table tennis and television
- PetsTwo well-behaved dogs are welcome, or three on prior request
Each pet is charged at £60 per week or part thereof - Arrivals and departuresArrival Day: Friday or MondayArrival Time: 4pmDeparture Time: 10am
- FamilyYes, children are very welcome. One cot and one highchair are available.
- PracticalitiesThere is ample parking for five cars at the front of the property. A single exterior CCTV camera covers the parking area and driveway for security purposes. The large, modern kitchen is equipped with a double six-hob Smeg oven, a dishwasher, wine cooler and fridge-freezer. There is a washing machine and tumble dryer in the ground floor WC room. If arriving by air, helicopters are welcome to land on the grounds.
- Homestay includesLuxury welcome hamper with local produce, Smart TV, projector screen, Sonos multi-room sound system, Xbox, Playstation, Netflix, SkyTV, iPad, WiFi internet, gas barbecue, bikes, linen, towels, logs and kindling to get you started.House book - your property and destination guideDiscover more little luxuries
- Private cateringSeeking a celebratory dinner or fully catered escape? Our recommended caterers will work with you to create personalised menus for your stay. Details are shared through our house book on confirming your booking.
- RetreatsFrom foraging weekenders to crash courses in cold-water therapy, our bespoke retreats bridge the gap between luxury and back-to-nature philosophies. Create a hand-crafted stay that puts connectivity at the fore.
- RestrictionsParties considered on prior permission from the owner
- Other informationProperty terms and conditionsFrequently asked questionsEV charger locationsCheck mobile signalRecommend to a friend
Prices & Availability
Cheltenham
Hugging the western edge of the glorious Cotswolds, this charming heritage spa town has parks, sights, shops and so much more right on the doorstep.
Getting there
- On the Map Evania sits in the village of Bentham, 15 minutes by car from both Cheltenham and Gloucester.
- By Car Approximately two hours and 15 minutes from central London and one hour from Birmingham.
- By Train Both Gloucester and Cheltenham Spa train stations are 15 minutes from the property.
- By Air Bristol airport is a one hour drive; Heathrow one hour and 40 minutes. Helicopters are welcome to land on the grounds of Evania.
From the owner
“We love Evania as it´s such a cosy, welcoming place. A great place to relax; tucked away yet just down the road from all that the Cotswolds and Cheltenham have to offer. Everyone that comes to the barn says it´s their favourite house and we hope you feel the same way.”
The east and south sections of Evania were built in the early 1700s in stone, and the north and west sections were built of handmade local brick in 1820. It was used for its original purpose of agriculture, mainly storing hay and grain up until the early 21st Century until it fell into disrepair.
In 2009 we installed up-to-date features including underfloor heating and the latest technology in insulation and fixtures, whilst respecting the original form of the listed structure. The glass walkway to link bedrooms is an example of this - a modern edition which leaves the view open to the vaulted roof as it would have been two centuries ago.
In 2018 after a lengthy planning process, a large kitchen extension with vast sliding doors was added to the rear of the property. The planning negotiations took in excess of two years with the local conservation officers, making sure the addition was an amazing space, yet complementary and sympathetic to the original building.
As well as the extension, the barn was redecorated throughout and the gardens landscaped with the addition of the swimming pool, sunken patio, decking and croquet lawn, making the previously redundant building, we think, a wonderful mix of relaxation and fun.
The Smith Family
Owner recommendations
Live like a local, discovering the best hidden gem restaurants, walks and attractions during your holiday in Cheltenham with an insider’s perspective.
To See
Cotswold Wildlife Park
Cotswold Wildlife Park is set in 160 acres of parkland and gardens around a listed Victorian Manor House. It is home to a fascinating and varied collection of mammals, birds, reptiles and invertebrates from all over the world.
To Eat
Prithvi, Cheltenham
Prithvi, which means "Earth" or "Mother Earth" in ancient Sanskrit, offers a refined and sophisticated approach to Indian dining in an welcoming, relaxed environment. Enjoy mouth-watering food and the restaurant´s keen eye for detail.
To Do
Blenheim Palace
Blenheim Palace, home to the Duke and Duchess of Marlborough and the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill, offers a memorable day out for all the family, sitting in 2,100 acres of beautiful parkland landscaped by Capability Brown.
To Do
CP&Y: The Yoga Studio
Limber, loosen and relax with one of over 50 mat and equipment classes held each week at CP&Y: The Yoga Studio. For a little more focus, private one-to-one sessions are also available, ensuring the most perfect form and poise.
Guest Testimonials
A truly magical place to celebrate a certain birthday with both friends and family. The house radiated happiness. Thank you so much for such a special stay, we had a fantastic time.
A wonderful house with every facility you could think of! The grandkids and family loved the hot tub and the wonderful pool. We enjoyed all the fabulous extras, thank you.
A fantastic property and beautiful gardens. Every need was catered for. Many thanks, we will be coming back for sure! The pool was fabulous, thank you again for allowing us to stay in your wonderful home.
An amazing Ruby wedding anniversary celebration with the family. Beautiful environment with lots of extras. We had a brilliant time and enjoyed all the facilities. Thank you!
Such a lovely escape, with beautiful surroundings! We would definitely stay here again, and hopefully in the summer so we can jump in the pool! Thank you for a great stay.
We all had a wonderful few days in this beautiful property, even on a cold and windy day the hot tub was perfect! Evania is a really special property, we would love to return one day.
A fantastic week in a beautiful location. This really is a great place to forget about the rest of the world. Thank you to the owners and Unique Homestays for such a memorable stay.
An amazing Golden wedding anniversary celebration. The house is incredible with so many things for all ages. The location is perfect for long walks in the hills. We enjoyed the pool, hot tub, projector, table tennis, pool table, and football in the field, and the sun even shone the whole time! A perfect weekend with loved ones, thank you.
What a fabulous house! Comfortable, lovely gardens, nice interior, very welcoming and cosy! A total pleasure to be here in such beautiful surroundings. Lovely pool too. The croquet was very enjoyable, especially during the hottest week of the year! Peaked at 27 degrees! We would definitely come again, thank you!
A beautiful home with a great garden, and lots of fun. The kids loved the pool and games. We hope to be back again soon. Thank you for a perfect stay with our loved ones!
A lovely bank holiday weekend! Glamorous house, idyllic relaxation by the pool. Thank you for such a special stay, we hope to return one day to create more memories at Evania.
What a beautiful barn. We all had a fantastic time, and the weather was stunning so the pool and hot tub were great add ons! We would definitely book to come again, a great time was had by all. Even the dogs had a great time running about in the open fields !
We were very lucky to find this special haven during a very strange time. In the most beautiful place to lock-down, we reconnected as a family, remembered the smell of cut grass from our childhoods, stopped, listened, and breathed. We will never forget these days best spent!
What a fabulous place to cosset ourselves from storm Dennis! We loved staying in your beautiful home, and had a fantastic week exploring and catching up with friends. Lovely hamper too, thank you!
We thoroughly enjoyed your beautiful home and surroundings, and the great hamper. A superb way to celebrate a birthday. Many thanks from us all, we have a great time and would love to return!
A spectacular house for a very special birthday. Pure luxury from the White Company bedding and soft fluffy towels to the delicious welcome hamper. We loved the décor and all the extra touches. Thank you, we don´t want to go home!
We hugely enjoyed our time celebrating my 21st birthday. The meals from the Tailor Made Top Nosh chefs were stunning, and the house was beautiful. The perfect setting for celebrations.
Thank you for a wonderful family holiday. Your beautiful home and lovely surroundings have given us a fabulous and relaxing time. The girls have lived in the pool, and they were thrilled with the hamper. Would love to come again.
On the whole, it was a wonderful experience. We had the best time and loved the house which was very well equipped for a party of ten. The BBQ, hot tub, pool, games room, cinema room, and quality of furnishings and accessories were amazing and much appreciated by our entire family from 8yrs to 70yrs old, we truly had the most wonderful time.
Evania is a beautiful property and we really enjoyed our stay because the beauty of the house and the quality of many aspects were very good. It was a relaxing house with a lovely vibe and we felt able to spend quality time together as a family. Nice touches with robes, pool towels, and Ralph Lauren bath towels in each room. A welcome hamper and bottled water in the bedrooms.
This was the most amazing home to stay in. After being wowed by the online gallery of pictures, we were blown away by the reality! The most luxurious dream of a holiday house, simply breath-taking! We will be back to stay again one day.
We spent a wonderful week relaxing here. It is idyllic and we felt in our own little oasis. The pool was put to great use! We enjoyed some lovely foodie pubs in the nearby villages too.
We loved the house and had an absolutely fantastic time! The house was incredible! We had the fires going, the children thoroughly enjoyed the games room, the pool was such a treat, the rooms were beautiful and the location was wonderful. Everything about our stay was just perfect.
Unique extras
From private chefs to luxury at-home spa therapists and adrenalin-fuelled retreats, once you’ve booked your stay we’ll introduce you to our owner-recommended suppliers to create a truly bespoke, memorable escape.
Press
Below are a selection of features in which Evania and Unique Homestays has appeared. If you would like to feature the property in an editorial capacity, please contact the marketing team on +44 (0)1637 882014.
complete an image bank request
Spotless swimming pools
Living Etc.
July 2022Smart sleepovers
Condé Nast Traveller
September 2023Design tricks from the UK´s most stylish holiday lets
The Telegraph
September 2023Homes from House & Garden you can rent for a holiday
House & Garden
September 2023Travel by design
Condé Nast Traveller
September 2023The UK´s best stargazing spots
House & Garden
September 202325 wild and wonderful UK places to stay
The Times
September 2023The best UK lodge and chalet holidays
The Independent
August 2023
Collections > Baby-Friendly Breaks > UK > Gloucestershire > Cheltenham > Evania
Related Collections
Disclaimer: These particulars, whilst believed to be accurate, are set as a guideline so should not be relied upon as a statement of fact. The photographs show aspects of the property at the time they were taken and it should not be assumed that the property remains precisely as displayed. If there are points of particular importance that need clarifying before you book, please contact us.
