THE Lawrence Hotel - a gem that shines at the foot of Pendle Hill.

Tucked away in the town of Padiham, Lancashire, this boutique establishment stands out as a great example of what a real mix of history and tradition, accompanied by the perks of modern society, can really achieve.

Having only opened in the summer, the hotel boasts 14 deluxe rooms which all have their own individual style and character.

I stayed in the Aya Suit, an incredibly well-furnished duplex room with a bathroom set in the eaves of the grade-II listed building.

It contained a large roll top bath and separate shower cubicle with excess amount of space to move around in.

The water pressure was also superb, with hot water coming from the taps within a matter of seconds.

The Aya suit spares no expense and was the essence of luxury hotel lodging.

There was a hand-held Samsung tablet ready to be perused, an Amazon Echo Dot device which would play any song I wished for from its deep archive.

This was accompanied by a Nespresso coffee machine, a large flat-screen television, a full sweets jar, a radio, free access to Netflix and very fast Wi-fi.

However despite these modern, quality additions, it was the history of the building that really brought the room together.

Giant wooden beams, which have remained in place since the building was erected two-hundred or so years ago, were visible and held up the mezzanine bathroom.

I had fears that the room, which looked out one of the main roads through the town, Church Street, would have been lively at night or during rush hour in the early morning - however that never came into fruition.

My partner and I both sustained great night sleeps on the super king sized bed, with the help of an excellent central heating system to keep us warm and cosey during a cold Autumn evening.

Breakfast, which was ordered the night before so staff could visit a nearby butchers in the morning for fresh goods, was a traditional English breakfast, accompanied with a variety of continental pastries and cereals.

I found there was a great amount of food on my plate, I was full without being bloated and sluggish, perfect for our climb up Pendle Hill later that morning.

We were joined in company by the hotel owner, Michael Huckerby's pet sprocker, Hettie, who sat beside us while we ate.

Hettie did receive a small piece of bacon for good behaviour, we agreed to not tell the owner and she's sure to keep her side of the bargain.

The talented chef who had cooked our breakfast for us, Gill Watson, had previously cooked for the former James Bond actor Pierce Brosnan among many other high profile names, we discovered.

The hotel, which does not serve lunch or dinner, does boast a luxurious common lounge area, filled with large leather sofas and calming lightening and decoration, in keeping with the history of the building.

I can imagine in the summer months, the hotel's private garden area would also be a great place to unwind after a busy day with a glass of wine or beer.

Overall the hotel serves as a fantastic, high quality place to stay, it's a place that has retained its vintage character, but without sacrificing looks over substance.

You can see how a lot of love, care and attention has gone into the £750,000 refurbishment, of what was once the former Trevelyan Guest House.

It's in a perfect spot, a couple of minutes drive from the M65, Gawthorpe Hall, Thompson Park, Boundary Mill and the forest of Bowland.

You've got everything at your fingertips, however you're far enough away to enjoy a quiet, comfortable and very satisfying stay.

Whether you want to escape into the countryside, go on a shopping trip or take in some of East Lancashire's most historic areas, you are right at the heart of it all at The Lawrence Hotel.

I would recommend staying and I will most certainly be heading back there soon.

GETTING THERE:

Prices which may vary on the day of your stay and time of year range from a night in the snug room from £75 to a night in the Aya Suite from £189

The hotel is two miles from junction eight of M65 and parking is available

For details. visit www.thelawrencehotel.co.uk, call 07921 684742 or email hello@thelawrencehotel.co.uk