Given that it’s a spin-off from Lady Carole Bamford’s smash-hit Daylesford Organic brand, it should come as no surprise that this 18th-century stone-built hostelry is a posh cookie with chichi Country Living features, rustic woodwork and arty design features sitting pretty alongside open fires and real ales. It’s all “uber tasteful”. Food-wise, expect bags of creativity as well a sympathetic approach to organic and free-range produce (many from the Bamfords' Gloucestershire and Staffordshire farms).
Chef Sam Bower has a gilt-edged cv that includes stints at Dormy House, Whatley Manor and The Square and his menu is packed with tasty but simply conceived dishes that allow the ingredients to shine. Kick off with exquisite asparagus, morels and lemon sabayon, before grilled 8oz ribeye steak with hand cut chips and a choice of sauces including béarnaise or chimichurri, and finish wth baked Brillat-Savarin cheesecake with Gariguette strawberries and pistachio.
From the Terrace menu, Caprese salad with Isle of Wight tomato, fior di latte mozzarella and basi or Ortiz sardines straight from the can with toasted sourdough and cornichons, can be followed perhaps by exceptional flatbreads with a choice of toppings that include slow roast lamb with gremolata and grilled peppers, pulled pork shoulder with smoked shallot relish and heritage tomatos or Smoking Brother salmon with pickled cucumber and chive crème fraiche.
The wine list is naturally tilted towards artisan organic producers and not-to-be-missed Léoube (rosé) wines in summer. Happy staff are both efficient and engaging. In short “the quintessential Cotswolds experience”.