YHA’s new Cotswold centre designed to please

YHA’s new Cotswold centre designed to please – YHA Cotswolds, a boutique hostel owned by entrepreneurial arts charity, New Brewery Arts, and affiliated with the Youth Hostel Association, has opened in the centre of Cirencester.

Known also as The Barrel Store, due to its original use as the barrel warehouse of Cirencester Brewery, the building has been transformed into versatile and comfortable accommodation with handcrafted furniture and detailing.

It is also the first passivhaus (low carbon footprint building) in Gloucestershire and one of only a handful in the UK.

YHA Cotswolds offers 44 beds across 14 rooms, most of them being en suite, a self-catering kitchen and café and craft shop. It also has free WiFi, is wheelchair accessible and has a cycle store.

Beds costs from just £22 per night and private en suite rooms from just £35 a night.

The price points, combined with the interior design and craft offering means YHA Cotswolds offers exciting new visitor accommodation unique not just to Cirencester and the Cotswolds, but to the UK.

YHA Cotswolds is designed as a base for visiting artists and residencies and for those coming to New Brewery Arts to take part in the hundreds of workshops offered each year. Classes and workshops in a vast array of crafts, including pottery, willow weaving, textiles, painting and drawing and stone-carving, will be available to book as residential short breaks at the Youth Hostel.

It is hoped the combined Youth Hostel and craft concept will open up a new national and international audience to enhance and support the work of New Brewery Arts. The Youth Hostel has been three years in planning and has cost more than £1.1million, attracting funding from a number of sources including Arts Council England. Its location is perfect for exploring Cirencester and the Cotswolds.

Caroline White, Chief Executive of YHA (England and Wales), said: “I am delighted to welcome YHA Cotswolds onboard and into the YHA network of world class accommodation. By providing much-needed affordable accommodation in Cirencester, YHA Cotswolds will enable us to make this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty accessible to many more young people and their families.”

To book a stay at YHA Cotswolds visit www.yha.org.uk or call 0800 285 657181.