The Barley Loft

Set in the heart of the historic town of Alnwick, The Barley Loft is one of the most prized apartments in The Malthouse, the sensitively restored 19^th-century Alnwick brewery and distillery. With a secure entrance set in the striking glass atrium, Barley Loft pairs the building’s original steel beams and stanchions with sleek contemporary interiors and striking mid-century furniture.

Channelling loft-style chic, The Barley Loft comprises a sleek open-plan kitchen and living area with large windows affording triple-aspect views over the rooftops of Alnwick to the castle. One of the two king-size bedrooms features an ensuite bathroom with a large walk-in shower while the other benefits from access to a shared bathroom with a bath and shower over.

Finished to an impressively high standard, Barley Loft's contemporary design credentials are set against the thick stone walls and cast iron columns of the original building, keeping its connection with the past very much alive. Furthermore, the apartment places the many historical highlights of Alnwick within a ten-minute stroll or less away.

Amongst these is the town’s best-known attraction, the 11^th-century Alnwick Castle and Garden, recognised across the globe as the set of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry in the Harry Potter films. Potter fan or not, a visit to the UK’s second largest inhabited castle rewards richly with its opulent Italianate State Rooms and fine and decorative art collections, while the acclaimed Alnwick Garden contains 4,000 different plants, the impressive Grand Cascade waterfall and the world’s largest collection of Japanese Taihaku cherry blossoms. The Garden is also home to the fairylight-bestrewn Alnwick Treehouse restaurant and new Lilidorei magical play village, both of which will delight young and old visitors alike.

It is entirely possible to spend a day or two exploring Alnwick Castle and Garden before even contemplating the many other attractions of the medieval town. Yet these are well worth delving into, notably the Bailiffgate Museum & Gallery, celebrated Barter Books bookshop, leafy Hulne Park and weekly Alnwick market.

While you won’t need a car to explore Alnwick, The Barley Loft does offer private parking, a welcome bonus in the bustling town. A car is also your ticket to capitalising on Alnwick’s setting just inland of the beautiful 20-mile stretch of AONB Northumberland Heritage coastline: the picturesque coastal town of Alnmouth lies just 5 miles from the apartment while Bamburgh Castle is a half-hour drive north along the coast, with Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve ten minutes further along. The rugged heather-capped Cheviot Hills lie to the west, with their hiking and biking trails, waterfalls and historic churches and houses.