Brettargh Holt Mansion Sleeping 32 is a distinguished, pet-friendly country house near Levens in Cumbria, set on the fringe of the Lake District National Park and offering an impressive setting for shared stays, complete with bubbling hot tubs, sauna facilities, a gym, two characterful woodburning stoves, and a choice of games rooms.
Dating back to 1871, when it was built as the Brettargh family home and designed by local architect Joseph Bintley, the mansion began life as an elegant Victorian country residence before passing through several notable chapters, including ownership by Sir Charles Walker and a period operating as a hotel, prior to its careful restoration for modern group holidays and events.
Arrival is marked by digitally controlled gates opening onto a long, tree-lined driveway, with the handsome stone frontage and sweeping grounds gradually revealing themselves and setting a strong sense of occasion.
Guests can park with ease in the generous private car park, where EV charging is available, before entering through a dedicated arrival space fitted with a dog wash, boot stand, and coat hooks, ideal for managing walking gear and muddy paws.
A panelled corridor leads through to the entrance lobby, where a plaque shares the history of the house and the warmth of a woodburning stove welcomes you inside, before the full scale of the mansion unfolds at the imperial bifurcated staircase, crowned by a glittering chandelier and framed by a ceiling atrium and patterned Victorian tiled floor.
The ground floor opens into a series of thoughtfully arranged living spaces designed for both sociable moments and relaxed downtime, including a spacious sitting room where guests can gather for conversation, board games, or evenings beneath the TV above the decorative fireplace, with tall windows overlooking the grounds.
Nearby, the snug offers an inviting retreat centred around the second woodburning stove, while the study provides a quieter corner for reading or stepping away from the main social areas.
As the day moves into evening, the bar area near the staircase naturally draws people together, with comfortable seating and a 75” TV, before flowing through to the billiards room and on into the conservatory, where seating for up to 32 guests and doors opening directly to the gardens make it easy for gatherings to move outdoors.
At the heart of the house, the main kitchen quickly becomes a lively hub, with a large central island encouraging guests to sit, chat, and help prepare meals, supported by two of every appliance so several people can cook together with ease.
Dining takes place in the impressive former chapel, now arranged with six large tables for long, sociable meals, while retaining the flexibility to be set out for wedding ceremonies with seating to either side of a central aisle leading to the raised area between the original stained glass windows.
A nearby service area supports drinks and refreshments, and a separate catering kitchen allows professional chefs to work discreetly during larger events.
Evenings can be spent enjoying film nights in the cinema room with its 100” surround-sound screen, or embracing friendly competition in the games rooms, where billiards, shuffleboard, and table football provide plenty of entertainment, with the billiards room standing out for its wall panelling, feature fireplace, 75” TV, and direct access to the conservatory, while a distributed speaker system throughout the main ground-floor rooms sets the atmosphere.
Days can be filled with activity, from workouts in the gym and sessions in the sauna to time spent in the table football room, while outside, the large rear patio offers ample seating for barbecues, outdoor dining, table tennis, garden games, or simply lingering with a drink as the day draws on, before unwinding in the hot tubs or the infrared and coal-heated sauna as the evening cools.
When it’s time to rest, the 15 bedrooms are arranged across the ground and first floors, keeping everyone close to the heart of the house, with accessible ground-floor options near the main living spaces, all featuring en-suite facilities.
Upstairs, spacious bedrooms and a generous family room provide restful retreats, many with built-in wardrobes, seating areas, TVs, and bay windows overlooking the landscaped grounds, while selected rooms feature indulgent bath options including freestanding and claw-foot designs alongside walk-in showers, and the family room with bespoke built-in bunk beds is ideal for younger guests.
Stepping outside at any time allows guests to wander the lawns, gather on patios, or relax beneath the trees without leaving the estate, with covered barbecues, outdoor seating, and open grounds encouraging time together.
Beyond the gates, the renowned topiary and gardens of Levens Hall, the historic rooms and parkland of Sizergh Castle, and the waterside walks and views around Windermere are all within easy reach before returning to the striking presence of the house.
Brettargh Holt Mansion Sleeping 32 offers a stay defined by scale, heritage, and shared enjoyment, creating a memorable setting for family gatherings, weddings, or corporate events.
Note: If additional space is required during your stay for a larger event, meeting, or wedding, The Garden Pavilion, a separate purpose-built events venue within the estate grounds with a capacity of up to 250 guests, will be available to hire from January 2027 and features its own parking, entrance, reception area, function suite, bar, washrooms, covered terrace, and catering kitchen, with further details available from the property owners.