Podsmead Road

Podsmead Road is a large group house in Gloucester with a games room: a stylish five-bedroom home that sleeps twelve over three floors, with three bathrooms, a big garden with a rope swing, and parking on the drive. Gloucester Quays is about twenty-four minutes' walk, Cheltenham Racecourse under half an hour's drive, dogs are welcome, and you can book it direct with us right here.

The house at a glance

• Sleeps 12 in 5 bedrooms, plus a sofa bed
• 3 bathrooms: a family bathroom with a large bath and en suite shower rooms for Bedrooms 1 and 5
• A games room with table football and a Street Fighter arcade machine
• A lounge with plenty of sofas and a large TV, and a dining room that seats everyone
• A big kitchen with a breakfast bar and pans for a crowd
• A large garden with a rope swing and outdoor seating
• Dogs welcome
• Driveway parking for two or three cars, plus free parking on the street
• Self check-in from 4 pm to 9 pm, check-out by 11 am

A house built for big groups

Getting twelve people under one roof without anyone feeling squeezed is the whole point of this house, and guests say it delivers: large, beautifully decorated rooms, a lounge and dining room that fit the entire group at once, and bedrooms with space to spread out. It has hosted friends' weekends, multi-family catch-ups, birthday celebrations, wedding parties getting ready for the big day, race-goers heading to Cheltenham and work teams on projects across Gloucestershire and the Cotswolds, and plenty of them have booked again.

Bedrooms and bathrooms

Bedroom 1: a king-size bed.

Bedroom 2: a double bed.

Bedroom 3: two single beds.

Bedroom 4: two single beds.

Bedroom 5: three single beds.

Two of the singles can be zipped together into a super king, so tell us when you book if you'd like that, and a sofa bed takes the total up to twelve. The bathrooms are spread out to keep mornings moving: a family bathroom with a large bath, and two en suite shower rooms. Beds are made up with fresh hotel-quality linen before you arrive, with towels and toiletries for everyone, spare pillows and blankets, and room-darkening blinds.

The games room

The games room is where the evenings get competitive. There's a table football table and a Street Fighter arcade machine, and guests of every age end up in there: one group wrote that the kids loved the foosball and the arcade machine, another that the adults loved the games room as much as the children loved the swing. Board games and children's toys are in the house too.

Kitchen and dining

The kitchen is set up for cooking for a crowd, with big pans and, as one guest happily pointed out, knives that are actually sharp. There's an oven and hob, microwave, fridge and freezer, dishwasher, kettle, toaster and a coffee maker, a breakfast bar for the early risers, and a separate dining room where all twelve of you can sit down together. The washing machine and tumble dryer are in a utility room at the back, and there's an iron and a desk with Wi-Fi.

The garden

Outside, the big garden gives everyone room to breathe, with outdoor seating and a rope swing that children make a beeline for. Dogs are welcome, and there's a park a short walk away for longer outings.

Where you are in Gloucester

Podsmead is a residential area south of the city centre, with local shops and a park within easy walking distance. Walking times: Gloucester Quays, with its outlet shopping, bars and restaurants, about 24 minutes; the historic docks about 31; and Robinswood Hill, with views across the city, about 33. By car, Gloucester station is about 6 minutes away, the cathedral and Gloucestershire Royal Hospital about 7, Kingsholm Stadium 8 and Gloucester Business Park 12. Cheltenham's Promenade is around 19 minutes' drive, Cheltenham Racecourse about 26, and the Cotswold villages are easy to reach for days out.

Parking, arrival and departure

The driveway in front of the house takes two or three cars, depending on their size, and there's free parking on the street for any more. Check-in is self check-in with a lockbox by the front door, any time between 4 pm and 9 pm, and check-out is by 11 am. We send everything you need before you arrive, and our local team is on hand by message every day from 8 am to 8 pm.

Worth knowing

With three showers in use at the same moment, the water pressure drops, so it's worth staggering showers on a busy morning. It's a big house, so on a cold day give the heating a little time to warm every room.

Good to know before you book

• Arrivals from 4 pm, last check-in 9 pm, by lockbox; leave by 11 am
• We can't offer late arrivals after 9 pm
• All five bedrooms and the three bathrooms are upstairs
• Up to three dogs; a pet fee applies
• The garden fencing isn't fully dog-proof, so please keep an eye on dogs outside
• Two or three cars on the drive, and free street parking
• No cot available; bring a travel cot
• No parties or events, and no smoking
• After booking, the lead guest completes a short ID check and deposit step with our partner SafeGuest

Questions guests ask

• How many people does it sleep? Up to 12, in five bedrooms plus a sofa bed.
• Is there parking? Yes, two or three cars on the drive and free parking on the street.
• Can we bring our dog? Yes, up to three dogs are welcome (a pet fee applies), and there's a park nearby.
• What's in the games room? Table football and a Street Fighter arcade machine.
• How far is Gloucester Quays? About 24 minutes on foot.
• How far is Cheltenham Racecourse? About 26 minutes by car.
• Is it good for a work team? Yes: plenty of beds, a desk, Wi-Fi, laundry and parking.
• What time is check-out? 11 am.
• Can we arrive after 9 pm? Sorry, no: the lockbox check-in window ends at 9 pm, so aim to get here between 4 and 9.
• Are any bedrooms downstairs? No. All five bedrooms and the three bathrooms are upstairs; the lounge, dining room and kitchen are on the ground floor.
• Is there a cot? Not at the moment, so pack a travel cot for a baby.

Booking direct

Booking here is cheaper than booking the same dates through some of the big booking sites, and longer stays are discounted. If you're planning a group trip or a race weekend, email us before you book and we'll see what we can do for you.