House-party haven in the Brecon Beacons

Tall John’s House B&B offers luxury accommodation for parties small and large: comfortable with four and equally happy with twenty, it’s a magnificent mansion overlooking Wales’ most beautiful landscapes, a rare opportunity to combine Georgian comforts in the midst of natural beauty. It’s unusual as a B&B in that it doesn’t encourage single visitors or even a couple travelling alone: it takes more than that to make this house ‘sing’ and bookings are generally for four or more. Having said that, it’s generally pretty booked out between April and October – especially at weekends, when it’s a popular wedding venue.

Prime accommodation at Tall John’s House is in the main house, where there are five guest bedrooms: three have views to the Black Mountains while the other two look out over the Victorian walled garden. All rooms are elegant, light and spacious with large Georgian windows and are beautifully furnished in country-house style. Each has its own recently renovated, large and well-equipped bathroom; one has a large walk-in power shower, three have power showers over the bath and one has a tub and separate walk-in shower. Two of the bedrooms have superking beds that can be split to make twins and the other three bedrooms have king-sized beds.

Further accommodation is in the converted stables, a few yards across the lawn from the main house, which has five double and single bedrooms, all with ensuite bathrooms, except for a separate double and single bedroom on the ground floor that share a bathroom. All rooms have plenty of large, fluffy towels and a range of soap, shampoos and shower gels, and there’s wifi throughout.

Guests are not confined to their rooms: the house has a large hall and drawing room that lead into a library with television, all with woodburning stoves,  and there’s a games room slightly apart from the main house with billiards and ping pong – perfect for teens. There’s even a bar, though as Tall John’s House isn’t licensed you’ll need to stock it yourself. Outside the grounds are extensive, with a walled Victorian garden with a rose bower, stepover apples and silver birch circle, endless lawns for croquet, and the Brecon Beacons on every side. Walks, in every direction, are from the door and there’s grazing available for any visiting horses. The Brecon Beacons are a ‘Dark Sky’ reserve, so on clear nights the sky takes centre stage.

Breakfast is a daily highlight: cooked to order and served around a communal table in the dining room. Special diets are catered for and there’s usually a little extra to add a finishing touch to your meal. There’s a resident chef at Tall John’s House, making it easy to organise two – or three – course evening meals, glorious celebrations of local ingredients served with taste and style.

Tall John’s House was originally built to celebrate the 1588 defeat of the Spanish Armada. The naval connection continued when, in the 19th century, it was comprehensively updated by Admiral Hamilton, thought to be the role model for ‘Master and Commander”, though so far without benefitting from electricity or very much plumbing. In the 1950’s it was further updated by another naval grandee, this time Admiral Watson. It remains in the Watson family who have since added all the sophistication of the 21st century while retaining the character the manor has built over 600 years.

Preview the property by watching a 2017 edition of Channel 4’s ‘Four in a Bed’, the competition that pits rival B&Bs against each other. Despite being in its first year of operation as a B&B (it had previously been a language school) Tall John’s House did, of course, win. Watch it here.

Tall John’s House B&B suggests:

Couples travelling alone – or with dogs – are welcome to stay at the Coachman’s Cottage that offers spacious and self-contained accommodation within the grounds. Though it’s let on a self-catering basis you can book a breakfast kit or evening meal, home-cooked for you to heat and serve. This semi-catering service is also available at Honeysuckle Cottage, a 3/4 bedroom property with its own paved courtyard that suits parties of up to eight.