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North Wales Live
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- North Wales Live
I spent a day in the latest Omaze dream home - a sprawling £5.5m country farmhouse
The nation has been captivated by a multi-million pound house raffle. The Omaze house draw offers not just a plush new abode, but the opportunity to become an overnight millionaire, all for as little as £10. For the first time ever, the Express was given exclusive access – a sneak peek inside the latest grand prize before the new owner steps foot in it. This is the 38th property Omaze has offered in its five-year history, and of the previous fortunate winners, many have chosen to sell rather than settle down. Previous properties have ranged from a sleek Cornish cliffside dwelling, a grand Georgian townhouse in central London to a Highlands mansion. This time around, it's a 17th-century farmhouse in the Cotswolds boasting five bedrooms, five bathrooms, two living rooms, a spacious kitchen-diner, a boot room, two utility rooms, a couple of extra rooms, plus a separate guest cottage. It comes mortgage-free, with all stamp duty and legal fees covered, plus a cool £250,000 in cash to help with the bills, reports the Express. Alternatively, an overnight stay at a country pad might scratch the quiet life itch. On Airbnb, there's a Cotswold Manor House, set in its own grounds in a beautiful National Trust Village on the River Thames. It comes with a cool price tag starting from £1,200 a night, but it can fit up to 16 guests, which works out at £75 per person per night. It has six bedrooms (with 11 beds) and five bathrooms, which makes it ideal for a big group gathering. For days out, look to the National Trust. Much of Downton Abbey's 2019 movie and original TV series was filmed in National Trust places, and fans can visit a lot of the locations, for example, Basildon Park is the real-life Grantham House. Back to the Omaze property, journalist Frances Millar was granted exclusive access to the sprawling property. Here's her thoughts on the country pad: With only a few hours to play 'Lady of the Manor', I took the opportunity to have a thorough look around, half-hoping for a minor mishap like a loose door handle to give me a small sense of schadenfreude. However, everything was in perfect condition. The crunching gravel drive leads you to a Cotswold stone farmhouse bathed in honey hues, adorned with wisteria and rambling pink roses, all set within lush cottage garden borders. The only sounds were the birdsong and my own gasps: "Oh my god, it's huge." Covering over 6,000 square feet, this expansive property sits on a generous plot of rolling countryside, complete with a wildflower meadow and an orchard ripe for scrumping when harvest season arrives. Additional features include a large greenhouse, stable blocks, separate garages, and a heated outdoor pool. Inside, the decor is tastefully done, as if lifted straight from the pages of Country Life Magazine. Imagine soothing sage greens, cream, duck egg blues, luxurious soft furnishings paired with flagstone floors and timber beam ceilings. It's the epitome of English countryside glamour, but as a born-and-bred Londoner - and a self-confessed scruffbag - could I see myself living here? I must confess, I found myself pondering: What would that exquisite marble bathroom look like covered in soap scum? And how would this pristine sofa fare under a layer of cat hair? Or the massive custom-made kitchen island strewn with half-drunk cups of tea and unopened post? Under my supervision, it would only take a day or two for it to be cluttered with odds and ends. However, given the size of the property, even I would struggle to make a mess of it. But the garden - now that's where I could truly feel at home. With all that space, I'd go full Good Life - just hand me a spade and call me Barbara. As an avid gardener, I couldn't resist mentally planning it out with an allotment plot, a chicken coop, perhaps even a goat. And that enormous greenhouse - the greenhouse of dreams - would be filled to the brim with citrus trees, tomatoes, cucumbers, aubergines. I might even try growing melons. Oh, the things I'd cultivate. I could almost envision myself filming a segment for Gardeners' World, trying not to sound too self-satisfied as I explained how I gradually replaced the lawn with a lush herbaceous border to rival Great Dixter. As for the pool, well naturally, I couldn't resist a cheeky swim - the first person to do so. The temperature was, of course, absolutely spot on. That's coming from someone who's a bit of a wimp when it comes to cold water. And it's so private, you could skinny dip without a care in the world if that's your thing. Heck, you could go full Saltburn, blast Murder on the dance floor at full volume, and dance naked, as there's not a neighbour in sight to bat an eyelid. As with every Omaze house raffle, it's all for a good cause. This draw is in partnership with Guide Dogs UK, and the charity will receive at least £1 million, potentially much more depending on ticket sales, which will fund 675 puppies during their first eight weeks of life and help people with sight loss gain greater independence. During my brief visit, I had the delight of meeting Jean Jordan, who has been volunteering with Guide Dogs UK for an impressive 32 years. She brought along Mazey, an 18-week-old lab-retriever cross, who has just embarked on her guide dog training journey. Jean, hailing from Bristol, helps manage her family's gas engineering business, but in her spare time, she welcomes future guide dogs into her home, giving them a loving start in life. She fosters these pups, providing early training and care before they transition to a specialist centre for the next phase of their journey, eventually finding their forever partner. She said: "Mazey has been a joy to raise. She's bright, affectionate, and already showing signs of being a brilliant guide dog. It's hard not to get attached, but knowing she'll go on to help someone makes it all worth it." Two million people are affected by sight loss in the UK and with the number projected to double by 2050, the work that these dedicated volunteers contribute is invaluable. But let's return to the million-pound question: is this my forever home? Would I stay or would I go? Can you picture me, living in this idyllic £5.5m Cotswold dream, just me and my cat Maggie? All those rooms! The hoovering! I can barely manage my one-bedroom flat. The house is absolutely stunning - but still, I'd take the money and run off into the sunset, giggling all the way.
Wales Online
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
I spent a day in the latest Omaze dream home - a sprawling £5.5m country farmhouse
I spent a day in the latest Omaze dream home - a sprawling £5.5m country farmhouse The Omaze house draw promises not just a luxurious new home, but the chance to become a millionaire overnight - for a little as a tenner Express journalist, Frances Millar, explores the latest Omaze house in the heart of the Cotswolds (Image: Rowan Griffiths / Daily Express ) The nation has been captivated by a multi-million pound house raffle. The Omaze house draw offers not just a plush new abode, but the opportunity to become an overnight millionaire, all for as little as £10. For the first time ever, the Express was given exclusive access – a sneak peek inside the latest grand prize before the new owner steps foot in it. This is the 38th property Omaze has offered in its five-year history, and of the previous fortunate winners, many have chosen to sell rather than settle down. Previous properties have ranged from a sleek Cornish cliffside dwelling, a grand Georgian townhouse in central London to a Highlands mansion. This time around, it's a 17th-century farmhouse in the Cotswolds boasting five bedrooms, five bathrooms, two living rooms, a spacious kitchen-diner, a boot room, two utility rooms, a couple of extra rooms, plus a separate guest cottage. It comes mortgage-free, with all stamp duty and legal fees covered, plus a cool £250,000 in cash to help with the bills, reports the Express. Alternatively, an overnight stay at a country pad might scratch the quiet life itch. On Airbnb, there's a Cotswold Manor House, set in its own grounds in a beautiful National Trust Village on the River Thames. It comes with a cool price tag starting from £1,200 a night, but it can fit up to 16 guests, which works out at £75 per person per night. The bespoke kitchen (Image: Rowan Griffiths / Daily Express ) It has six bedrooms (with 11 beds) and five bathrooms, which makes it ideal for a big group gathering. For days out, look to the National Trust. Much of Downton Abbey's 2019 movie and original TV series was filmed in National Trust places, and fans can visit a lot of the locations, for example, Basildon Park is the real-life Grantham House. Back to the Omaze property, journalist Frances Millar was granted exclusive access to the sprawling property. Here's her thoughts on the country pad: With only a few hours to play 'Lady of the Manor', I took the opportunity to have a thorough look around, half-hoping for a minor mishap like a loose door handle to give me a small sense of schadenfreude. However, everything was in perfect condition. The crunching gravel drive leads you to a Cotswold stone farmhouse bathed in honey hues, adorned with wisteria and rambling pink roses, all set within lush cottage garden borders. The only sounds were the birdsong and my own gasps: "Oh my god, it's huge." Covering over 6,000 square feet, this expansive property sits on a generous plot of rolling countryside, complete with a wildflower meadow and an orchard ripe for scrumping when harvest season arrives. Additional features include a large greenhouse, stable blocks, separate garages, and a heated outdoor pool. Inside, the decor is tastefully done, as if lifted straight from the pages of Country Life Magazine. The entrance hall (Image: Rowan Griffiths / Daily Express ) Imagine soothing sage greens, cream, duck egg blues, luxurious soft furnishings paired with flagstone floors and timber beam ceilings. It's the epitome of English countryside glamour, but as a born-and-bred Londoner - and a self-confessed scruffbag - could I see myself living here? I must confess, I found myself pondering: What would that exquisite marble bathroom look like covered in soap scum? And how would this pristine sofa fare under a layer of cat hair? Or the massive custom-made kitchen island strewn with half-drunk cups of tea and unopened post? Under my supervision, it would only take a day or two for it to be cluttered with odds and ends. However, given the size of the property, even I would struggle to make a mess of it. But the garden - now that's where I could truly feel at home. With all that space, I'd go full Good Life - just hand me a spade and call me Barbara. As an avid gardener, I couldn't resist mentally planning it out with an allotment plot, a chicken coop, perhaps even a goat. And that enormous greenhouse - the greenhouse of dreams - would be filled to the brim with citrus trees, tomatoes, cucumbers, aubergines. I might even try growing melons. Oh, the things I'd cultivate. The marble bathroom (Image: Rowan Griffiths / Daily Express ) I could almost envision myself filming a segment for Gardeners' World, trying not to sound too self-satisfied as I explained how I gradually replaced the lawn with a lush herbaceous border to rival Great Dixter. As for the pool, well naturally, I couldn't resist a cheeky swim - the first person to do so. The temperature was, of course, absolutely spot on. That's coming from someone who's a bit of a wimp when it comes to cold water. And it's so private, you could skinny dip without a care in the world if that's your thing. Heck, you could go full Saltburn, blast Murder on the dance floor at full volume, and dance naked, as there's not a neighbour in sight to bat an eyelid. As with every Omaze house raffle, it's all for a good cause. This draw is in partnership with Guide Dogs UK, and the charity will receive at least £1 million, potentially much more depending on ticket sales, which will fund 675 puppies during their first eight weeks of life and help people with sight loss gain greater independence. During my brief visit, I had the delight of meeting Jean Jordan, who has been volunteering with Guide Dogs UK for an impressive 32 years. She brought along Mazey, an 18-week-old lab-retriever cross, who has just embarked on her guide dog training journey. Jean, hailing from Bristol, helps manage her family's gas engineering business, but in her spare time, she welcomes future guide dogs into her home, giving them a loving start in life. Frances with 18-week-old Mazey (Image: Rowan Griffiths / Daily Express ) She fosters these pups, providing early training and care before they transition to a specialist centre for the next phase of their journey, eventually finding their forever partner. She said: "Mazey has been a joy to raise. She's bright, affectionate, and already showing signs of being a brilliant guide dog. It's hard not to get attached, but knowing she'll go on to help someone makes it all worth it." Two million people are affected by sight loss in the UK and with the number projected to double by 2050, the work that these dedicated volunteers contribute is invaluable. But let's return to the million-pound question: is this my forever home? Would I stay or would I go? Can you picture me, living in this idyllic £5.5m Cotswold dream, just me and my cat Maggie? All those rooms! The hoovering! Article continues below I can barely manage my one-bedroom flat. The house is absolutely stunning - but still, I'd take the money and run off into the sunset, giggling all the way. *You can enter the Omaze house draw until midnight on Monday, 26 May by visiting the website: The winner will be announced on Friday, June 6.
Forbes
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Mother's Day Gift Guide: Best Hotel Gifts
Arev in St Tropez opened recently Arev Estelle Manor, England Estelle Manor is the very exquisite country house hotel and members' club in Oxfordshire created by Sharan Pasricha, who also owns Gleneagles and heads up the Ennismore group. This country house hotel in Oxfordshire has a superbly curated shop. Estelle Manor Opened in 2023, in the Muse, which is curated by his wife Eiesha, has one of the very best hotel boutiques in Britain (although you might also come for the 30,000 square meter Roman-inspired spa, outdoor swimming pool and 60 acres filled with croquet lawns, archery and axe-throwing plus three restaurants and bedrooms that balance heritage with delightful dollops of modernity). This year, Estelle Manor has launched a collaboration with New York-based Lingua Franca, and this hand-stitched Lady of the Manor (£675) cashmere cardigan, generously oversized, will make any mother rightly feel that they rule the roost. Byblos, France A new collaboration for a revered hotel in the South of France comes from Pinel et Pinel Byblos In the 1970s, the hotel Byblos became the motherlode of St Tropez cool and its maintained epic levels of panache since.. Just off Avenue Foch, it mixes a still-legendary nightclub, the Caves du Roy and a particularly nice beach club on the Pampelonne and 88 personality-filled rooms and suites (the hotel is named after the place where Aphrodite and Adonis became lovers and yes, this is a hotel that dispenses romance). This year, as well as a new rooftop Skybar, its shop sees a collaboration with Pinel et Pinel, the very desirable, very discreet Paris-based trunkmaker. The Colette XL tote bag ($2,290) has a canvas exterior but is lined in calfskin, resulting in a casual elegance that is both tres St Tropez and Byblos. Villa d'Este, Italy The Villa d'Este hotel has these stylish shoes for sale FTfoto | Standing sentinel on Lake Como, Villa d'Este is one of Italy's most beautiful and famous hotels, with a guest list that includes royalty, film stars and literary giants, including Mark Twain and Joseph Heller. The Villa d'Este La Boutique also celebrates Italian design. These hand-painted sandals ($352) celebrate the hotel's 16th-century architecture, with a blue suede insole and bring a sense of dolce vita to this Mother's Day. Bequia Beach Hotel, St Vincent & The Grenadines This family-run hotel in the Caribbean produces its own swimwear and coverups Bequia Beach Hotel The island of Bequia is old-style Caribbean, and, owned by the Mortstedt family, Bequia Beach Hotel fits is a perfect fit for this vibe. Perched on Friendship Beach, guests reach it by the hotel's own private plane from Barbados or St Lucia and then just relax at the beach bar, explore the island and relax around its rooms and suites. Bequia Beach Bums was founded by Elinor Mortstedt and draws inspiration from Bequia - swimsuits have built-in UV protection, while the cover-ups (£95) will take you from the pool and beach to sundowners and beyond. Arev, France Paper London has created a clothing collection for Arev in St Tropez Paper London/Arev The Cote d'Azur is having a proper moment at the moment and one of the reasons is this new hotel which brings a new design perspective to the heart of St Tropez. The 35-room hotel, designed by Luis Bustamante, features nautical-themed décor with navy and white stripes and red accents. It has also launched a collaboration with cult London fashion company Paper with three carefully curated capsules: on the padel court, by the pool, and at the bar, including beach wear and sports clothing. Hotel Caruso, A Belmond Hotel, Italy Campania is the third collaboration between Apartamento books and Belmond Hotels Belmond/Apartamento All the Belmond hotels, which in Italy include the revered Hotel Cipriani in Venice and the Splendido in Portofino, are a reflection of their environment, which naturally includes the local cuisine. The Belmond group has started to create a series of travelogues with Apartamento. The third, Campagnia: Recipes & Wanderings Across Italy's Polychromatic Coast (49 euros) features photography by Lea Colombo and classic recipes, including many taken from the kitchens of the Hotel Caruso, previously an 11th-century palace perched on the highest peak of the Amalfi Coast Fife Arms, Scotland The Fife Arms in Braemar works with some of Scotland's finest artisans Sim Canetty-Clarke Some hotels are great at championing local artisans. One particularly strong example is the Fife Arms in Braemar in Scotland. It has partnered with leading silversmith Malcolm Appleby who has a workshop in nearby Aberfeldy. With a career that spans 50 years, he has created a range of jewellery that takes inspiration from the Highland landscape. This bangle (£555) is in fully-hallmarked silver and measures 19 x 2 x 2.5cm and depicts the otters that play in the waters around the hotel. La Reserve Hotel, Switzerland The La Reserve hotels all feature the elephant in their design and some of their gifts Emilien Itim Now encompassing 14 hotels and resorts - primarily in Switzerland but also in France and London, Michel Reybier has joined together a series of hotels that incorporate both grand dames hotels such as Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel and Spa and newer ones, including L'Oscar. All of them have an elephant in their design, thanks to Reybier's vineyard Cos d'Estournel, which has historic links with India. This Silver Elephant Ring Holder ($160.00) is a very appropriate gift for a mother who appreciates the finer things in life.
