Dua Lipa and I have very little in common. She's a global superstar who travels the world performing to thousands and I'm a mum of one, soon to be two, who performs a nightly rendition of ‘twinkle twinkle little star’ to my toddler. We do have one thing in common though, and that's that we have both stayed at Hank's House, a celebrity haunt tucked away behind imposing gates in the Cotswolds, with its own infinity pool, leopard-clad cinema room and private gym, sauna and bar.
I made my pilgrimage to the house, now famous thanks to its cohort of well-known guests sharing raucous photos of their stay on Instagram, one sunny day in July. Ordinarily, my drive down to a staycation is filled with angst - what will the Airbnb be like? Will there be towels? Will the beds be comfy? - but this time was different. Because this time, my stay had been coordinated by concierge service to the rich and famous, Harrad & Bloom, who specialise in putting together the type of staycations that their smorgasbord of esteemed guests - from Hollywood stars (seriously) to groups of friends and family keen to celebrate a milestone birthday or event in style - expect. They’ll stock your fridge, find a chef who can cook Michelin-style recipes without raising an eyebrow, and, if necessary, whisk you away from airport queues into something altogether more glamorous.
Thanks to their meticulous organisation, I knew that there would be a champagne reception on our arrival. I knew that the pantry would be stocked and the bathrooms filled with luxury products. I knew that our every whim and wish would be catered for. And I was not disappointed.
Hank's House leads guests from its driveway down a celebrity-trodden, olive-tree lined path to its front door, and from then on, you're in Hank's world. The corridors are deliciously-scented, the lights turn on automatically as you walk by and the seven bedrooms strung along a sultry, art-clad central corridor lead toward a master bedroom that feels straight out of Celebrity Cribs (shoutout to all my fellow '90s babies).
Downstairs, we were greeted in the open plan kitchen and dining room by Angharad, the owner of Harrad & Bloom, and the person whose little black book unlocks ordinarily closed doors for her guests. And the warm welcome was made even warmer by the champagne reception, complete with bottles of vintage champagne from the local Dryhill vineyard. Which we sipped on loungers by the pool, naturally, before further exploring the house.
Hank's House, previously featured on luxe property programmes, has been designed with confidence and flair. Nothing is safe, beige, or anonymous. The so-called Zebra Room has — you guessed it — zebra prints that could tip into tacky but somehow don’t. The Pink Room is unabashedly playful, like a Barbie dream house had an affair with Soho House. And then there’s the palatial Master Suite, decked out in varying white textures, completed by a floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall window that looks out across the pool, gardens and lake beyond.
Design-wise, it’s less “neutral Scandi” and more “Instagram filter come to life.” Which is thrilling for a weekend, though I did find myself wondering if I could live with quite so many bold textures long term. That’s not a criticism; it’s part of the fun. A stay here is theatre. Exhibited perfectly by the secret cocktail den, found behind a secret door hidden in a bookshelf. Pull in the right place, and suddenly you’re in a low-lit snug with velvet seating and the faint whiff of naughtiness. It’s the kind of place where you want to confess secrets or at least order an Old Fashioned.
We discovered it's true potential for revery on the second evening, when we were joined by Oliver, from the Cotswolds Distillery, who took up residency in the bar for the evening, designing us our very own cocktails. Even mixing up a toddler-friendly mocktail when he saw that our toddler who had taken an interest. He ferried drinks between those of us holed up at the bar and those who had decided to venture out into the balmy evening and take up perch by the outdoor kitchen. Any flavour we liked, tipple we preferred or bartending trick we asked of him was served up with ease and flair. “I could get used to this,” my husband declared, several drinks down. And who couldn't? It's the high life many of us can only dream of, and it is just as good as you'd imagine.
Our palettes suitably whet, we were called for supper, prepared by Lisa, our very own private chef, and laid out beautifully across the 20 person deep table (rumour has it that many parties end up with the guests ON the table, rather than sat around it). We gorged ourselves on an array of different dishes from hearty salads to perfectly-cooked meat and then we filled the last remaining millimetres of our stomach with a deconstructed cheesecake, complete with a tart elderflower jelly. It was, in a word, heaven.
When we weren't being catered for, the rest of our time at Hank's was spent lounging by the heated pool, scurrying between its warm ripples and the nearby sauna, watching films in the deep sofas, organised in rows in the leopard print-clad cinema room, complete with buckets of popcorn thoughtfully left in the pantry (stocked so generously it felt like someone’s doting mother had anticipated our every midnight craving), exploring the local honey-hued villages and discussing how our discerning neighbours, including Victoria and David Beckham, might be spending their weekends.
Hank's House is designed for groups. Friends, families, maybe even colleagues if your work awaydays are unusually glamorous. The open-plan kitchen could host an entire cookery show, and the long dining table practically insists on shared meals. The living spaces feel curated for late-night conversations, roaring fires, and the occasional debate over which film to queue in the cinema room. And yes, that heated pool. I swam at night with the countryside wrapped around me, steam rising, the sort of moment that convinces you you’ve cracked life, before clambering into my fluffy, branded robe.
Harrad & Bloom’s involvement meant my stay felt elevated. They were the invisible hand — able to arrange a yoga instructor on a morning and recommend a wine merchant the next. You could, of course, book Hank's House without them, but the pairing makes sense. The concierge services handle the lifestyle frills so the property can shine. And isn't that exactly what being a celebrity is all about?
You can find out more about Harrad & Bloom below, or have a further nosey around Hank's House (and their other celebrity-fit properties) here.
Born from a passion for the most exquisite, bespoke travel experiences, Harrad & Bloom’s story began with founder Angharad Jones, who honed her skills aboard luxury hotel barges. She realised that same magic could be recreated on land, leading her to the dreamy Cotswolds, a favourite with celebrities and those in the know.
After years of crafting unforgettable, fully catered breaks for guests who adored her so much they told her, “we’ll follow you anywhere,” she launched her unique concierge service. Now, Harrad & Bloom creates the ultimate, finely-tuned escape for anyone looking to celebrate a big event or simply live life to the fullest.
They’re essentially your personal fairy godmother for a flawless stay. Acting as a trusted virtual hotel desk, they curate every detail of your luxury break, while their legendary 'little black book' unlocks a world of exclusive access. Think behind-the-scenes tours, private chefs, bespoke wellness treatments, and even the most outlandish of entertainment requests. If you can dream it, or picture Mariah Carey doing it, they can make it happen.
