Mr & Mrs Smith

Longshore House

Wales, United Kingdom

A typical stone house in the traditional, cobbled Welsh township of Laugharne – made famous by its favourite resident: Dylan Thomas. Step inside this 18th-century shell and a houseful of high-tech high-design reels you in and hits you between the eyes. The three double bedrooms and three reception rooms blend ancient grace with up-to-the-second style; black painted floorboards lead you through old cottage doors, a heavy glass coffee table crouches before a needs-its-own-postcode inglenook, whilst the eight-seater dining suite nestles under battered old ship timber ceiling beams. Sociable, yet secluded, the result is a combination of party house and total shut-the-world-out shelter – perfect for those looking for a self-catering boutique style house within a quaint, picture-postcard setting.

Need to know

• Rates information One week: £850–£2,200. Short breaks (three-four nights): £480–£950. All midweek and weekend breaks are based on four sharing. All additional guests are charged at £50–£100 a person per break.
• Ideal for Stylish house parties, couples’ getaway breaks, family gatherings and Dylan Thomas fanatics
• Sleeps 6 plus 2 in the attic room
• Property style 18th-century Welsh stone house
• Grounds At the end of a lane in the heart of the township, the house has a south-facing garden overlooked by Laugharne’s Norman castle
• Minimum hire Three nights. Rental starts on Saturdays at 5pm – flexible if no guests are staying beforehand
• Children Welcome. The attic room is great for little ones; there is a plasma TV and Nintendo Wii with games. (There is a fairly steep staircase up to this room, unsuitable for very young children). Note: there is an uncovered pond currently in the garden. More...
• Booking process Smith deposit taken when you book. A 50 per cent deposit is required on bookings made more than three weeks before rental, with full payment 21 days prior to arrival (payment must be made by bank transfer or cheque). Any bookings taken after the three week deadline are to be paid in full.
• Also Bedrooms are non-smoking. Pets are welcome – there’s plenty of open countryside surrounding the property. Midweek, you can occasionally hear take-offs from the military airbase a few miles away.

Floor plan

• The house is spread over four floors: the living room, kitchen, dining room, conservatory and wet room on the ground floor; bedrooms 1 and 2 on the first floor; bedroom 3 and a further bathroom on the second floor; and the attic entertainment room on the third floor.

• Bedrooms

  There are three double bedrooms, and one attic room with a double sofa bed. Bedrooms 1 and 2 are on the first floor. Bedroom three occupies the second floor with a bathroom. Allergy-free bedding can be provided, and bedding is normally lightly spritzed with an organic aromatherapy treatment spray.

  Bedroom 1: The mauve room; a double – and perhaps the most special, with an elevated roll-top bath and sink in the room. Bedroom 2: The green room; a stylish double slightly smaller than bedroom 1, with exposed beams, floorboards and rustic Art Deco décor with a Noughties touch. Bedroom 3: A twin room, with bathroom next door. An Art Deco dressing table, olive and claret colour scheme and heavy glass lamps give this room a luxuriously masculine feel.

• Kitchen

  Fully equipped with double oven, microwave, dishwasher, coffee machine and bean grinder. The kitchen is stocked with the basics; tea, coffee, bread, milk, juice, crisps, fruit and oven-baked Welsh Barabrith cake are all included – as are herbs, spices and oils. In the pantry is an endless supply of complimentary still/sparkling mineral water. For more self-catering supplies, see our ‘Services’ section.

• Living room

  TV with Sky, DVD, CD/WiFi system and a large selection of DVDs. An enormous up-lit (and working) inglenook fireplace provides a roaring winter fire, while exposed beams stretch across soft brown leather sofas adorned with sleep-inducing cushions and throws.

• Dining room

  Dining chairs huddle around a table that seats six (eight when extended) under a black chandelier lampshade. Doors open onto a suntrap conservatory.

• Gardens

  A limestone floor conservatory opens out onto a manicured garden in the shadow of Laugharne Castle, with plenty of space to throw a barbecue. The garden is south-facing, with sun loungers and a dining area that seats six.

• Private parking

  There is parking at both the front and the rear of the property to accommodate two cars.

• Other

  Longshore House is set in the beating heart of Laugharne. Turn right out of the gate at the end of the garden – you’re a 30 second walk past the bubbling brook to all the pubs, cafes and restaurants on the square.