In this series about the region’s food producers and farmers, Georgia Munro Ford tells Karen Perugini from the Romsey office of the law firm Thrings about a unique romantic getaway
There’s only room for two, the bath is outside, and a deer might peer through the window when you’re taking a shower.
The Granary might be one of the most unusual places around to take a break, but also one of the most tranquil.
This quirky cabin stands in a field among more than 900 acres of working farmland at Headbourne Worthy, near Winchester. It’s only a three-mile walk down a footpath to the city but feels a world away.
The farm has been in Jim Browne’s family since 1900, producing crops like wheat, oats and barley. His father was the first family member to explore other ventures, building a successful golf academy and driving range.
The idea of adding short break accommodation was developed by Jim’s fiancée Georgia Munro Ford, whose background as an estate agent and eye for detail helped make a literal back-of-an-envelope sketch become reality.
“We’d been thinking about this for years but it all finally happened in lockdown,” says Georgia. “We found a great company to work with – I drew a sketch on an old envelope, they built the shell and Jim towed it onto the site on the back of his pickup.”
The cabin includes reclaimed materials from the farm, including tin salvaged from one of the outbuildings. “I think they were worried about me, wandering around the farmyard and wondering what is she going to steal next!”, Georgia laughs.
Features include a heavy hand-moulded concrete worktop made by the couple along with a carefully curated mix of rustic and modern accessories. Georgia even roped in her mum to make the curtains.
The home-grown approach extends to the food hampers given to guests on arrival, with provisions from local suppliers like Winchester Coffee Roasters and eggs from the farm (when the hens oblige). Barbecue or meal-for-two hampers can be ordered from Winchester’s Basil Leaf Deli.
It’s the perfect spot for romance. There’s an outdoor hot tub and a “sundowner” area for an evening drink, where the first paying guest proposed to his girlfriend (she said yes). Georgia and Jim plan to hold their wedding reception on the site.
Reviews so far are overwhelmingly positive – so what do visitors love about this little cabin in the corner of a field?
“It’s the total peace and quiet and the chance to get away from it all,” says Georgia. “We’ve had a lot of couples from London, but we’ve been surprised by how many local people have come. I think they just feel like they’ve had a holiday without all the hassle!”.
Karen Perugini is a senior associate in the Private Client team in the Romsey office of the law firm Thrings.
