The Lone Barn

After a 12-day stay with Mel & Paul at The Lone Barn, my husband, our two children and I have just returned to the USA. We wanted a remote English countryside break, and this gave us that, with all the comforts of home. The house and grounds looked straight out of Country Living, everything worked, and no detail seemed to have been missed. The beds were comfy, the bathrooms felt like a boutique hotel, there were plenty of towels, and the kitchen was properly equipped, even with a cheese grater, sharp knives and oven mitts. Flowers from the garden were arranged around the place. The barn annex wasn’t available until the day after we arrived, so we spent our first night in the newly offered B&B rooms in the main house. We were exhausted after a long flight, hiring a car and driving through the south, but Mel and Paul gave us a lovely welcome. They showed us to the attic rooms, where we could freshen up, then served homemade tea and cakes in the living room. They were delicious and gluten-free for my husband. We walked just under a mile along an idyllic country lane to The Bat & Ball for a fabulous traditional pub dinner, then came back and slept like babies. In the morning we woke to wood pigeons cooing and the smell of bacon. Mel brought us tea, and downstairs a feast was waiting: homemade smoothies, freshly squeezed OJ, homemade granola, yoghurt, toast, croissants and jam, followed by a full English breakfast with bacon, eggs, sausages, portobello mushrooms and grilled tomatoes. Our 12-year-old daughter is the fussiest eater ever, but she rated breakfast 100 out of 20 and ate more than I’ve seen her eat in a year! That afternoon we moved into the self-catering barn annex, which Mel & Paul had cleaned after the previous guests. We came and went as we liked, had dinner guests, drank wine in the garden, and played endless tennis on their court. Rackets and balls were provided. My husband also took the children to London for a day. Petersfield is a 20-minute drive away, and trains leave every 30 minutes or so for London Waterloo. If you want a quintessential English countryside stay with all the comforts of home, this is the place. Just perfect in every way. I only give five stars about once in every 50 reviews, and this is one of them.

The setting at Lone Barn is so quiet and the gardens are lovely. We stayed in the Striders Room, with a really comfortable bedroom and a separate sitting room that felt homely, especially with the log burner, fresh flowers and seasonal fruit. Paul and Melanie were welcoming, and breakfast was the best we’ve had at any B&B or hotel. A gem of a place, and we’re already keen to come back.

Mel sorted us out with useful tips before we arrived, so we had meals, bikes and taxis arranged. She even picked us up from the station on Friday, with a G&T and chilled wine waiting when we got there. The Striders was spotless and beautifully done, with its own sitting room and a log burner, and a very comfortable bed. We made the most of the bikes after Paul planned us a great route with good coffee and lunch stops. Back at the barn, Mel’s homemade cake and tea in the garden were a treat. The location is peaceful, with a pub just a short walk away. Breakfast is included, and Mel is a brilliant cook. Go hungry, especially for the sublime coconut bread and all the thoughtful little touches. We can’t recommend Lone Barn enough.

We came over from Australia for a UK holiday and the Goodwood Revival, and Lone Barn was such a beautiful place to stay. The hosts were wonderful and so accommodating. Freshly baked cake was waiting when we arrived, and there were fresh flowers in every room. We felt completely at home and very spoilt. Thank you, Mel and Paul.