The most welcome new addition to the Cotswolds, the lovely Bull in Charlbury was recently opened by the team of The Pelican in Notting Hill. We ordered nearly everything on the menu. The oysters were perfect (and reasonably priced for this part of the world), moist soda bread with seaweed and butter was a surprising highlight. We swooned over a giant pile of local wild mushrooms roasted in garlic and parsley butter with torn bread. Seasonal green beans and tomatoes found themselves in a delicious tangle on the plate before ending with a perfectly cooked leg of lamb and a tender lobster dish with kale and bisque. The restaurant boasts a pretty garden with exciting open-fire cooking, the service was excellent to boot. It's a short walk from the Charlbury train station and has five rooms, making it an easy Cotswold outing from London.
Address: Sheep St, Charlbury, Chipping Norton OX7 3RR
What to order: wild mushrooms with garlic and parsley, lobster with kale and bisque
Here in the countryside, there is a stunning lack of diversity in food offerings and the few options that are available are not great. Gloucester is not glamorous – but when our tastebuds are fatigued and our weary souls can’t possibly bear another pub, we make the pilgrimage to Hilltop House, a no-frills Hong Kong-style dim sum restaurant. Our favourite dishes are the rice noodle rolls with king prawns, their “Hilltop” roast duck expertly butchered and laid in a rich brothy sauce, and glutinous rice in lotus leaf parcels filled with tender pork are dreamy. This is authentic cooking, it’s all freshly made in-house, down to the dumplings, and can absolutely hold its own against any big city Dim Sum restaurant.
Address: 157 Southgate St, Gloucester GL1 1XE | 01452 550152
What to order: rice noodle rolls with king prawns, roast duck
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The Ox Barn, located in the luxurious country retreat Thyme (one of the best hotels in the Cotswolds, hands down) is housed in an airy barn conversion with a gorgeous open kitchen, from which Charlie Hibbert serves up refined but uncomplicated food. On our first visit, we relished a braised beef dish with anchovies (still thinking about it) and outrageously crunchy, tender roasted potatoes. Most of the vegetables that are featured on the menu are grown organically on the property. Whilst you’re there, take advantage of “The Baa”, housed in the adjacent former lambing shed, with its Lalanne-esque sheep, botanical cocktails and nibbles. If you’re making a weekend of it, treat yourself to the spa and enjoy the stunning grounds.
Address: Southrop School, Southrop, Lechlade GL7 3PW
What to order: braised beef with anchovies
If you find yourself antiquing in Tetbury (and you should!), head a few miles down the road to The Rectory Hotel in Malmesbury for lunch or dinner. The menu is familiar, seasonal and thoughtfully executed. Cornish lobster ravioli with wilted spinach and honey-roasted duck with grains and quince are current menu highlights, as are the stiff cocktails served at the bar. The glasshouse is very pleasant in the summer, while the dining room with its roaring fire is the perfect place to warm up on colder nights.
Address: Crudwell, Wiltshire SN16 9EP
What to order: lobster ravioli, honey-roasted duck
The Double Red Duke, Bampton, Oxfordshire
A coaching inn since the 16th-century, The Double Red Duke has since been totally transformed into an upscale countryside haven by hotelier and designer Georgina Pearman. With a seasonal, locally sourced menu sure to impress even the most choosy of gastronomes (large parties can even pre-order a whole suckling pig, spit-roasted!). With its delicious food accompanied by an expansive wine list and cocktail menu, an evening at The Double Red Duke is certain to go down well. For those aching for a weekend away, stay overnight in one of the gorgeous rooms; upon waking, enjoy a hearty country breakfast before toddling over to the shepherd's hut-turned-spa for a well-deserved massage. Head out on a walk along one of the many trails around the inn before returning to the pub for a bite and tipple. Repeat until you see fit. – Antonia Bentel
Address: Bourton Rd, Clanfield, Bampton OX18 2RB; countrycreatures.com/double-red-duke
What to order: Get something that's been on the coals, like a porterhouse
The Straw Kitchen, Whichford
Nestled in an old barn at Whichford Pottery – where they’ve been making gorgeous terracotta flower pots by hand since the 70s – is The Straw Kitchen, a sustainable, ethically-focused café offering something happily different. From curries and tacos to delicious flatbreads, lots of fresh colourful veggies are served up in this pretty, cheerful place. A favourite for brunch, do check the opening times prior to visiting.
Address: Whichford Pottery, Whichford, Warwickshire CV36 5PG
What to order: curries and tacos
The Cellar, Stow-on-the-Wold
Many visitors ask us where they can go to have a nice bite in Stow – this is the answer. This tiny bottle shop-cum-wine bar in the centre of our village, in the prettiest of buildings, serves very simple, but very tasty small plates. We love the marinated courgette with romesco, leeks vinaigrette, giant judion beans with lemon, and burrata with tomatoes and peaches. Go a little heavier with rillettes or a rustic terrine with focaccia. The nibbles are best accompanied by a fabulous glass of natural wine. Mike, the chef patron, is an unpretentious master sommelier and always finds the perfect bottle.
Address: St Edwards Café, The Square, Stow-on-the-Wold, Cheltenham GL54 1AB
What to order: marinated courgette with romesco, burrata
The Lakes Bar & Kitchen, Lechlade
Grab a sundowner by the lakes after an idyllic walk around The Lakes by Yoo's 850-acre estate (or an afternoon spent at the spa). The all-day menu features classics like beer-battered fish and chips, burgers, stone-baked pizzas and Sunday roasts as well as innovative and veggie-forward dishes too.
Address: The Lakes by YOO, Coln Park, Nr Lechlade, GL7 3DT
What to order:
Andrew and Jess run D'Ambrosi Fine Foods in Stow-on-the-Wold, a refined culinary concept that provides restaurant-quality food-to-go, as well as a curated selection of wines, liquors, homemade candles, and flowers. They are committed to using local, responsibly sourced, sustainable food to develop their exceptional dishes.
D'Ambrosi Fine Foods: dambrosi.co.uk
Next, why not try:
The best hotels in the Cotswolds, from grand manors to tiny inns
The best cottages, estates and Airbnbs to rent in the Cotswolds
