With the ski season fast approaching, The Old Stocks Inn in Stow on the Wold have created the Cotswolds' only Apres-Ski Bar. 

The bar is open from 3.00pm to 10.00pm (last orders 9.30pm) every day from the 1st December - 3rd January (excluding Christmas Day), unless booked privately.

Wrapping up warm is advisable but there are heaters and blankets. 

Enjoy some continental beers, seasonal drinks and nibbles menu, including mokey pulled pork baps, Bratwurst, soup and Charcuterie, which you can see by clicking the link below.

Apres-ski Bar Menu

T​he bar is also available for private parties from 1-23 December. 

See more about the apres-ski bar here: www.oldstocksinn.com

It was a huge Saturday for Cotswold racehorse trainers today as nine races were won across the cards at Ascot, Haydock and Huntingdon winning a total of £252,772 in prize money!

Nigel Twiston-Davies kept up his incredible form winning the valuable Grade 1 Betfair Chase at Haydock with Bristol De Mai by a monstrous 57 lengths over his nearest rival Cue Card under Daryl Jacob. This was the yard's second winner of the day after Count Meribel won the opener at Ascot. 

Slad based Tom George also notched up a valuable double as 16/1 shot Sir Valentino won the Shawbrook Handicap Chase at Ascot after an earlier success with Clondaw Castle at Huntingdon. 

There was also a double for Clapton on the Hill based Ben Pauling at Haydock and Ascot with Delire D'Estruval and Nestor Park both enjoying close victories. 

​Fergal O'Brien, who shares the Grange Hill Gallops with Nigel Twiston-Davies, continued his good form as Chase The Spud completed a neat round of jumping on heavy ground Betfair Handicap Chase at Haydock under Paddy Brennan. 

There were further victories for Jonjo O'Neill and Kim Bailey at Huntingdon with Compadre and Silver Kayfe both edging victories under Killian Moore and Mike Hamill respectively. 

It seems like I'm reviewing The Tavern all the time, which is true to a point because for the last couple of years it has been searching for the identity that it has seemed to have lost in the last year or so. I'm happy to say, I think it has found it again. 

It's  a year since The Tavern reopened after a fire heavily damaged the pub in May 2016. It was to be the perfect opportunity to rebrand and reinvent both the interior and the menu, and for a time there was a real buzz. The classic dishes of the past were replaced by many different burgers, chicken wings, sides and fries. It worked for a time and was the first diner-like restaurant in the town. The burgers were awesome (especially "The Hog" and "Chili Cheese") as was the chili fries and mac 'n'cheese. But that was it. They were serving food until midnight to try and capture some late night visitors. Again, this worked for a while. 

Fast-forward a year and we have a brand new menu, one which comes with high expectations with former Soho Farmhouse's Ronnie Bonetti who is now the Lucky Onion's Executive Chef and The Tavern's Head Chef James de Jong. 

Gone, are most of the burgers, some of the sides and all of the shakes. You could tell that their days were numbered when a new "undercounter" menu was introduced a couple of months ago. From that we were treated to the devine lamb, roast garlic and mint meatballs (£8) (pictured above) which have found a spot on the seafood-heavy list of starters which includes scallops, clams, tiger prawns (£9.50) (pictured), salt 'n' pepper squid and half a pint of prawns (ask your parents). Two vegetarian salads and a bavette tartare complete the line-up. 

The size of the menu is impressive. There are four steak options including the 32oz Tomahawk, all served with fries and all from West Country cattle and dry aged for a minimum of 30 days. I went for the slow cooked Hereford beef blade off the mains which was beautifully tender and served with the smoothest celeriac puree, carrots and topped with more carrots that sat in ​vinaigrette and served cold with a delightful kick. 

There are seven other main options with lamb rump, monkfish tail, Old Spot pork Milanese, Loch Duart Salmon, Ricotta dumplings and spatchcock poussin all featuring as well as the aforementioned "tavern classics" of burgers, wings, a caesar salad and sides. 

If you had to ask your parents about the half pint of prawns then call them back over to talk you through the pudding menu which screams retro with its truly spectacular Banana Split (£6) (pictured), Sticky toffee ice cream sandwich, Caramel Burnt Cream, Tonka bean panna cotta and a decent selection of ice creams.

The service was very good and there is a bartender eager to create cocktails from the menu and any others that are not on there which is never a bad thing.

The Tavern has found it's mojo again mixing the best of the old and new and creating an outstanding menu while putting itself well and truly back on the ever-growing, and ever-improving, Cheltenham food map.

5 Royal Well Place, Cheltenham, GL50 3DN
01242 221212
theluckyonion.com/property/the-tavern

The Ivy Montpellier Brasserie in Cheltenham will officially open its doors on Wednesday 13th December 2017. 

Bookings for the restaurant will go live to the general public at at 10am tomorrow morning (Thursday 16th November 2017) but readers of The Cotswolds Gentleman can secure their spot now by clicking HERE! 

The thing about growing old is that you have to give up certain things as adults, but that is all about to change at The Fish Hotel in Broadway with the arrival of three spectacular treehouses. 

Due for completion in Spring 2018, each of these 50 sq m awesome retreats have been designed around the foot of an oak tree and include a ensuite bathrooms, a wood-burning stove, underfloor heating, an outdoor bath and importantly, a remarkably well stocked minibar. 

Each treehouse is tailor-made for back-to-nature romantic seclusion as well as perfectly suited to forest-loving families with a taste for luxury as they can ​accommodate up to five people in one double, two twins and a sofa bed. One will be dog friendly too so you enjoy this woodland adventure with the whole family!

Keep an eye on The Fish Hotel's Instagram which will have as-it-happens updates and contact
​www.thefishhotel.co.uk for more information.

Two years ago we set out on a mission to find the best burgers in the Cotswolds. We (myself and Simon, a burger "enthusiast" and actual doctor) are still on that mission and travel far and wide to try them. 

Last week, he mentioned a place in Tewkesbury going by the name of Double O's BBQ and sends me one half of the menu. The other part of the menu apparently "isn't worth looking at" as the burgers are too small. 

The first thing I notice about the three burgers on this half of the menu is that they have a James Bond theme. The 12oz Jaws Burger includes 4oz Steak Burger, 4oz Gloucester Old Spot Pattie and 4oz Kofta Pattie for just £8. The Tom Jones, named after the singer who sang the them for Thunderball and the man who suggested the combination of this burger to owner Clive Williams-Bond (Yes, Bond) and includes everything in the Jaws Burger as well as a 6oz Top Rump Steak, Bacon and Cheese. This is £12. You did read that correctly. 18oz of meat + bacon and cheese for just £12. What is this place? I actually ask Simon this question and he sends me a link to a Facebook page. After 5 minutes of scrolling I realise that this isn't a restaurant.

"So", I ask Simon. "This isn't a restaurant but a gazebo down by the river in Tewkesbury?" It is a gazebo just off the high street in Back of Avon down the river. It's actually a really nice setting, if not a little off the beaten track. It's a place that people seem to go to watch the world go buy while enjoying some fish and chips being watched by scores of gulls and pigeons.

I was reluctant. but agreed to give it a go. We agree a date and send the invite around to the other members of the "Cotswold Burger Club" (8 people on a twitter DM message). All but one can make it. 

The third burger is called "The Octopussy".. of course it is. It's an absolute monster and consists of 40 ounces of meat. In fact, nothing else can be cooked while one of these bad boys is on the grill as it uses the whole thing. There are two 4oz Steak Burgers, two 4oz Gloucester Old Spot Patties, two 4oz Kofta Patties and two 6oz Top Rump Steaks. This costs £25. None of us order it. 

Most of us go for The Tom Jones and it was good. Exceptionally good in fact. There are an abundance of sauces of which the chilli ones are homemade. The meat is all sourced within 2 miles, as is the bread which is from Drapers Bakery in the town.

This is far from being a gimmick. The food is outstanding and most definitely worth a visit. There are weekend specials too. "The Man with the Golden Bun" is a sirloin steak smothered in homemade cheese and peppercorn source in a golden brioche bun (these names don't make themselves up) with salad of your choice. 

They also let their costumers design their own combinations and if it fits the menu, then they will ket them name it. Now there's a challenge! 

www.facebook.com/licencedtogrill