A unique Airbnb experience, offering the opportunity to spend the night in a barn alongside a miniature horse, is available for more than £180 per night. Brittany Sparham, 28, began renting out her barn on the holiday platform near Thurgarton, Nottinghamshire, during the pandemic due to the surge in popularity of staycations.

The rustic property shares a wall with the stables, prompting the owner to create a door so that guests could interact with their equine neighbour, Basil. The barn has now become a hit with animal enthusiasts who wish to spend a night with the 12-year-old miniature Shetland pony.

The holiday rental, situated on the grounds of a 17th-century manor, can be booked for a minimum of two nights starting from £360.

Brittany said: “At first we just had the idea to rent out the outbuilding, as there was a huge surge of people looking for staycations because of Covid. But with Basil’s stable directly next to it, we thought why not do something really unique and open up the doorway between the two rooms, so guests could see Basil.

“It works out well for Basil too, as he always has company and gets lots of fuss and attention. Basil is a very chilled individual. He loves playing out with his friends in the field during the day, but also gets very excited to come into his stable for the night.

“We just open the gate from the field, and he runs right in on his own, he knows he gets lots of attention and all the hay to himself for the night.”

The barn comes equipped with a kitchen, bathroom, double bed and bunk beds, accommodating up to four visitors. Guests can enjoy an open outdoor log fire complete with barbecue grill and an outdoor tiki hut, while taking leisurely walks across the bridge to observe the cows, sheep and horses.

Following social media posts by previous visitors, the stable accommodation has surged in popularity, with Brittany revealing they’re sometimes fully booked a year ahead. While guests cannot feed Basil, grooming tools are provided for brushing him, and they’re welcome to assist with mucking out his stable if desired. The Airbnb listing does caution that sharing accommodation with a horse may involve occasional sounds and odours.

Brittany explained: “It was quite slow going for the first few months, until word got out, but then it’s been really booked up ever since, at some points we’ve been fully booked a year in advance.

“From strangers sometimes it’s mixed reactions, people think it might smell or be too noisy, but everyone who stays loves it. Lots of people have fallen in love with Basil’s cheeky character and come back to stay often, some guests we’ve had return seven or eight times over the years. We’ve had him for over 10 years, since he was just two years old, so he’s a very much loved and well-respected member of our family.”

In the paddocks, they also house a herd of Highland cows, Hebridean sheep, horses, pigs, chickens and Norwegian Forrest cats. Despite one incident of a rogue sheep defecating on the bed, their five-year journey has been mostly smooth.

Brittany said: “We live onsite and keep a close eye on things, so it’s rare to have any issues. But once our rescued pet sheep jumped over into the room and pooed all over the bed just before the guests checked in, so that was a bit of a surprise for all of us. Luckily the guests found it hilarious and we were still there to clean up. But the sheep got banned from sleepovers after that!”