Tucked away in a 1920s house on a residential street in Penarth, about five miles from the centre of Cardiff, Holm House is popularwith celebrities who have concerts in Cardiff – Madonna, Kylie Minogue, and Boyzone have all stayed here.
Holme House has an Art Deco bar with 1930s-style seats and a very good restaurant.
The dozen rooms are individually designed, some with views across a neat garden towards the Bristol Channel. When we visited we stayed in the Bron y Glyn and room. It had a bright, upbeat Art Deco style. A purple suede chaise lounge faced a Bang & Olufsen television, with a pink armchair to one side, next to a film set-style lamp. The wallpaper had a striking coral and oriental fan pattern. Up a couple of steps to the left of the entrance was an elegant four-poster, at the end of which was a sparkling copper bath tub in front of a bay window. The smallish bathroom had Aromatherapy Associates products and a walk-in charcoal-grey tiled shower. Everything felt understated, yet somehow just so.
We say: Fabulous and glamorous. You can see why so many pop stars like it.
Holm House (holmhouse.com, 029-2070 1572), Marine Parade, Penarth, Vale of Glamorgan CF64 3BG.
B&B doubles from £100, suites from £250. Three courses from £25.