This picture-postcard patch of the country is certainly no stranger to a good pub. After a winding ramble over the hills, we can’t imagine anything better than a well-deserved feast in one of the best pubs in the Cotswolds. It might be a tad overwhelming when most of them share somewhat similar monikers (The Swan, The Bull, The Bell… the list goes on), and each village quickly blends into the next, but we’ve done the hard work and rounded up the very best pubs you need to visit below.
The Double Red Duke, Clanfield
Straddling the border of the Cotswolds, The Double Red Duke is a 17th-century tavern turned upscale restaurant with rooms. Chug down on pints underneath the candy-striped parasols, or sprawl out among the various spaces that unfold inside, from the snug wooden booths by the fire to the leafy, light-filled Orangery. Although best known for their hefty steaks, the menu here still has heaps of vegetarian offerings, from delica pumpkin with harissa yoghurt to warming mushroom and celeriac pie. Too full to make the journey home? Simply roll yourself to one of the stylish bedrooms upstairs, waking up to a generous fry-up the next morning.
Address: The Double Red Duke, Bourton Road, Clanfield, Bampton OX18 2RB
Website: countrycreatures.com
The Bull Charlbury
The Bull, Charlbury
A Cotswold transplant by the same minds behind Notting Hill favourite The Pelican, The Bull made somewhat of a splash when it opened its doors in quaint Charlbury last summer and has quickly amassed a loyal following of chi-chi countryphiles. More posh pub than country boozer, expect glossy mahogany booths to curl up in and a spacious beer garden to spill into during the summer months. Wood-fired meats cooked whole on the grill, sharing plates of the freshest seasonal veg, and indulgent puddings (including The Bull’s take on a classic ‘Mr Whippy’) are some of the standouts on the menu.
Address: The Bull, Sheep Street, Charlbury, Chipping Norton OX7 3RR
Website: thebullcharlbury.com
The Swan at Southrop
Unsurprisingly, the pub outpost of luxury hotel Thyme is far chicer than your average inn. Clad in ivy and with recently renovated interiors, the space is more akin to an elegant restaurant than a village pub: curated artworks frame each room, squashy armchairs have been upholstered with botanically-inspired fabrics, and candy-striped walls are decked out in shades of pistachio. The low-slung ceilings and mismatched furniture still lend the place oodles of character, and guests can chomp on nibbles by the bar and tuck into hearty Sunday roasts while enjoying live music or watching the rugby. With the pub’s menu under the culinary direction of Charlie Hibbert, head chef at Thyme, gourmands are guaranteed a tasty time.
