A BED-and-breakfast on the countryside close to the Malvern Hills has been named the best in the UK by a national newspaper.

The Bull Shed, at Mill Lane, Old Colwall, has been included in the new edition of the Sunday Times Best Places to Stay, to be published this weekend.

The business has won the accolade despite having been open less than a year.

Amanda Burningham, who runs the business with husband Lee Jay, said: “We are over the moon to receive this incredible accolade in our first year.

"Lee Jay and I are passionate about great food, wine and beautiful surroundings and have always dreamed about running our own business where we can provide people with memorable experiences together - now we are making that dream a reality which is hugely exciting.

"Since we launched in the spring, we’ve welcomed wonderful people, have worked with incredible local producers who we are looking forward to working with to offer guests a range of food and lifestyle activities in the new year."

The newspaper's reviewers look for bed-and-breakfasts that are homes-away-from-home and go big on personality, quirky details and excellent hospitality.

According to the Sunday Times: "The Bull Shed does all three. The 150-year-old barn has been transformed into a Soho House-cool chillout zone, and with top-notch food.

"How do you fancy breakfast cooked by a former Masterchef quarter-finalist, Amanda Burningham? The Full Bull, as it’s lovingly referred to, includes locally smoked bacon, elderflower-infused pork sausages, black pudding and Burford Brown eggs. Delicious and food-mile-friendly, it would definitely get the thumbs up from John and Gregg."

Guests clearly feel the same, as all 37 of the Bull Shed's reviews on Tripadvisor award it the maximum five stars.

Stephen Bleach, the newspaper's travel editor, said: "The south-west has always led the field in terms of places to stay and it hasn't disappointed this year. Its hoteliers know exactly what we want from a holiday now: informal luxury, excellent local food and an authentic sense of place."