When I decided to visit Derby for a short break then The Coach House B&B immediately jumped out at me as the place I wanted to stay. With only a few rooms it’s in high demand of course but the size makes for a wonderfully personal visit.
I had the pleasure of staying in the room on the top floor of the converted stables with it’s fabulous and enormous window looking out over the gardens. There’s also a smaller window that opens up onto purple flowers creeping around the frame in a way that’s so pretty it looks like the set of a film, and somewhere I actually sat and watched the blossom from the neighbouring garden float past. The bedrooms, as well as the ‘snug’ area are decorated in a fun, boutique hotel style, with greys, blues & yellows and unusual pieces the designer has found including a range of animal objects such as the rhino bed side lamps & a giant horse head wearing multi coloured reins.
I stay in quite a lot of hotels so I would consider myself somewhat a bed connoisseur, and without any exaggeration my first thought when I laid on the bed in my room was ‘I need to buy this bed.’ Unfortunately I was informed in the morning it’s a special one only available to trade, but they have clearly done their research in both the mattress and sheet departments.
Breakfast is served from 7 until 9 on weekdays, but as I slightly overslept due to immense comfiness, they were happy to serve me after the usual time. There are a selection of fresh juices & cereals to help yourself to, then french press coffee, smoothies, teas and a range of hot breakfasts made to order. I opted for the smoked salmon and scrambled egg bagel, generous and rich, which started me off well each morning ready for my days exploring the city.
The B&B is well located, only a 20 minute walk (or £3 taxi ride) from central Derby. I walked through the nearby park next to the river Derwent to get into town which is a really pleasant activity in itself, and there are a number of local pubs in the area including the slightly unusual Abbey pub which is a popular spot in a converted church only a few minutes away.
The Coach House is clearly the place to stay for those looking for a cool & quality alternative to the usual chains when staying in Derby.
