Gardens and grounds
The indoors is great, but the outdoors might be greater. An acre sprawls before you, ready for kids’ hide-and-seek, lawn cricket and croquet or a little paddle tennis on the mini court. Bring your dog and play fetch forever.
Expend some energy on the trampoline, let the kids watch hours disappear in the playhouse or on the tree swing. When it’s time to eat, light up the barbie and sizzle your sausages on the terrace.
As darkness descends, step onto the oak deck and slide into the 17-foot hot tub to make magical memories and stare at the stars.
Living spaces
It all begins in the entrance, where a water feature bubbles away enchantingly. From here, the living room’s a mega-modern world of chunky rugs and hardwood floors. Leather sofas face the homely flames of the gas fire and the endless entertainment of Sky TV and Blu-ray disks.
Doors open onto the deck and the sound of birdsong trickles in on the breeze. The BT Infinity wifi could be the fastest thing around here. So, relax. Catch the match or make it a movie night in the cinema room. Let the kids shoot some pool in the playroom.
This is an oasis of luxury, an escape from the strain of modern life, complete with sociable spaces for cards and chatter, or solitary boltholes for lazily turning the pages of a novel. Southlake is whatever takes your fancy.
Cooking and dining
The kitchen-diner here’s as well-appointed and palatial as the rest of the pad. There’s space for eight around the dining table beneath the ice lights and room for another four around the breakfast table. If you’re banking on a banquet for 15 or more, a folding table will do the job nicely.
The kitchen comes in a funky modern walnut with lime-green splashbacks, complete with oven, four-ring induction hob and microwave. The deck’s equipped with tables and chairs, so you can go all al-fresco with a barbie in the Cotswold sunshine. Cool your drinks from the ice machine and chill your heels in the garden.
Want to take it really easy? The Red Onion Catering Company’s just a phone call away and can step up to all occasions, from a tasty lunchtime sandwich to a large special event. If a potter down to the village for a pie and a pint sounds good, there’s real ale at The George and a warm welcome at The Elliot Arms and The Royal Oak.
Southlake is also home to The Lakeside Brasserie with good food, fine water views and a sideline in water-skiing. Local restaurants include the Parisian-inspired Cote Brasserie, The Old Boathouse – a contemporary restaurant with classic pub fare and a lakeside terrace – and The Thai Emerald for authentic Thai, served in silk.
Bedrooms
Plenty room here for big extended families or hens wanting boudoir privacy. Southlake House sleeps 15 in crisp-cottoned comfort, with garden views, TVs as standard, and the trickle of cool Cotswold air through the windows.
The master bedroom comes with a superking bed and en-suite with large bath, walk-in-shower and TV. The Dolphin room is a double, while the White room is a king-size that shares a bathroom with the Dolphin. The Gym room sleeps three in a double and a sofabed, with free workout on the gym equipment.
The Pink room can accommodate three in a kingsize and sofabed, while the Blue is a kids’ room with single beds. A floating zedbed can be moved around.
There’s a first-floor family bathroom and a second-floor bathroom that serves the top two bedrooms. On the ground floor, you’ll find a shower room with toilet, sink and walk-in shower that’s perfect for sprucing up before using the hot tub.
What people say?
Ride, swim and lunch
Swim in spring water at Cirencester Open Air Pool, or go all Bear Grylls at the Adventure Zone. Adults will enjoy Cirencester’s eclectic nightlife, lunch in Cheltenham, or spa days at the De Vere.
