_Bottoms up: Four of the best homes in former pubs
Many of the UK's historic pubs and coaching inns make for intriguing homes; architecturally and culturally significant they are crammed with period features and interesting layouts make for great conversation starters.
If only the stone walls could talk, they'd spin a yarn about secret nooks, meeting places for highwaymen, plotting failed revolutions and mead-fulled brawls.
Raise a glass to three of the best homes in former pubs currently on the market through Knight Frank.
Grade II* listed former inn in Kingswood, near Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire
Sitting in the centre of the historic village of Kingswood, New Inn House is a fascinating medieval property with origins dating back to the late 15th century - it is consequently packed to the rafters with character features by bygone eras including huge inglenook fireplaces, moulded beams and etched glass panelling.
The property thought to have originally served as a guesthouse to Kingswood Abbey (now demolished) before becoming an inn and later a private dwelling.
Internally, living accommodation spans two floors and extends just over 3,000 square feet with extensive attic space should ancillary space be needed for a growing family. New owners might be interested in reverting the property back to its original incarnation - a compact guesthouse or seasonal Airbnb rental for additional income.
For those needing to work from home, double doors provide access from the road into a large single garage/workshop with a flagstone floor and it could be converted into a handy home office.
To the rear of the house there are two interconnecting small courtyards with water features - both offering complete privacy.
The village of Kingswood is fringed by wonderful Gloucestershire countryside and is 1.5 miles from the wonderful market town of Wotton-under-Edge. The closest rail links cna be found at Tetbury ( 11 mile), Gloucester ( 16 miles) and Kemble which offers direct links to London Paddington in under 80 minutes.
Former coaching inn in Broadway, Worcestershire
This former coaching inn - aptly name The Old Coach - has been converted into a modern home with a light-filled kitchen/diner/family forming the heart of this two bedroom cottage.
It’s undergone some updates since its orginial incarnation, but this pretty Cotswold property is packed with original features and would make a comfortable and versatile home that would suit a variety of buyers.
Location couldn't be better - The Old Coach sits in a prime position the Upper High Street in Broadway, a no through road which is a very convenient location to access all of the amenities the village has to offer.
Broadway, with its numerous pubs and restaurants, sits at the foot of the Cotswold escarpment at the southern tip of Worcestershire.
It's surrounded by rolling countryside and green fields, quiet back lanes and footpaths where folk can wander undisturbed, and its broad and busy high street all form part of the unique character that is Broadway.
Shopping for day to day needs are well catered for by the local village shops and more comprehensive facilities can be found at Evesham, Cheltenham and Stratford-upon-Avon.
There is a selection of excellent schools nearby including Chipping Campden School, Cheltenham Girls and Boys, and Malvern Public School.
The popular Cotswolds village of Chipping Campden is a short drive away ( 7 miles) with rail links 9 miles away at Moreton-in-Marsh offering direct trains to London Paddington from 90 minutes.
A Grade II listed, seven bedroom home on Chiswick Mall with riverside views and dating back to the 1700's
Built soon after 1700 (with some foundations dating back to 1600 from a previous building) Grade II* listed Red Lion House has heavyweight historic credentials that will make this a very special property for the right owners.
History records list the property as originally being constructed as a public house linked to the local Chiswick brewery. It now offers seven bedrooms, stunning riverfront views and has a substantial footprint of approximately 5501 sq ft.
A substantial and exacting refurbishment and restoration programme in recent years has extended the property's lease of life by at least another few centuries while updating it with all mod cons for the modern family seeking creature comforts in an age of connectivity and convenience.
All of the rooms here drip with character and charm with a grand living room overlooking the river at the heart of this unique and very rare London home. The winter garden with its exposed timber beams and rustic charm bears many traces of the Red Lion's past and is a great place to be on rainy days.
The basement offers entertaining on a grand scale space and it's here that the property's original roots as a public house are strongest with a substantial wine cave/cellar and plenty of room for late night lock-ins.
In addition to the indoor winter garden is a riverside garden which runs alongside the house up sought after Chiswick Mall - the most coveted address in W4 and beyond.
A Grade II listed, seven bedroom former Hop House in Frensham, Surrey
Believed to date back to the early 18th century, the substantial seven/eight bedroom The Hop House has been beautifully restored to offer every conceivable mod cons which sit cheek-by-jowl with delicious period features such as exposed beams, oak staircase and sash windows offering glimpses into a rich and busy past.
The property is an original Hop House, traditionally used to dry hops from the local fields; well-known architect du jour Richard Norman Shaw was commissioned to design and oversee its conversion to a residential dwelling around 1870.
It has since been extended and remodelled with small disused spaces reconfigured to create much larger rooms, modern appliances such as underfloor heating installed and luxury facilities such as a gym and heated swimming pool
A separate building, situated close to the main house, offers a private office, gym, laundry, kitchen and two WCs. There is also a double height entertainment room.
A two bedroom cottage offers ancillary accommodation for visiting family and friends.
The property sits in an elevated position with a wonderful gravel driveway which provides a grand sense of arriva. The lawns are beautifully manicured and the tiered levels offer great views.
There is also an additional 4.3 acres of land available for sale via separate negotiation
The Hop House sits on the fringes of the popular Surrey village of Frensham ( 1.5 miles), with major rail links to London accessed at nearby Guildford.
Knight Frank markets some of the UK's finest period properties - from former guesthouses to converted taverns and coaching inns. Why not carry out a property search or contact an office near you.