A COUPLE have scooped up an award for transforming a 17th century barn near Cirencester into a relaxing retreat.

Claire and Chris Jeffery have won the regional LABC (Local Authority Building Control) Building Excellence Award 2023 for the Best Residential Conversion to a single new home.

The LABC awards are the largest business to business awards in the building control sector in the UK.

The pair received the accolade for transforming a barn on Berry Farm in South Cerney - which has been owned and run by Claire's family for four generations - into a spacious accommodation which sleeps up to 10 people.

Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard: Mr and Mrs Jeffery took over the family farm in 2008 with a vision to restore the farm and its land and open it up to the community.Mr and Mrs Jeffery took over the family farm in 2008 with a vision to restore the farm and its land and open it up to the community. (Image: Claire and Chris Jeffery)
Mr and Mrs Jeffery took over the family farm in 2008 with a vision to restore the farm and its land and open it up to the community. 

Over the last few years they have opened a yoga studio, an events space for weddings and regularly host workshops and supper clubs.

Converting the barn, which was completed last year, was undoubtedly the biggest project of them all. 

Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard: Berry Farm Barn's master suiteBerry Farm Barn's master suite (Image: Claire and Chris Jeffery)

The cosy barn has four bedrooms, a living area with a log burner, three bathrooms, a kitchen and dining area, a barbecue and a hot tub.

The Jefferys said: "As the fourth generation to own and live on Berry Farm, creating a sympathetic but beautiful renovation of our 17th century threshing barn was a big responsibility.

"A project like this is never as straightforward as planned, but we had an incredible team to work with and guide us, and we couldn’t be prouder of the end result.

Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard: The Jefferys say they have restored a beautiful and historic building and breathed new life and a sense of luxury to the barnThe Jefferys say they have restored a beautiful and historic building and breathed new life and a sense of luxury to the barn (Image: Claire and Chris Jeffery)

"We have restored a beautiful and historic building and breathed new life and a sense of luxury to the barn.

"Our aim was to create a modern, relaxing space for guests to retreat and rest, while still retaining the beauty and history of the building - something which a great team helped us to realise in every way that we’d hoped.”

The couple, alongside all the other regional winners, have been invited to the national finals at Grosvenor House Hotel in Park Lane, London on Friday, January 19.