Beautiful 1000 sq ft barn 10mins from Winchester

*** SEE COVID NOTE BELOW*** A beautifully renovated 1000 sq ft barn, perfect for couples, friends or families, nestled at the heart of one of Hampshire's most picturesque villages, 10 mins from Winchester and 75 mins from Waterloo. Your hosts Lisa and Josh welcome you to The Post Barn, formerly the annexe of the village post office, now restored for those who wish to walk, run or cycle in the surrounding countryside...or enjoy all that Winchester has to offer. The Post Barn is split across 2 open-plan floors. On the ground floor you will find a lounge space, large dining table, kitchen (with fridge freezer, microwave, induction hobs, slow cooker (upon request), kettle, toaster and Nespresso machine), rainfall shower room and w/c with wash basin, all enjoying underfloor heating. Upstairs the space is open-plan and divided into 3 distinct areas by wooden beams. Area 1 features king size bed. Area 2 features a single sofa bed, chest of drawers and clothes rail. Area 3 features 2 refurbished Victorian 'Harry Potter' single beds (perfect for kids or adults). Area 3 can be closed off by a curtain. Note: we refer to upstairs as having 3 bedrooms but please understand these are not separated by walls, just the beams (see photos). All bed linen and towels are provided. The walls are adorned with art work by local artists. This art is available to buy and changes regularly, often with the output of regular Artist in Residence barn-stays run by the hosts. The Post Barn has its own private garden area complete with outdoor table and chairs, charcoal BBQ, fire pit and log store. This garden is fenced off from the garden next door, offering complete privacy. Cyclists are very welcome, there is a bike shed available for those wishing to store bikes. The Post Barn sits immediately off Woodman Lane and shares a driveway with The Post House, home of your hosts, immediately next door. Guests have full use of The Post Barn and the private garden. The driveway is shared with your hosts, who live immediately next door. Your hosts will be available next door or on the phone to help with all your needs, whether its walking or cycling routes, recommendations for local restaurants or places to go for a great day out locally. The Post Barn is separated from Woodman Lane by the village shop, formerly The Well House, rumoured to be the smallest Post Office in the country! In the shop you will find a wide range of local fare including bread, cheese, sausages, bacon, eggs, soft drinks, snacks and sweets. Just across the road is St Stephens Church, one of the most quintessentially English churches you will find. Our lovely local pub, The Plough (just 500 yards walk down the road) has recently been refurbished and has a great menu for lunch and dinner. Winchester is less than a 10 minute drive away (£10 taxi ride), or a 45 minute walk through the countryside, for those wishing to soak in the sights and sounds of Hampshire's glorious rural landscape. This beautiful city, regularly the winner of 'best place to live in England' awards, is steeped in history and home to Winchester Cathedral, Winchester College, Winchester School of Art, a high street lined with premium shopping and food markets and a wide range of chain and independent restaurants and bars. Being located in the heart of southern England, The Post Barn is also the perfect base for you to visit locations such as the New Forest (30mins drive), Stonehenge (40mins drive), the beach (40mins drive), Isle of Wight (via ferry), Oxford (50 mins drive), London (50mins train), the Cotswolds (1hr 15mins drive) and Bath (1hr 30mins drive). The hosts, who have lived in Winchester for 10 years, will be happy to help you with any recommendations during your stay, please just ask. Sparsholt is a 10 minute drive or taxi ride from Winchester centre and train station. Buses run hourly between Winchester and the village, with a bus stop immediately outside The Post Barn. *** EXTRA-SPECIAL COVID CARE*** As a family, we have taken – and continue to take - Covid very seriously. We want you to be able to relax when staying at The Post Barn, in the comfort that you are in a clean and socially-distanced environment. Normally, we welcome our guests face-to-face with a quick personal tour. Now, you are able to pick up your key from a lock box and are left to familiarise yourself with the barn, with the help of a detailed welcome note. We are always a text message away if you have any needs or questions. During lockdown, The Post Barn was given a deep clean, ready for re-opening. Prior to your arrival, The Post Barn will be thoroughly sanitised by a cleaner wearing PPE, using approved products, with extra time allowed in between guests to facilitate this process. Additional cleaning products will also be available for you to use should you so wish. Books, magazines, games, and non-essential soft furnishings such as blankets will also be removed. These will also have been disinfected so if you want them, just ask and we’ll drop them round. Certain parts of Winchester are coming out of lockdown, in line with government guidelines and the rest of the country. A number of restaurants are offering pick-up or delivery service. In recent weeks we have enjoyed sourdough pizza on the Cathedral lawns, Bento Box takeaways and home-delivered curries from one of the many Indian restaurants. Cafés are serving coffees, cakes and ice-creams in Winchester and the surrounding towns and villages, from Stockbridge to Alresford and everywhere in between. And how can we forget the village shop next door, which has had something of a renaissance during these difficult months! Fresh fruit and veg, bread and cakes from local bakeries and fresh sausages and bacon from local butchers are all up for grabs each day, literally 20 steps from The Post Barn’s front door (on occasion we’ve found ourselves there in our pyjamas grabbing some milk, eggs and bacon). The Post Barn has always enjoyed relative isolation. Sparsholt itself is quiet. The surrounding forests, farms, tracks and lanes are not only beautifully tranquil, but no more than a few minutes by foot away. Go for a walk, run, bike ride, or even a horse ride, and you’ll see a few other friendly faces, but everyone has the space to give each other space and respectfully does so. If you’re looking for a change of scenery and the freedom to relax and enjoy the fresh air, you will not be disappointed. In fact, during lockdown, as a family we have fallen in love with the world on our doorstep all over again. We welcome you here and we’re sure you’ll love it, as our previous guests have. *** END OF COVID NOTE***