 It was three weeks ago when a video popped up on Instagram and opened with the words "Please, Please, Help... Please!" splattered across the screen. It was a plea from Ols Halas, probably best know for being "The Circus Chef" at Giffords Circus, who had got his 25-tonne wag’n’drag lorry stuck in a field near South Cerney. This wasn't just a lorry getting stuck in a field, this was the home of Ols, his partner Amber, their four-month-old baby Zephyr, black lab Steve and their business. In layman's terms, they were royally buggered. A week later, thanks to some lads with tractors, they were out and on their way. Their next destination was a bit of a secret, unless you looked on their website which told you it was another field (what could go wrong?) in Evenlode, three-four miles from Stow on the Wold. The reason I had access to their website was because I was sent an invite to the "soft launch". I then did something I never ever do, I accepted. This was for a few reasons;
A donation to their gofundme page and a cash tip after I had eaten eased the guilt slightly. We arrived at the new site on a mizzly, November, Thursday evening and I wondered whether "summer under canvas" would be a better idea than Christmas. From the outside, it was a canvas awning on the side of a lorry. However, inside (when we eventually found the "door") was a beautiful. warm space full of oak tables, candelabras, foilage and a raised kitchen from an adjacent trailer. PHOTOGRAPHY: TOM CROSS 
We were greeted by Ols who showed us inside the lorry. "Once you start living this life, it's hard to escape it" he mentioned as we walked up the steps. The interior was ridiculously impressive with a Scandi-like wooden cabin feel. A double bed took up one end which Steve sleeps under. Back "downstairs" it was a case of sitting wherever we liked, before being greeted with wine, homemade sourdough and a butter softened by a candle wick. It wasn't long before the stunning, crispy and zingy King Prawn Butterfly, Spiced Cocktail Sauce and Avocado arrived. Naturally, I had read the menu before we arrived and was very excited about the Roast Hereford Beef, Braised Blade, Sticky Dates, Hazelnuts, Root Vegetable Pave, Winter Greens main which was truly immense, but I think the prawns were the highlight of my evening. Between those two courses were some delicious, festive feeling Chestnut Cream Canoli with a rosehip jam, before the meal concluded with the most insane Winter Berry Knickerbocker Glory.
Another reason I never accept soft launch invites is because you are obliged to say something positive, even when it's actually mediocre. However, this was anything but. This was cooking of the highest quality in the most wonderful unique setting, and you can't get much more unique than sitting in a the middle of a field in early November. And, we never got to meet Steve which gives us the perfect excuse to go back, as if we needed one. josserrestaurant.com Christmas Under Canvas officially starts on Thursday 28th November and is available on Thursday, Friday & Saturday Evenings. They are also doing the most incredible sounding Sunday lunch under the canvas too which start on December 1st. There are 28 seats for every sitting which makes it a beautifully intimate and truly special dining experience. Photographs: www.crosscreative.uk
After much anticipation, Jeremy Clarkson has finally named his new pub, The Farmer's Dog. Located in Asthall, near Burford, the pub will open it's doors this Friday (23rd August). The full address for the pub is Asthall, Burford OX18 4HJ. Follow them on instagram - www.instagram.com/thefarmersdogpub  IMAGE VIA THE FARMER'S DOG ON INSTAGRAM  August Bank Holiday is a little over a week away which means that The Big Feastival is just around the corner. We all know how good the music is all weekend with the likes of Snow Patrol, Becky Hill, CMAT, Scouting For Girls and Natasha Bedingfield all performing, but the Street Food on show is just as big. From incredible fried chicken, burgers, steak, noodles, wings and everything else you can think of, the food on offer is arguably the best at any festival in the UK. So, with that said, here are the 10 we think you should try over the Feastival weekend. Baba Side Fried When it comes to collaborations, this is one of the biggest. Baba G and Other Side Fried are teaming up for the first time to bring some epic food to The Big Feastival. Think fried chicken, keema lamb and lots more wrapped in naan bread, covered in sauce!  Black Bear Burgers This London crew are finally making their Feastival debut in 2024 and will be bringing their incredible burgers, sides and sauces for three days in the Cotswolds.  Sen Noods If you love a bowl of noodle soup, you will absolutely love these guys who are bringing the flavours of East Asian to Feastival once again in 2024.  Poor Boys As firm Feastival favourites, Poor Boys are a staple of the weekend. Their food pays homage to the Famous New Orleans Po Boy sandwich and the Shrimp and Buttermilk Chicken is a must if you're going this year.  Sireli If you've never tasted Armenian inspired food, then make sure you head to Sireli over the weekend for their incredible flatbreads.  Temper Renowned for their open fire pits, Temper is the place to go for your smoked meat and BBQ fix at the Big Feastval this year. They will be located in The Smokery.  Wholesome Junkies If meat isn't your thing, then Wholesome Junkies will definitely satisfy your cravings. This vegan street food haven is bringing mouthwatering, 100% plant-based junk food that’s big on flavour to Feastival '24  Ginger Wings Founded by Jack Blumenthal and Leigh Jones in 2022, Ginger Wings has quickly risen to become one of the talk of their hometown of Marlow and will be bring their multi award-winning wings, strips, burgers and sides to Alex James' Farm this year.  We Are Melt A cheese toastie might not be your first choice of festival food, but then you probably haven't tried We Are Melt. With their artisan bread, tasty dips and fillings like fried chicken, bbq brisket and nduja these toasties are truly incredible and a great way to start the day if you're camping for the weekend.  Bab Haus Last, but by no means least, the brilliant Bab Haus will be serving up their signature Birria Quesa Tacos, alongside Chipotle and maple BBQ pork belly, peanut salsa macha tacos on the BBQ, smoked sweet potato tostadas on the grill and their incredible loaded "Haus" nachos.  The Big Feastival takes place on Alex James' Farm in Kingham from Friday 23 - Sunday 25 August 2024. There are literally just a few tickets remaining for Friday and Saturday! thebigfeastival.com  The highly anticipated Circo Brasserie will finally open its doors on August 9th on Cheltenham's Bath Road Inspired by the busy French Brasseries of the 1900s through to the roaring twenties, Circo will bring a ‘little theatre’ to the area and a menu focusing on British plates and European classics. It is the latest venture by JM Socials, a hospitality group that are also behind Cheltenham favourites Prithvi, The Mayflower, For the Saints, BAO + BBQ, Holee Cow, Bhoomi, Petit Social and a string of restaurants in Oxford. Co-founder Jay Rahman, said: “Our vision for Circo Brasserie has always been to bring a little theatre to the Bath Road, taking inspiration from the busy French Brasseries of the 1900’s to the roaring twenties. It's been a long wait but hopefully worth it. “We wanted to create a playful yet chic environment that would appeal to families and also appeal to date night and cocktail time. With a menu that will serve up European and Italian favourites we hope that we have got the mix just right.” Visitors to Circo will enjoy a lively interior with the colour palette inspired by the vintage tones of early ‘Circus’ motifs. Stephen Quiddington, interior designer for Circo, said: “The circus inspiration can be seen in the furniture fabrics, the curtains and murals. Red velvets, stripes, chevrons, rusted tones complimented with light sage wall panels. This theme is exaggerated with numerous illustrations hand painted onto traditional timber fielded panelling inspired by the comical 1900’s French lithographically cafe food and drink posters of the era. Entry is via a rich red velvet curtain which shouts ‘Let the show begin’.” Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, diners can expect dishes including Smoked Aubergine Parmigiana, prawn, crab and tomato linguine; BBQ cauliflower and Israeli couscous; beefburgers and steaks cooked over Binchotan charcoal on a Konro grill, a range of sourdough pizza; and Limoncello panna cotta and pistachio cannoli for dessert; with a dedicated kids menu and some vegan options, too. Circo will be open 7 days a week, from 8.30 am until 10pm and reservations can be made through the website www.circobrasserie.co.uk.  CHEF-OWNERS BEHIND THE HALFWAY AT KINETON TAKE ON THE HORSE AND GROOM IN BOURTON ON THE HILL17/6/2024 Following a hugely successful first year as publicans of The Halfway at Kineton, acclaimed chefs Nathan Eades and Liam Goff are excited to announce the expansion of their culinary portfolio in the Cotswolds. Located in a stunning hillside location in Bourton on the Hill, The Horse and Groom, a favourite with both locals and visitors alike, has been purchased by Donnington Brewery and will reopen on Friday 28th June, 2024.  The pub boasts a beautiful restaurant with over 50 covers, a relaxed walk-in bar, perfect for drinks, lunch, dinner and a place to watch all the best horse racing which adds to the home comforts of a country pub. Upstairs, the Horse and Groom has five charming and generously-sized guest bedrooms with spectacular views that celebrate its much-loved surroundings. The alluring Cotswolds landscape can also be enjoyed from the laid-back tranquility of the large garden which offers a combination of open and sheltered seating and provides the perfect setting to enjoy the British countryside all year round. In a similar theme to The Halfway at Kineton which is known for serving exceptional food in a relaxed atmosphere, there will be a huge emphasis on creating a home-from-home feel with hearty seasonal dishes, while championing some of the Cotswolds’ finest producers, including Paddock Farm, Cacklebean Eggs and local game, accompanied with a pint or two of the renowned local Donnington ales. Nathan says: “The Horse and Groom has been the bastion of North Cotswolds pub scene for many years, and we are both thrilled, ridiculously excited and somewhat pinching ourselves to be the new custodians of such a much-loved pub. We want to create a pub that our locals love and the tourists dream of having on their doorstep. We cannot wait to open the doors, (and our kitchen!) and welcome everyone new and old" Table bookings are open via the Horse and Groom website. www.pubonthehill.com  Nathan Eades and Liam Goff
THE PIG have announced that they have acquired the 17th century Barnsley House hotel, tucked away in the quintessential Cotswolds village of Barnsley, just four miles from Cirencester. Nestled in historic arts and crafts style gardens, created by renowned garden designer Rosemary Verey, this little gem of a property has all the makings of a PIG already weaved into its DNA. Chairman Robin Hutson commented on the exciting announcement, “We are absolutely thrilled to have acquired Barnsley House, it has been in my peripheral vision for many years as a possible acquisition, always thinking it would make a perfect ‘Pig’ and we are very excited to have our first pub too”. Barnsley House will continue to operate with its existing team until Sunday 4th February, when the PIG team will go in to start the works to turn this stunner of a property into a PIG, with a view to opening the doors this summer as THE PIG-and The Village Pub, their first "Pig Pub". THE PIG group is a personal collection of small lifestyle restaurants with rooms where the focus is on authenticity and informality of design, food and service. With an obsessive commitment to home grown and local produce, THE PIG celebrates the seasons and uses only the best, freshest and most authentic foods and ingredients. It is all about the kitchen gardens, they are the beating heart of the operation. Everything is driven by the kitchen gardener/forager and chef. They grow and source the food and the chef then creates the menu; uncomplicated and simple kitchen garden food, true to the micro seasons with the emphasis squarely on fresh, clean flavours. What cannot be grown in THE PIG’s kitchen garden is sourced within a 25-mile radius of each hotel. There are no ‘cookiecutter roll-outs’; each hotel has its own personality and sense of self. Every property comes with laid-back warm service and a genuine commitment to environmental and social responsibility. THE PIG hotels aim to deliver an outstanding experience for every guest; a ‘wow’ moment that surprises and delights for a price that won’t break the bank. Home grown in every way – breaking the mould of designed hotels by working with what it has and recognising what is good about that. Designed in the style that has become THE PIG’s signature, each hotel has a garden restaurant and bedrooms with a touch of luxury and bags of homely charm plus Potting Shed or Shepherd’s Hut massage treatment rooms in or near the kitchen gardens. www.thepighotel.com/and-the-village-pub  After a brief hiatus, one of Cheltenham's most cherished restaurants will reopen its doors this December. A true icon in the town's culinary landscape, The Mayflower will aim to rekindle the flavours that have long been etched into the memories of locals and visitors alike, with new owners Jay Ahmed and Michael Raphel paying homage to the Kong family who created and ran this much-loved restaurant for over 40 years. Diners at The Mayflower can expect a meticulously crafted menu that celebrates the diverse regional cuisines of China. The menu will showcase a myriad of influences, combining the best of classic Chinese dishes to Cantonese and East Asian favourites, all created with a passion for uniquely rooted recipes yet with a contemporary flair, showcasing the wonderful flavours of east Asia. The restaurant's interior is a blend of modern elegance and traditional Chinese design elements, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. Reservations will be open from mid December and bookings can be made through the restaurant's website www.themayflowerrestaurant.co.uk or by calling 01242 522426. You can sign up to receive news from The Mayflower by clicking on the link above.   It was a memorable night for The Killingworth Castle, picking up three AA Rosettes at the prestigious AA Hospitality Awards. One of the industry’s most highly anticipated events, the glittering awards ceremony at JW Marriott Grosvenor House London was hosted by much-loved TV presenter Claudia Winkleman, celebrating the UK’s top hotels, restaurants, and pubs and the people behind them. Nestled within the picturesque village of Wootton, Nr Woodstock, The Killingworth Castle has eight luxury en-suite rooms with exquisite food that focuses on seasonal, wild & organic fare from the Cotswolds. Establishments with three AA Rosettes are all outstanding restaurants achieving standards which demand national recognition well beyond their local area and The Killingworth Castle is one of only 7 new inns with rooms in the whole of the UK to be awarded a third rosette in 2023 at the AA’s annual Hospitality Awards last night. The AA, which has long been a marker of leading restaurant and accommodation venues, celebrates the crème de la crème of UK hospitality. Following a visit from an anonymous inspector, the hotel was reviewed against nine quality assessment areas, ranging from standards of service to cleanliness and quality of food. The inspector described the establishment as ‘well run in a personalised way with very good hospitality from a customer-focused team which made for a welcoming atmosphere throughout the stay’. www.thekillingworthcastle.com    Following 37,000 nominations and six weeks of Good Food Guide inspections, The Halfway at Kineton continues to attract lots of attention after being included in The Good Food Guide’s 100 Best Local Restaurants of 2023. Since being taken on in February 2023 by chefs Nathan Eades and Liam Goff, the pub has caught the eye of foodies and critics (including Giles Coren who raved about the pie), and is the only pub or restaurant in the Cotswolds to feature in this list. The Good Food Guide's Best Local Restaurant awards began 13 years ago to celebrate the places that are the beating heart of communities around Britain. You can find the full list HERE. www.thehalfwayatkineton.com 
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Actual restaurants in the North Cotswolds are few and far between. There are lots of superb pubs that are more of a restaurant than a pub nowadays and many hotels that boast restaurants but lack that buzz that an independent can offer.
The Old Butchers is family-run, small and far from pretentious. Pete is chef, while wife Louise takes care of the front of house, armed with her daughter and others of a similar age. The tables are always full, yet there's never a feeling of sitting on top of other diners or being involved in their conversations.
We took a couple of friends for their first ever visit. We'd hyped it up quite a bit for a good fortnight or so which can sometimes be risky, but we've never experienced anything less than brilliant on the (probably a dozen by now) occasions we have been there.
The menu is largely European, full of seafood, steak over charcoal and seasonal game. There's a "Lobster" swing sign outside and lots of it on the menu.
A bottle of Sauvignon Blanc (the wine list is very good) and a couple of pints of Hawkstone (Clarkson's Lager) arrive as we survey the menu. Our friends are the type of people who study the menu before they arrive and pretty much know want they are going to order. I'm the opposite.
"Fancy sharing the 1kg T-Bone?" throwing a slight curveball to my friend. He agrees, but then proceeds to tell me that he is a medium steak eater. I'm a rare. We agree on medium-rare.
If Mussels Mariniere is on the menu I'm probably ordering it, along with a spoon for the glorious creamy, garlicky goodness. It was a generous serving for a starter and these were absolutely massive.
The others tucked into Cornish Scallops, served in a shell in a delicious pool of Nduja Butter which offered a bit of a kick.
The Prawn Cocktail, which usually comes with a Bloody Mary sorbet on top. However our friend asked if this could come on the side as she "didn't really trust it". She loved it.
And the Pate en Croute, pickled walnut, cornichons and punchy wasabi, mustardy dip.
Our mains arrived soon after.
They had divided the T-bone onto separate plates so we didn't have to fight over it. It was on the rarer side of medium-rare, beautifully pink with juicy bits of fat on some of the slices. It came with fries, salad and a choice of sauces, we both opted for peppercorn. The meat cut like the proverbial butter and was deliciously rich and salty. It was magical. I would order steak out more often if it was all like this.
The Cornish Monkfish & Prawn Tandoori, with Spinach, a Lentil Dahl and raita looked incredible and apparently it was. As was the 1/2 Cornish Native Lobster & Garlic Butter and the immense Crab, Truffle Fries that were ordered to accompany it.
Pudding was replaced by more wine, while we all gushed over what we had just eaten and started planning our next visit which, I imagine, won't be too far away.
theoldbutchers.squarespace.com
The Old Butchers is family-run, small and far from pretentious. Pete is chef, while wife Louise takes care of the front of house, armed with her daughter and others of a similar age. The tables are always full, yet there's never a feeling of sitting on top of other diners or being involved in their conversations.
We took a couple of friends for their first ever visit. We'd hyped it up quite a bit for a good fortnight or so which can sometimes be risky, but we've never experienced anything less than brilliant on the (probably a dozen by now) occasions we have been there.
The menu is largely European, full of seafood, steak over charcoal and seasonal game. There's a "Lobster" swing sign outside and lots of it on the menu.
A bottle of Sauvignon Blanc (the wine list is very good) and a couple of pints of Hawkstone (Clarkson's Lager) arrive as we survey the menu. Our friends are the type of people who study the menu before they arrive and pretty much know want they are going to order. I'm the opposite.
"Fancy sharing the 1kg T-Bone?" throwing a slight curveball to my friend. He agrees, but then proceeds to tell me that he is a medium steak eater. I'm a rare. We agree on medium-rare.
If Mussels Mariniere is on the menu I'm probably ordering it, along with a spoon for the glorious creamy, garlicky goodness. It was a generous serving for a starter and these were absolutely massive.
The others tucked into Cornish Scallops, served in a shell in a delicious pool of Nduja Butter which offered a bit of a kick.
The Prawn Cocktail, which usually comes with a Bloody Mary sorbet on top. However our friend asked if this could come on the side as she "didn't really trust it". She loved it.
And the Pate en Croute, pickled walnut, cornichons and punchy wasabi, mustardy dip.
Our mains arrived soon after.
They had divided the T-bone onto separate plates so we didn't have to fight over it. It was on the rarer side of medium-rare, beautifully pink with juicy bits of fat on some of the slices. It came with fries, salad and a choice of sauces, we both opted for peppercorn. The meat cut like the proverbial butter and was deliciously rich and salty. It was magical. I would order steak out more often if it was all like this.
The Cornish Monkfish & Prawn Tandoori, with Spinach, a Lentil Dahl and raita looked incredible and apparently it was. As was the 1/2 Cornish Native Lobster & Garlic Butter and the immense Crab, Truffle Fries that were ordered to accompany it.
Pudding was replaced by more wine, while we all gushed over what we had just eaten and started planning our next visit which, I imagine, won't be too far away.
theoldbutchers.squarespace.com
T-bone steak, served with fries, salad and peppercorn sauce
Cornish Scallops & ‘Nduja Butter
Cornish Monkfish & Prawn Tandoori, Spinach & Lentil Dahl, Raita
Pictures of some of the stunning cuisine that you can expect to see at YOKU have appeared on social media.
YOKU is a brand-new Tokyo-vogue Japanese Sushi and Asian dining experience with resplendent Bar Tokyo cocktail bar, opening inside No.131 in Cheltenham.
The restaurant will open its doors on Friday 11th March 2022.
www.no131.com/yoku
YOKU is a brand-new Tokyo-vogue Japanese Sushi and Asian dining experience with resplendent Bar Tokyo cocktail bar, opening inside No.131 in Cheltenham.
The restaurant will open its doors on Friday 11th March 2022.
www.no131.com/yoku
Evesham always gets a bad rap, some fair and some a little unjust. For many, it's the Onslow and Daisy to the Hyacinth Bucket over-manicured Cotswolds, and unless you live there or you were visiting The Regal Cinema, there is no real reason to visit.
The town centre is littered with charity shops, an abundance of hairdressers and double denim from the first time around. It's in desperate need of a little TLC. However, in the Market Place where Bridge Street meets Vine Street there is a beacon of hope.
What began in a converted Rice Beaufort horse box during lockdown is now a super-stylish restaurant, serving awesome burgers and cocktails over two floors of an old pub. There is a huge emphasis on the locally sourced ingredients used both in the kitchen and behind the bar and a decent selection for the vegans and vegetarians that live amongst us. They also offer a delivery service on Thursday - Sunday on their food and drink to Evesham and the surrounding areas.
We had an hour and a half before Bond was due to start at The Regal, so we were just going to grab a quick burger and drink and get on our merry way. Obviously, after looking at the menu, this didn't happen.
"You must try the Crispy Belly Bites". Of course we did.
"The Baby Bacon Fries are particularly good". Go on then, you've twisted my arm.
Eventually our table was covered in burgers and sides.
The Snack Daniels burger was as good as it sounded. Salt beef slices, cola and bourbon-braised brisket and Tubby Tom's Smokey Schweet BBQ sauce all fighting their way out of the bun. It was delightfully messy, smokey and sticky, and honestly the best thing I had eaten for a long time.
The recommended pork belly bites were heavenly meaty cubes, with a crispy glaze and a subtle kick from the ginger and chilli that accompanied them during the roasting.
The "Bacon Baby" fries are pleasantly thicker than the normal skinny ones you often get and smothered in baconnaise and bacon bits, each one as addictive as the last.
Even when you know you have ordered too much, I can never ignore mac 'n' cheese on a menu. These were topped with bacon bits, chives and crispy onions and, if anything, could have been much gooier with a lot more cheese.
The same has to be said for halloumi fries, you know you don't need them but you have to order them especially when they are rubbed in Tubby Tom's espresso and smoked chipotle dust and washed down with a dark 'n' stormy.
It was all incredibly impressive from start to finish, and in fear of sounding too overdramatic, the arrival of StirrUps is absolutely massive for the town. Evesham has finally got somewhere it can be proud of and it shows other business folk that nice places can be successful there.
www.stirr-ups.co.uk
The town centre is littered with charity shops, an abundance of hairdressers and double denim from the first time around. It's in desperate need of a little TLC. However, in the Market Place where Bridge Street meets Vine Street there is a beacon of hope.
What began in a converted Rice Beaufort horse box during lockdown is now a super-stylish restaurant, serving awesome burgers and cocktails over two floors of an old pub. There is a huge emphasis on the locally sourced ingredients used both in the kitchen and behind the bar and a decent selection for the vegans and vegetarians that live amongst us. They also offer a delivery service on Thursday - Sunday on their food and drink to Evesham and the surrounding areas.
We had an hour and a half before Bond was due to start at The Regal, so we were just going to grab a quick burger and drink and get on our merry way. Obviously, after looking at the menu, this didn't happen.
"You must try the Crispy Belly Bites". Of course we did.
"The Baby Bacon Fries are particularly good". Go on then, you've twisted my arm.
Eventually our table was covered in burgers and sides.
The Snack Daniels burger was as good as it sounded. Salt beef slices, cola and bourbon-braised brisket and Tubby Tom's Smokey Schweet BBQ sauce all fighting their way out of the bun. It was delightfully messy, smokey and sticky, and honestly the best thing I had eaten for a long time.
The recommended pork belly bites were heavenly meaty cubes, with a crispy glaze and a subtle kick from the ginger and chilli that accompanied them during the roasting.
The "Bacon Baby" fries are pleasantly thicker than the normal skinny ones you often get and smothered in baconnaise and bacon bits, each one as addictive as the last.
Even when you know you have ordered too much, I can never ignore mac 'n' cheese on a menu. These were topped with bacon bits, chives and crispy onions and, if anything, could have been much gooier with a lot more cheese.
The same has to be said for halloumi fries, you know you don't need them but you have to order them especially when they are rubbed in Tubby Tom's espresso and smoked chipotle dust and washed down with a dark 'n' stormy.
It was all incredibly impressive from start to finish, and in fear of sounding too overdramatic, the arrival of StirrUps is absolutely massive for the town. Evesham has finally got somewhere it can be proud of and it shows other business folk that nice places can be successful there.
www.stirr-ups.co.uk
THE SNACK DANIELS BURGER
CRISPY BELLY BITES
BACON BABY FRIES
LOADED MAC 'N' CHEESE
HALLOUMI FRIES
INSIDE STIRRUPS
A new deli and coffee shop has opened in Bibury.
The Twig has opened within the old village store, which has been empty and unused for years, bringing a new destination spot to the village centre.
The Twig is an offshoot of The Stump, hence the name, a renowned Cotswold Inn serving up an epic menu of pizza, small plates and cocktails since opening in 2019. Both sites have been dreamt up and brought to life by Baz & Fred, who first started serving pizzas together in 2012 and have since opened two pizza restaurants in London as well as local favourites The Stump and The New Inn in the Cotswolds. Their latest opening will put the same emphasis on serving high quality, carefully sourced ingredients and delicious food and drink but this time with a focus on coffee, snacks, and special ingredients.
The house coffee at The Twig will be from Oxfordshire based UE Coffee and best enjoyed alongside one of the fresh house pastries, including specials such as The Twig sausage roll, made with whole grain mustard and apple sauce inside, sourdough toasties, amazing cakes and focaccia sandwiches made in house with best Italian ingredients.
The menu will also include a delicious menu of sandwiches including:
Sourdough toasties:
Ham, Emmental, Double Gloucester, Dijonnaise, cornichons
Truffle mushrooms, Comte, Double Gloucester, Dijonnaise
Focaccia:
Prosciutto, mozzarella, tomatoes, basil pesto
Sundried tomatoes, roasted red peppers, mozzarella, rocket, basil pesto
Salad pots: change on a weekly basis, focusing on seasonal produce
The shop will also be a go-to spot to pick up local produce from companies such as Cotswold Curer, Sourdough Revolution and Hard to Find (honey and oil). Alongside this there will be a delicious range of Spanish and Italian dry goods including cured meats, a select range of natural wines and local Deya beers, and Baz & Fred’s Chilli oil, all ready to buy and enjoy at home.
The Twig has opened within the old village store, which has been empty and unused for years, bringing a new destination spot to the village centre.
The Twig is an offshoot of The Stump, hence the name, a renowned Cotswold Inn serving up an epic menu of pizza, small plates and cocktails since opening in 2019. Both sites have been dreamt up and brought to life by Baz & Fred, who first started serving pizzas together in 2012 and have since opened two pizza restaurants in London as well as local favourites The Stump and The New Inn in the Cotswolds. Their latest opening will put the same emphasis on serving high quality, carefully sourced ingredients and delicious food and drink but this time with a focus on coffee, snacks, and special ingredients.
The house coffee at The Twig will be from Oxfordshire based UE Coffee and best enjoyed alongside one of the fresh house pastries, including specials such as The Twig sausage roll, made with whole grain mustard and apple sauce inside, sourdough toasties, amazing cakes and focaccia sandwiches made in house with best Italian ingredients.
The menu will also include a delicious menu of sandwiches including:
Sourdough toasties:
Ham, Emmental, Double Gloucester, Dijonnaise, cornichons
Truffle mushrooms, Comte, Double Gloucester, Dijonnaise
Focaccia:
Prosciutto, mozzarella, tomatoes, basil pesto
Sundried tomatoes, roasted red peppers, mozzarella, rocket, basil pesto
Salad pots: change on a weekly basis, focusing on seasonal produce
The shop will also be a go-to spot to pick up local produce from companies such as Cotswold Curer, Sourdough Revolution and Hard to Find (honey and oil). Alongside this there will be a delicious range of Spanish and Italian dry goods including cured meats, a select range of natural wines and local Deya beers, and Baz & Fred’s Chilli oil, all ready to buy and enjoy at home.
It felt like we had to wait an age for the Double Red Duke to finally open its doors. After the announcement in November 2020 that Sam and Georgie Pearman had acquired what was The Plough at Clanfield and would launch in February 2021, lockdowns and various restrictions delayed that until May 17th.
Even more exiting was hearing that they had secured the services of Hawksmoor and PittCue's Richard Turner to work alongside Head Chef Richard Sandiford. This could only mean two things, fire and an abundance of meat.
Of course the menu isn't just full of meat. There is a cheese & onion tatin, veggie mixed grill and a trio of salads for the herbivores amongst us, but there's no fun in any of that,
Unsurprisingly, and right up our street, there is a separate menu for steak cuts from where we picked a incredible chunk of medium-rare ribeye. I sat and watched the chefs cooking various ribs and T-bones over the flames from the 14-seater kitchen counter which felt like the front row of the world's best theatre. I always find open kitchens captivating and could sit there all day, especially watching these masters of meat at work.
Away from beef steaks, the "Large Plate" menu boasts wild fish on-the-bone, grilled rose veal chop, fried oysters & egg tartare, spit roast turbot (which looked amazing when it went by to another table) and half a chicken spit roast, as well as the classic fish & chips, pie & mash and the Double Red burger.
Even more exiting was hearing that they had secured the services of Hawksmoor and PittCue's Richard Turner to work alongside Head Chef Richard Sandiford. This could only mean two things, fire and an abundance of meat.
Of course the menu isn't just full of meat. There is a cheese & onion tatin, veggie mixed grill and a trio of salads for the herbivores amongst us, but there's no fun in any of that,
Unsurprisingly, and right up our street, there is a separate menu for steak cuts from where we picked a incredible chunk of medium-rare ribeye. I sat and watched the chefs cooking various ribs and T-bones over the flames from the 14-seater kitchen counter which felt like the front row of the world's best theatre. I always find open kitchens captivating and could sit there all day, especially watching these masters of meat at work.
Away from beef steaks, the "Large Plate" menu boasts wild fish on-the-bone, grilled rose veal chop, fried oysters & egg tartare, spit roast turbot (which looked amazing when it went by to another table) and half a chicken spit roast, as well as the classic fish & chips, pie & mash and the Double Red burger.
Steaks cooking on the open flames
A beautiful piece of ribeye
The "small plates" menu (nobody does "starters" anymore) is equally exciting and includes some exquisite Wood Roast Sea Scallops with Wild Garlic Butter, Milk & Honey Lamb Chops with Pea & Haggis Salad (I will try this when I go next) and some superb sticky and perfectly charred Apple Glazed Bacon Ribs, Apple, Tamarind & Fennel Slaw.
If you're feeling hungry, which we were, there's also a "snacks" menu at the very beginning featuring some wonderful light and crispy Dublin Bay Scampi and three different flatbreads. We chose the Courgette, Wild Garlic & Mint one to share but you would probably need one each depending on how many other dishes you choose and how big your appetite is.
Apple Glazed Bacon Ribs, Apple, Tamarind & Fennel Slaw
Courgette, Wild Garlic & Mint flatbread
There wasn't any room for a dessert. If I was staying the night, and home was just a short walk away up the stairs, I would have probably dipped for the white chocolate cheesecake or the sticky toffee pudding. However, if the choice is more meat or leaving room for a pudding, there is only ever going to be one winner.
If staying the night is an option for you, then the nineteen bedrooms are all as heavenly as you would expect. They each, like the whole of the interior, carry the Pearman stamp. There is an abundance of snugs where you can hide away from the world for an afternoon, and the magnificent Downton Abbey-famed Oxfordshire countryside is quite literally on the doorstep. What's not to like?
www.countrycreatures.com/double-red-duke
The garden at The Double Red Duke
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