In the rolling folds of the Cotswold countryside is this 18th-century coaching inn, polished to perfection by Tania, Adrian and their team. Beautiful fireplaces and gleaming tables, fine china and big sprays of wild flowers tell a tale of comfort and luxury, while the smiling staff are rightly proud of this gem of a pub. You dine like kings and queens in the sparkling bar, or in the clever conversion at the back, overlooking grounds that are part-orchard, part-walled-garden. Try Cotswold chicken breast with slow-cooked chorizo and white bean stew, or a splendid ploughman’s with warm Scotch quail’s egg. For pudding, try the zingy lemon posset, or treacle tart with orange scented milk ice. If you over-indulge, borrow wellies in your size for a bracing walk then back to your beautiful bed above the bar; rooms are sound-proofed and two have double loft beds (up very vertical ladders) for families. Best of all, the generous team has provided indulgent treats: lovely slippers; a nightcap tipple – come prepared to be spoiled.
The uber-cool and sophisticated interior comes as a surprise at this traditional-looking village inn close to Stratford-upon-Avon and The Cotswolds. Owned by Bayliss & Harding, the bathroom products people, it's a beautifully designed and elegant place to stay, with soothing, contemporary rooms (dogs very welcome) and a modern pub menu that champions locally sourced produce.