Padiham in Lancashire was #TeamCoco UK travel writer, Rachel McAlley’s recent staycation destination for a relaxing night away from home with her bestie.
Lancashire is an excellent location as it’s nestled perfectly between North and West Yorkshire, Merseyside and Cumbria, plus it’s on the doorstep of Greater Manchester, and it’s such an easy destination to drive to. Not only does Lancashire provide beautiful countryside and the Ribble Valleys, it also offers West Coast locations of Morecambe and Fleetwood among its seaside resorts.
I arrived in the busy little town of Padiham, and checked in to the lovely privately owned boutique B&B-style hotel by Michael Huckerby, The Lawrence Hotel.
This 19th century hotel, formerly the Trevalyen guesthouse, was renovated in 2017, and is currently undergoing a brand new wing, which will be finished later this year. The hotel was designed to feel like a bespoke experience for guests, created with a luxury yet timeless style, giving guests an escape from home without the hassle of a long drive or train ride. The design-led boutique hotel was inspired by some of the leading hotels in the world but in keeping with features of the original building, with luxurious roll top baths, classic subway tiles in each room, Victorian tiled floors, and beautiful sash windows.
The main house has been completely renovated and now houses one suite, three signature rooms, three superior rooms, and seven snugs. The Tolkien suite is the jewel in this hotel’s crown, with an extravagant floating bathroom created as the centrepiece, the suite sits across two floors and is the ultimate in luxury.
The four different room types all follow The Lawrence’s signature timeless style, and each of the rooms boasts a rainfall shower big enough for two, Nespresso machines, Temple spa bath & shower products, robes & slippers, with a TV & digital radio in each, plus of course the most luxurious double bed. Room service is available and includes a selection of home favourites and comfort food.
Michael, the hotelier is passionate about creating a bespoke experience for guests staying at The Lawrence, leaving sweet treats for visitors and offering an in-house therapist who provides relaxation treatments in guests’ rooms.
The hotel does offer some excellent in-house spa treatments (if booked prior to arrival) and has an on-site restaurant too and it’s certainly perfect for those who still need all the daily mod-cons of things like Alexa, Wi-fi and Netflix.
There is a funky reception desk made entirely of well-travelled suitcases, a unique snug with leather sofas and chairs for winding down at the end of a busy day shopping or sightseeing, board-games galore if you don’t fancy Netflix, and a gorgeously quaint restaurant serving seasonal food and local produce. A great place to spend an evening!
We watched a little TV before heading out to a local restaurant as
The Lawrence Hotel had a private event on the evening we stayed, so we opted to drive to a local well-known rising Michelin restaurant.
Back at The Lawrence post-dinner there were homemade brownies in our room with fresh milk to enjoy a cuppa while watching TV in bed. A really nice little touch!
Morning time was obviously all about a delicious breakfast, which we had pre-ordered before our visit, meaning that we were already excited about what was going to come. There were the usual offerings of juice, pastries, fruit, toast and yoghurt to help yourself to in the restaurant, and for those in a rush you could pick up your continental breakfast to go.
I opted for smoked salmon and scrambled eggs on toast, and my bestie chose a full English, which I have to say caused a little food envy on my part – those locally sourced sausages looked delish!
After filling our bellies, and having a lovely chat with the owner Michael we headed back to our super luxe comfy room, packed our overnight bags, and both said a fond farewell to the exceptionally comfy bed. After checking out we took to the roads of Lancashire, one of us heading to Greater Manchester and the other to Yorkshire. It was a wonderful night seeing my bestie, visiting Padiham in South East Lancashire, and experiencing The Lawrence Hotel.
Rooms start at £79, and free upgrades are always offered when available, which makes this little boutique establishment well worth the money. Visit www.thelawrencehotel.co.uk for more info.
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