On 26 August, the Cotswolds gets a new kind of pub. EMBER at The Chandlers Arms, in the village of Epwell, brings together Southern American live-fire cooking, craft beer and a relaxed, no-nonsense approach to hospitality.

The new venture is a collaboration between EMBER co-founder Matty Cartwright and The Chandlers Arms’ Harry Flockhart, combining their experience in hospitality with inspiration gathered on travels through America, the Eastern Mediterranean and East Asia.

Matty’s time in the Carolinas and Texas immersed him in low-and-slow barbecue and live-fire cooking, while Harry developed his appreciation for classical technique working alongside his father in France. The result is a menu that brings those influences together over fire, using seasonal British produce wherever possible sourced from farms within 10 miles of the pub.

Expect a rotating selection of small and large plates designed for sharing, including Smoked Apple Cobbler Pork Belly, Smoked Beef Cheek Massaman, Potato Pavé with Whipped Pimento Cheese and the signature Ember Burger. Each dish draws on a story or memory from the founders’ travels.

The drinks list follows the same globetrotting approach, with craft beers from independent breweries around the world alongside house cask ales brewed in the team’s small Warwickshire brewery. A house pale ale and best bitter will be made using surplus bread in the malt bill, helping cut food waste in the process.

Cocktails will centre on spirits from Cotswolds Distillery, with serves including a Grapefruit Gimlet and Brown Butter Old Fashioned, while the wine and spirits list travels from Ugandan rum to Jordanian wine.

Inside, EMBER at The Chandlers Arms is far from the archetypal country pub. Think deep teal walls, low lighting, reclaimed furniture, vintage Chesterfield benches and velvet sofas, alongside pieces from Matty’s art collection, a Jimi Hendrix bust and a giant Tweety Pie head presiding over the room.

The result is a Cotswolds pub with a distinctly international outlook: big flavours, good beer, British produce and plenty to talk about.

www.embertaproom.com

There are still corners of the Cotswolds where lunch is not an obligation but a lightly dangerous social commitment. The kind that begins with perfectly respectable intentions and ends several hours later with empty wine bottles and rearranged evening plans

Ever since Rivals returned Jilly Cooper’s world of country-house chaos to public life, the idea of the long Cotswolds lunch has felt newly relevant again. Not the polished fantasy sold to weekenders, but the real thing: Bloody Marys before noon, flirtation over oysters, gossip that moves faster than the traffic through Burford, and the growing realisation that nobody has any serious intention of leaving before dark.

This is a landscape of polo, horse racing, expensive divorces and pubs where lunch is rarely just lunch, it's social theatre with side dishes.

​And if the Rivals cast ever escaped the television screen, these are exactly the pubs where you would expect to find them.
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​If the Cotswolds racing world has a headquarters, it is almost certainly The Hollow Bottom.

Tucked away on the edge of Guiting Power, this gloriously unpolished institution functions as the social centre of horse-racing life in the Cotswolds. Trainers, jockeys, owners and stable staff pass through with muddy boots, racing tips and opinions they absolutely did not intend to say out loud quite so publicly.

Breakfast is available every day and will usually begin with a Bloody Mary before anybody has properly decided whether this is wise. Lunch rapidly becomes afternoon drinking. Afternoon drinking somehow becomes dinner.

Dogs sleep on a makeshift bed (somebody's coat) beside the fire in winter, local ales named after racehorses line the bar, and the Monday Pie Night (a pie with a pint or glass of wine for £20) has become something close to rural ritual.

Rupert Campbell-Black would absolutely settle in here for dinner after a day at Cheltenham, with one eye on his steak and the other firmly on whichever female that happened to be walking past the table. By pudding, he would almost certainly have been invited to at least two different after-parties and caused three relationship break-ups entirely by accident, and still somehow emerged from the situation looking unfairly charming.

​www.thehollowbottom.com

​With spectacular views across the Oxfordshire countryside, The Feathered Nest has a setting that encourages optimism, poor judgement and another bottle of wine.

The pub has always been a reliable favourite among the local equestrian crowd. Saddles repurposed as bar stools nod to its horsey-country roots, while the terrace outside has witnessed more than its fair share of flirtation disguised as lunch.

The grilled Cornish monkfish deserves something crisp, white and expensive from the extraordinary wine list, which boasts more than 240 bins and has almost certainly contributed to several complicated romances over the years. For those fully embracing the long-lunch spirit, the eight-course tasting menu removes any realistic expectation of productivity long before dessert arrives.

This is exactly where Declan and Maud O’Hara would arrive determined to have a wonderful evening together. And to be fair, for at least the first hour they probably would. A glass of something cold, spectacular food, and perhaps even a brief moment of marital harmony. Then somewhere between the second bottle and dessert, Declan would say something faintly irritating, Maud would refuse to let it pass, and the entire evening would quietly unravel against one of the most beautiful Oxfordshire backdrops.

thefeatherednestinn.co.uk

The Fox at Oddington is where the London crowd arrives on Friday evening in cashmere and oversized sunglasses insisting they are “escaping to the countryside”.

Beautifully done without ever feeling try-hard, this is modern Cotswolds pub glamour at its most seductive for people who are very aware of what they are wearing and why it might be noticed. The odd TV personality will drift through, couples discuss school catchments with alarming seriousness, and the sense of being seen is never entirely absent.

DJ & Pizza Thursdays have become something of an institution, while weekends bring a crowd that understands the importance of very good food, wine and cocktails.

The menu is generous, confident and unapologetically indulgent. Crispy lamb sweetbreads with wild garlic aioli practically demand a martini nearby, while the 10oz Hereford sirloin with triple-cooked chips feels entirely reasonable after several cocktails and a great deal of people-watching.

Lord Tony Baddingham and James Vereker would arrive in a convertible and pretend to discuss television over lunch, while keeping one eye firmly on the room in the hope somebody of the opposite sex was noticing them.

thefoxatoddington.com

Sitting on the edge of Cotchester society but still close enough to remain firmly in the orbit of its chaos, The Potting Shed has mastered the particular art of feeling both smart, unpretentious and entirely relaxed at the same time.

This is exactly the sort of place Freddie Jones and Lizzie Vereker would disappear to for “just lunch” before the combined effects of excellent wine and emotional misjudgement quietly rearranged the rest of their day. Conveniently, the beautiful Rectory hotel sits directly across the road, which after several glasses would begin to feel less like useful planning and considerably more like temptation for the pair.

The food encourages glorious overcommitment. The Twice Baked Double Gloucester Soufflé with spinach and wholegrain mustard is the sort of deeply reassuring dish that immediately justifies ordering another drink, while the Pork & nduja croquettes with parmesan and wild garlic pesto arrive with enough swagger to derail even the most disciplined intentions.

Then comes the sharing 16oz Chateaubriand with grilled tomato, French fries and a choice of sauces, which feels less like lunch and more like a declaration that nobody has any plans for the rest of the day.

www.thepottingshedpub.com

​A few minutes from Beaufort Polo Club and within striking distance of Tetbury and King Charles' Highgrove, The Cat and Custard Pot sits firmly in prime Cotchester country.

It is a pub of two personalities. One side is all traditional comfort with fires, local beer and relaxed conversation. The other introduces a touch of Southern Italy to Gloucestershire society.

Start with the scallops, before moving onto a superb Luckington Farm steak, another bottle of wine and the growing suspicion that lunch may no longer be entirely under control. 

Bas Baddingham and his friends would absolutely occupy a large table near the bar, flirting enthusiastically with almost everyone who walked through the door, whether invited to or not, and enjoying themselves far more loudly than strictly necessary.

catandcustard.co.uk

Just ten minutes from Cirencester Polo Club, The Wild Duck has the sort of easy confidence that comes from knowing everybody already wants to be there.

By late afternoon the pub fills with Royal Ag students, locals, and polo players and locals who appear to have perfected that particular skill of looking slightly dishevelled in a very intentional way. It is lively, unselfconscious and just chaotic enough to feel like something might happen at any moment.

The food is exceptional in a deeply dangerous way. Devilled Crab on Toast and Beef Tartare arrive at tables already crowded with wine glasses, while the Duck Fat Toast has become something close to local currency among regulars. The Wild Boar Pie is rich enough to derail afternoon productivity entirely and, on Fridays, lobster and fries begin appearing across the room as everybody quietly abandons any pretence of moderation.

In one corner, Taggie O’Hara sits with friends, probably pretending not to notice the attention she is attracting from various directions. Or perhaps genuinely not noticing, which somehow makes the situation considerably worse for everybody involved.

www.countrycreatures.com/wild-duck-ewen

Just a few miles from Highgrove, The Rattlebone in Sherston, the sort of old-school village pub charm that makes people accidentally stay all afternoon while insisting they are “just popping in for one”.

For Paul Stratton, Cotchester’s permanently campaigning MP, this is exactly the kind of place where being seen matters. Supporting a much-loved community pub looks excellent politically, though the very good wine and beer probably doesn’t hurt either. 

Sarah, meanwhile, has almost certainly been coming here for years with a tiny hope of trying to catch a young Prince's eye like she did during the early noughties whenever he came to the pub. In fact, large sections of South Cotswolds society spent the early 2000s strategically lingering here on exactly those grounds.

The Honey & chilli glazed local pork belly delivers precisely the sort of rich comfort that encourages another bottle, the roast rump of lamb will make you book again straight away, while the Tuesday Steak Night (two juicy 8oz rump steaks with chips, salad and a bottle of house wine for £68) feels tailor-made for couples who fully intend to leave after dinner and absolutely never actually do.

www.therattlebone.co.uk

And, perhaps that is why Rivals still feels so recognisable beneath all the glamour and spectacularly bad behaviour. Because the real centre of Cotswolds society was never the country house, it was always the pub.

Preferably one with excellent wine, very good food, a full bar and somebody harmless flirting in full view. Because the best Cotswolds pubs have never really been just about eating and drinking, they are where village life happens with gossip, celebrations, old friendships and the sort of afternoons that become the stories everybody is still talking about the following weekend.

And frankly, long may it continue.

There’s a particular moment, about now, when the Cotswolds countryside stops posing for postcards and starts quietly insisting you get involved.

​The hedgerows thicken, the puddles dry out just enough to reveal the potholes they’ve been hiding all winter (mind those... your suspension will thank you), and pub gardens begin to fill in that wonderfully British way with no bookings, no agenda, just people turning up because the sun’s out and it would be rude not to.

So, we recommend you hop in the car and join them. Round up you friends. Jump in the car. Get the roof down if you’ve got one that comes down and it's not raining, windows open if you haven’t, a playlist that makes you feel faintly superior and nothing resembling a plan beyond the vague belief that lunch will happen at some point.

We’ve put together five routes where the pub isn’t a stop along the way. It’s the point. The drive is simply part of the pleasure.
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One small note of boring-but-important sense. Please don’t drink and drive. Fortunately, every decent pub worth its salt now does very drinkable alcohol-free beer, so you can still have the pint, keep your licence and enjoy the day as much as everyone else. 

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1. Woolpack to Wild Duck
Valleys, cider houses, and a day that quietly becomes night

You begin in Slad, where the road already feels like it has read Laurie Lee and decided to behave accordingly. The Woolpack is perched above the valley with spectacular views that do most of the work for you. It’s an easy place to lose track of time in the best possible way: lunch becomes afternoon without anyone formally deciding it should.

From there, the road drops gently into Frampton Mansell and The Crown, a 17th-century cider house that feels wonderfully steady, rooted, unbothered by modern life. It’s low-ceilinged, slightly uneven underfoot and doesn’t try to be anything other than what it is, which is a perfect village pub. 

A short drive and you reach The Bell at Sapperton. The garden feels designed for letting afternoons drift off-course, and the wine wall feels slightly smug, but in the right way like it knows you’re going to stay longer than you said you would.

By the time you reach The Wild Duck at Ewen, the structure of the day has already given up pretending. This is where you properly settle in and enjoy dinner on the beautiful terrace if the weather is on your side. This feels less like the final stop and more like the obvious conclusion to a day. 

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2. Double Red Duke to The Stump
Postcard villages, long lunches, and the slow disappearance of time

You begin at The Double Red Duke, where the garden feels like it was built for exactly this: groups of friends arriving slightly too early, ordering slightly too much, and deciding that the weather warrants some lunch too. It’s the kind of place that encourages the first drink to turn into something longer without ever saying so out loud.

From there the roads tighten and unwind into Langford and The Bell, where if you didn't grab lunch at the Double Red Duke, you probaly should here. The food quietly takes centre stage. Nothing theatrical, nothing over-explained, just plates that arrive with a kind of quiet certainty that this is exactly what you came for, even if you didn’t know it when you set off.

The landscape softens again as you reach The Victoria Inn in Eastleach, where the village itself does most of the work. Stone cottages, a slow-moving river nearby, and a pub that feels less placed in the village than grown out of it. Time behaves differently here. It stretches without apology and it's an ideal spot to walk off some of your lunch.

Further into the valley sits The New Inn at Coln, ivy climbing the walls, light falling softly through the windows, and a perfect stop for a pint that somehow turns into a second without any real negotiation.

Then on to The Village Pub in Barnsley, the penultimate stop on a summer afternoon that is already beginning to ease towards evening. It’s a lovely pub in the most quietly assured sense: oak-beamed ceilings, dimly lit corners made for lingering, and a low, easy hum that suggests nobody here is in any particular rush to be anywhere else.

The day eventually gathers itself at The Stump: pizza, energy, and that easy late afternoon atmosphere where everyone arrives on time and leaves slightly later than they meant to. A place made for settling in properly for the evening with a quiet acceptance that there’s nowhere better to be.

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​3. Hare to The Bull
Country roads, river bends, and an afternoon well spent

This is a driving route as much as a pub route. The roads matter as much as the stops.

You begin at The Hare in Milton-under-Wychwood, a village pub that doesn’t try to define your day for you. It simply feeds you well, pours a decent pint, and lets you get on with it. That’s more valuable than it sounds. 

From there, the road drops towards water and arrives at The Swan Swinbrook, sitting beside the river in a way that makes time feel optional. The garden draws people in and then quietly discourages them from leaving. It’s the sort of place where “we should head off soon” is said repeatedly without consequence.

Then on to The Three Horseshoes in Asthall, a charming village stop and a very good excuse to slow the pace. The garden is the main event here, and one of the best in the Cotswolds for soaking up a bit of sunshine with a drink in hand.

The climb out of the valley brings you to The Farmer’s Dog,  wide views and a confident lack of pretension. It has Clarkson’s name attached to it, but the appeal is more straightforward than that; cold beer, and British grub. It works because it doesn’t try to be clever.

From there, the tone settles again at The Royal Oak Ramsden, a village pub in a beautifully picturesque setting that barely needs introducing. There’s good beer, a grill garden doing proper work outside, and an easy rhythm to the place that makes it feel like the right pause in the day.

The day finishes at The Bull at Charlbury for dinner, a place that understands exactly what an evening should feel like without ever needing to explain it. It’s a great spot to spend a long, unhurried evening with friends, inside, where it’s all low light and easy conversation, or outside where the evening quietly extends itself.

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​4. Norman Knight to The King's Head
Winding roads, village greens, and a day that refuses to rush

You start at The Norman Knight in Whichford, recently reopened and already acting as though it has always been there. It’s a great place to start the day with a wonderful lunch; unhurried, quietly confident and the sense that it has quietly slipped back into village life as if it never left.

From there, the road takes you to The Red Lion in Long Compton, a near-perfect village pub with a garden that seems designed entirely around the simple pleasure of a pint in the sunshine. Nothing overly complicated, just a decent stop, in exactly the right place, doing exactly what it should.

The route winds down to The Fox at Oddington, where the garden does exactly what a good gardens should by quietly persuading you there’s time for one more, then probably another. It’s an easy place to lose a couple of hours in the sunshine with friends, cocktails coming a little too easily, and conversation drifting on without any need to land anywhere in particular.

Then on to Kingham, where you can park the car and simply walk between the Kingham Plough and the Wild Rabbit, taking a drink at each and letting the village do the rest. Together they give you exactly what you need at that point in the day: no big decisions, just the simple pleasure of moving a short distance for a very good reason to stop again.

From there, the route continues to The King’s Head in Bledington, where everything opens out onto the village green. It’s the sort of place where summer simply takes care of itself, time slips slightly out of view, and that easy sense of having arrived at exactly the right point in the day at one of the Cotswolds' favourite pubs.

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​5. The Fox to The Hollow Bottom
Picture-perfect villages, timeless pubs, and long evenings over pizza and a final drink

You begin at The Fox Broadwell, overlooking the green, where everything starts gently and has a habit of staying that way longer than it strictly needs to. Nothing pushes you on here, which is precisely the point. Lunch can be a snack from their blackboard or it's just a lovely spot to enjoy a pint, outside the front of the pub watching the world go by.

The road then lifts to The Horse & Groom in Bourton-on-the-Hill. The garden with delightful views across the Evenlode Valley is made for letting the afternoon run on properly, glasses never quite empty, and the food has that quiet competence that doesn’t ask for attention but earns it anyway. 

Then onto the Snowshill Arms which is tucked into one of the Cotswolds’ most chocolate-box villages, where everything feels just a fraction removed from the modern world. It’s an old-world pub in the best sense, no airs and graces, and absolutely no attempt to reinterpret itself for anyone passing through. It simply exists as it always has, which is exactly why it works so well.

Some narrow roads then lead you to The Halfway at Kineton, which is exactly what it says on the tin and exactly where you end up staying longer than intended. The recent new home of Zonda, the incredible pizzas feel designed for sharing in the garden with a drink in hand, conversation loosening as the afternoon slips a little further out of view. 

And finally onto The Hollow Bottom, a pub brought back to its former glory and now comfortably re-established as it should be. It’s the perfect place for a final drink of the night; unforced, welcoming, and made for that last proper pause before heading home. A pint of something local in hand, named after a racehorse you half recognise, and the evening quietly sorts itself out in front of you, without any need for ceremony.

These routes aren’t rules, they’re more a framework and a decent excuse to head out, take the long way through villages you’ve only ever driven past, and stitch together a few pubs you might not have bothered with otherwise.

The journeys between them aren’t long, and that’s exactly the point. Just enough road to build a bit of anticipation, and make that next pint or plate feel properly earned.

If you’re going to do it properly, book ahead. In summer especially, the better places quietly fill with people who had the same idea. And better still, make a night of it. Stay at the final stops, settle in, and let the evening run on without the need to move again.

Then all you have to do is turn the music up, keep the roof down, and let the Cotswolds do what it does best: feed you well and send you home slightly later than intended.

And of course, a brief and entirely unromantic reminder: pick your designated driver early, keep them well supplied with soft drinks and gratitude, and please don’t be tempted at any point to mix driving with anything stronger than common sense.

Early June will see the arrival of Zonda at The Halfway at Kineton, marking a quietly significant moment for one of the north Cotswolds’ most respected food-led pubs. It is, in essence, a pairing that feels both natural and long considered: a much-admired pizza concept finding a permanent home within a pub that has already established itself as a destination in its own right.

Zonda, created by Cam Kelly, has built its reputation in unusually organic fashion. What began, modestly enough, in a gazebo at Stow-on-the-Wold Rugby Club has developed into a word-of-mouth success story across the Cotswolds. Over the past two years, Cam has refined the offering in the kitchen at The King’s Arms in Chipping Norton, steadily growing both technique and following. The result is a pizza concept that has attracted genuine loyalty throughout the Cotswolds. 

“This feels like a huge moment for us,” says Cam. “Zonda started very small, and so many people supported us from the beginning. To now have a permanent home at The Halfway is incredibly exciting.”

That sense of progression is important. Zonda is not arriving as a pop-up or an occasional residency, but as a defined, ongoing presence, the first time the business has operated from a dedicated pub home. In a culinary landscape increasingly shaped by short-term collaborations, there is something quietly decisive about permanence.

The Halfway at Kineton, meanwhile, has already established its own identity since opening in March 2023 under chefs Nathan Eades and Liam Goff, also known for The Hollow Bottom in Guiting Power and the Bib Gourmand-awarded Horse and Groom in Bourton-on-the-Hill. In a relatively short period, The Halfway has become one of the most talked-about pub restaurants in the area, featuring in the Michelin Guide for the past two years and attracting consistent national attention.

This new chapter reflects a pragmatic evolution of that success. As Nathan Eades explains, the decision is rooted in both growth and balance across their existing sites. “With the successful opening of The Hollow Bottom in Guiting Power last July, we felt we needed to diversify our local offering to benefit both businesses rather than competing against one another,” he says. “The Halfway was our first pub, and the emotional attachment we have to it is huge. Zonda at The Halfway is a rebirth of our mothership.”

Zonda will serve its signature pizzas alongside a carefully considered small plates menu, and a drinks list that includes selected wines and a concise cocktail offering designed to sit comfortably within the relaxed pub setting. The Halfway will also continue to serve its popular Sunday roasts, which remain a central part of its weekly rhythm.

Taken together, the collaboration signals a confident step forward for both names: a respected pub refining its offer, and a distinctive pizza concept moving into a permanent setting for the first time. In the wider context of the Cotswolds dining scene, it is a simple idea executed with intent and one that feels likely to settle in quickly, as though it had always belonged there.

Zonda at The Halfway will open in early June, with bookings now open!

www.thehalfwayatkineton.com

There is a peculiar delicacy has been doing the rounds for a few years now. No, not braised pig cheek or wild garlic. Not even those all-too-familiar scotch eggs that seem to be made from equal parts sausage meat and marketing budget.

No, the real growth industry in our part of the world is the free meal.

And not the old-fashioned sort of free meal either like the occasional pint slipped your way because the landlord likes your face, or a pudding appearing with a wink at the end of a meal because you’ve laughed at one of their bad jokes earlier. This is something far more modern, far more sanitised, and far more tragic.

This is the era of the Hospitality Handout, delivered not to the starving, but to the aspiring.

To the content creator.

To the influencer.

You’d think seeing hospitality on its knees would prompt a fairly obvious reaction: book a table, go for lunch, pay the bill. Instead, it seems to have triggered something rather different, an instinct to see it as an easy target, a chance to grab a freebie, or worse still, get paid for the privilege of eating someone else’s food and calling it “content”.

And before anyone starts sharpening their steak knives, let me be clear: I’m absolutely not against marketing (I work in it!). I’m obviously not against social media (The Cotswolds Gentleman has been pretty much built on it). And I’m not even against people taking photos of their food (I do this sometimes and still suffer that feeling of embarrassment each time and feel it should come with a small fine).

What I am slightly against is the sheer, jaw-dropping volume of people in the Cotswolds who seem to be eating out as a part-time job.

Not as critics. Not as journalists. Not even as particularly interesting human beings.

Just eating. For free.

You may have seen them, migrating between Burford, Stow, Broadway and Cirencester like a herd of particularly well-dressed wildebeest in search of their natural prey: a pub that has opened, or one very close to closing. Some are wrapped in a neutral-coloured coat and Hunter wellies. Others go in their normal clothes, almost undetected until they are seen leaning over the table photographing a pork belly from seventeen different angles while it quietly dies.

And then later that day comes the Instagram post.

“Hidden gem.”

“Obsessed.”

“Such a vibe.”

“You NEED to try this.”

“Honestly unreal.”

And the most common lie ever told in the Cotswolds: “We just stumbled across this place.”

And then, the most fascinating part: the engagement.

Within seconds, the comments roll in from other influencers who have apparently been waiting, poised over their phones like air traffic control for mediocrity, or more likely summoned on a WhatsApp group.

“OMG this looks amazing!”
“Need to visit!”
“Adding to my list!”

All from people who will, inevitably, be sitting in exactly the same restaurant the following week doing exactly the same thing with exactly the same dishes in wide-eyed astonishment, as though they’ve just discovered fire while using the hashtags #invite or #ad.

Now, I understand transparency and the rules. But if you look at someone’s Instagram and every single post has #invite or #ad attached to it, that should be deeply embarrassing. At that point you’re not a food or hospitality lover, you’re essentially a freelance seagull.

And the awkward part? I honestly don’t know who's to blame.

Let’s start with the easiest target: the influencer.

There is something uniquely shameless about messaging a small independent business, already fighting soaring energy bills, staff shortages, VAT, and the general British public’s determination to stay at home, and saying, “We’d love to come in and experience your menu. Happy to collaborate!”

Collaborate. As though eating a £33 ribeye is a joint venture.

And it’s never the ones with genuine influence, is it? The ones who can actually fill tables don’t need to ask. They just go, quietly, like normal people, pay like normal people, and then mention it, if it’s good, in weekend newspaper. They don’t arrive with the air of someone about to do the restaurant a favour by ordering the scallops.

A friend who manages a local restaurant’s social media recently forwarded me a message from someone with 400 Instagram followers asking if they offer invites to “smaller creators”. A true and rather telling example. At that level, it’s less about being a “creator” in any meaningful sense and more about someone with a phone, a platform, and a slightly inflated idea of what their reach represents.

But then again, are the restaurants to blame?

Because they are doing it. They are actively feeding these people. Handing out food and drink like they’ve mistaken Instagram for the Red Cross.

And, yes, of course I understand why. Hospitality is on its last legs. It’s battered. It’s exhausted. Many places are running on fumes and goodwill. And if someone turns up offering “exposure” in exchange for a free meal, it probably feels like a bit of a lifeline, an easy way of making people aware that you exist, and a bit of a bargain.

Except it often isn’t.

Because what exactly are you buying? A photograph of your roast beef, with a caption reading “best roast ever”, which they also wrote last Sunday about a different pub just down the road.

And then there’s PR.

Ah, PR. Once the noble art of getting your client into The Times, The Telegraph, Condé Nast Traveller, or at the very least a glossy magazine that appear in doctor waiting rooms and people pretend to read. Now, increasingly, it involves sending messages like:

“Hi lovely! Would you like to come in for a complimentary dinner and share your experience?”

I know, as I receive them!

This is not public relations.

If your PR company’s greatest achievement is inviting Instagrammers for free meals, save yourself several thousand pounds a month and do it yourself if you truly believe this form of marketing works for you. At least if you’re going to give away your food, you can do it without a monthly retainer.

One of my personal rules on The Cotswolds Gentleman has always been simple: I don’t take free meals. Not because I’m holier-than-thou or morally superior, but because the hospitality industry is made up of real people trying to survive real pressures, and it doesn’t need yet another person treating their livelihood as a content opportunity.

Paying for your meal is respect. It also means you can be honest. Because once you’ve eaten for free, you’re no longer reviewing anything, you’re thanking. And a thank you, however enthusiastic, is not an honest opinion.

On the incredibly rare occasion a restaurant won’t take “no, I’m definitely paying” for an answer (this has happened twice as they were trying to thank me for something), I’ll settle it by leaving a tip for the staff that more than covers the cost of my meal. If someone insists on giving something away, it should go to the people doing the hard work, not to me.

Here’s the part that nobody seems talks about.

Because while restaurants or PR companies may believe giving away food brings in customers, it might actually be doing the opposite. I know it does for me. Because when I see a restaurant constantly giving away free meals to people with tiny followings and even tinier influence, I don’t feel inspired to book a table.

Sadly, for many, repeated gifting to low-reach accounts can start to create the impression that the value of the product is being diluted by how it’s being positioned and distributed. 

And then, quietly, without drama, I simply don’t go. Not out of spite, not because I hate influencers (The Cotswolds Gentleman falls into that bracket sometimes) and not because I’m jealous. I assumed it was just me being slightly judgemental until I asked my Instagram following a month or so ago. I was genuinely shocked by how many people shared the same view and had stopped going to particular pubs and restaurants because of this. It was more widespread than I expected.

The sad thing is, the Cotswolds has some genuinely brilliant places. Proper pubs, incredible restaurants, brilliant chefs who care, menus with thought behind them, landlords who are grafting away seven days a week just to keep the lights on. They deserve to be busy because they're good and deserve to be celebrated properly. They just need customers. Real ones. Paying ones. Returning ones.

Of course, I appreciate the world of marketing is changing. Businesses have to try things. If you’re in hospitality right now, you’ll do whatever you can to fill tables, and social media can absolutely work when it’s done properly, especially when it reaches real people in the local area who might actually come in and spend money.

But too often what’s happening is a kind of circular economy where restaurants feed influencers, influencers post for influencers, influencers comment for influencers, and the only people being influenced are other influencers looking for their next free meal.

Hospitality is being squeezed dry. And it’s not just influencers, either. There are local publications too, promising hospitality the world and delivering very little in the way of actual customers, yet charging a small fortune for the pleasure. It’s the same racket in a smarter jacket but offers the same promises: Plenty of “exposure”, minimal footfall, and an invoice that suggests they’ve just landed you a double-page spread in The Guardian.

And so I’ll end with this. Please stop taking from hospitality, no matter how much you convince yourself you’re “helping”. The industry doesn’t need more people eating for free in exchange for a few tagged photos and some performative enthusiasm. Over 3,000 venues went bust in 2025 alone, and the more we normalise this culture of taking, the worse it will get.

​If you genuinely love pubs and restaurants, do the most radical thing imaginable in 2026: book a table, pay the bill, tip the staff, and go back.

Which, call me a dinosaur, is still the best PR there is.

Let’s be honest, the Cotswolds isn't exactly short of some incredible places to eat in some of its most popular towns. There’s The Old Butchers in Stow-on-the-Wold, Smiths in Bourton-on-the-Water and Juliet in Stroud. All brilliant. But push a little further north, in and around Shipston on Stour (don't squint) and you will stumble upon some of the region’s most exciting food that seems to slip under the radar. Quietly brilliant, exactly where you least expect it.

Take The Bower House, the sort of place that makes you wonder why more people haven’t stumbled off the beaten track sooner. Set in a handsome Georgian townhouse in the heart of Shipston on Stour, it feels like a proper neighbourhood restaurant with rooms; warm, elegant, and surprisingly ambitious. Under Head Chef Leo Kattou, menus rotate with the seasons and celebrate British ingredients with ingenuity and restraint, earning AA Rosettes, Michelin Guide recommendations and plenty of local admiration along the way.

Now, cross the road, figuratively, if not literally, and you’ll find Bastardo’s Trattoria. Born from the same creative minds (Richard Craven) behind the Michelin‑starred Royal Oak at Whatcote, it wears its Italian inspiration with a distinctly British twist: seasonal produce treated with bold flavour and just the right amount of irreverence. The kitchen is led by John Broughton, formerly Head Chef at the Royal Oak, while the menu is shaped by Craven, whose love of Italian cooking was forged during the early years of his career. Warm, buzzy, and effortlessly confident.

The town seems to be staging a culinary coup.

And while we're on the subject, we should talk about The Royal Oak at Whatcote. A rarity for the Cotswolds; a village pub with a Michelin star and the quiet confidence to use it without preening. Run by chef‑owner Richard Craven and his wife Solanche, this is proper country cooking with brains and heart. The menu shifts with the micro‑seasons, rooted in wild ingredients and local foragers, from game shot on nearby hills to vegetables and rare breeds sourced from neighbouring estates, all celebrated in dishes pared down to their best possible selves. The service, warm and unpretentious, makes you feel you’re in the hands of friends rather than critics, and that’s part of the magic.

​Twelve minutes from Shipston is Whichford, one of those villages you could easily drive past without a second thought, which would be a mistake, because it is quietly blessed with not one but two reasons to stop. The Norman Knight (recently reopened under Matt and Katie Beamish of The Kingham Plough) sits comfortably on the village green, all low beams and flagstones, the reassuring heartbeat of a proper country pub and a good menu. Classic dishes are handled with care rather than fuss, making it the sort of place where you arrive for a pint and stay for supper without ever regretting the decision. 

A short stroll away, The Straw Kitchen at Whichford Pottery offers something more intimate and quietly distinctive. Tucked inside the garden of a working pottery, it's unique, small, brilliant and somewhere that laughs in the face of coordinated colour palettes. Head Chef Christne Bottine creates a menu that is creative without being complicated, the setting charming without trying too hard, and the whole experience feels personal rather than performed. 

Ten minutes in the other direction from Shipston, The Howard Arms in Ilmington feels like one of those places that has quietly mastered the art of being exactly what a Cotswold village pub should be. The food sits comfortably between classic British pub cooking and something a little more considered, with seasonal menus that avoid unnecessary complication. Inside, the atmosphere is warm and unhurried rather than showy especially with the fires roaring and a dog sitting by you feet in winter months.

​In addition to these and, again, all within 10 minutes of Shipston you will find The Cherington that offers the reassuring warmth of a proper country pub, honest cooking and long, relaxed lunches. The Fuzzy Duck at Armscote that offers polished seasonal dishes that sit neatly between rustic charm and modern confidence. Meanwhile, Pit Kitchen brings open-fire energy and bold, flavour-forward cooking, proving the countryside can handle a little urban culinary attitude. Herd at Todenham Manor is a quietly confident arrival. The menu leans on farm-sourced meat and locally inspired produce, driven by chef Christopher Ellis in a unique tented restaurant on the farm.

in the northern Cotswolds — a wine, produce and pantry concept that feels less like a shop and more like an invitation to savour the region’s best ingredients, with thoughtful selections and seasonal discoveries that reward curiosity rather than hurry.

And to wash it down? The Cotswolds Distillery in Stourton does rather lovely things with gin and whisky that reward slow, appreciative sipping rather than hurried drinking. You can lose a morning or afternoon here  with brunch or lunch in their Still House cafe. Beer wise, North Cotswold Brewery make proper country ales just outside Shipston that feel designed for worn wooden tables, late afternoon sunlight and conversations that wander pleasantly off topic. They don't offer tours, but you will find their ales behind the bar at many local pubs. Shagweaver is particularly good. 

And there you have it, this edge of the Cotswolds has been quietly getting rather good at this food and drink lark. While other parts chase crowds and postcards, this is the Cotswolds many people may not have heard about which, in some way, is still part of its charm. ​If you enjoy eating well, drinking properly, and quietly knowing you’ve found somewhere rather good before the crowds catch on, this is a corner of the Cotswolds worth remembering.

​Mentioned in this piece:

The Bower House
​bower.house

Bastardo’s Trattoria
www.bastardostrattoria.co.uk
​​
The Royal Oak, Whatcote
www.theroyaloakwhatcote.co.uk

​The Norman Knight
thenormanknight.co.uk

​The Straw Kitchen
www.whichfordpottery.com/visit/straw-kitchen

​The Howard Arms
​howardarms.com

​The Cherington
​thecherington.co.uk

​The Fuzzy Duck
​www.fuzzyduckarmscote.com

Pit Kitchen
www.pitkitchen.co.uk

Herd
todenhammanorfarm.co.uk/herd

Cotswolds Distillery
www.cotswoldsdistillery.com

North Cotswold Brewery
www.northcotswoldbrewery.co.uk

Nestled in village of Ewen, just a stone’s throw from Cirencester, The Wild Duck is preparing to make a much-anticipated return next spring. Once one of the area’s most beloved pubs before its closure in March 2019, the 16th-century coaching inn will soon reopen its doors under the expert care of Sam and Georgie Pearman, the duo behind the acclaimed Country Creatures collection.

Having breathed new life into the wonderful Double Red Duke and Mason’s Arms in Clanfield, The Wild Duck will become the third addition to their Cotswolds family, promising the same blend of warmth and quiet sophistication that has become their hallmark.

Originally the gardener’s cottage for nearby Ewen Manor, The Wild Duck is steeped in history and charm. Its latest chapter will see a full restoration that honours its past while reimagining it for a new generation of guests. Inside, Georgie Pearman will oversee the design of 20 beautiful new bedrooms, each thoughtfully created to reflect the inn’s rustic heritage with a contemporary Cotswold touch.

www.countrycreatures.com

Cheltenham has never been short of cultural offerings, but every now and again something new comes along that immediately feels like it belongs. Since its launch in April, Dom Joly’s SpeakeaZy has become one of the town’s most sought-after nights out. Part cabaret, part comedy, part live music, the monthly show has sold out every date so far, creating a buzz that has spread well beyond Gloucestershire.

Now, with summer behind us, Joly has confirmed the final three dates for 2025; Thursday 2nd October, Thursday 6th November, and Thursday 4th December, each hosted at The Steam & Whistle, Cheltenham’s newly refurbished Victorian pub by the station. 

A Homegrown Hit

SpeakeaZy is very much Joly’s love letter to his hometown. Known nationally for the outrageous stunts of Trigger Happy TV, here he offers something more personal: an evening that blends sharp humour with live performances and candid conversations. Each night feels spontaneous and unrepeatable, with stories from Joly’s thirty years in showbusiness woven together with appearances from an eclectic line-up of guests.

The format is fluid. A typical show might feature Joly sharing tales from his travels, chatting with a guest about their own journey, then handing the stage over to a stand-up comic or a rising musician. The result is a night that feels intimate, informal, and brimming with character.

A Guest List Full of Surprises

The mystery surrounding the performers is part of the thrill. Audiences have already been treated to the anarchic humour of Seann Walsh, the sharp wit of Jenny Éclair, and the raw talent of Tom A. Smith, hailed by Elton John as a future star. Beyond that, the names remain under wraps, keeping anticipation high and speculation even higher.

The Steam & Whistle

The choice of venue has been central to the show’s success. The Steam & Whistle, a short walk from Cheltenham Spa station, offers an ideal backdrop with its atmospheric basement space for 200 guests. Intimate yet vibrant, it allows the audience to feel part of the action. The courtyard provides a place to gather before the show, while the artisan pizzas and excellent drinks menu have quickly become part of the experience.

Independent venues like this are rare, and SpeakeaZy makes full use of everything it has to offer. It is live entertainment at its most unfiltered, supported by a team who understand the value of keeping things local and distinctive.

Trigger Happy turns 25

2025 also marks the 25th anniversary of Trigger Happy TV, the hidden-camera series that first propelled Joly into the spotlight. To celebrate, he is taking a new Trigger Happy show on tour across the UK, with dates in London, Birmingham, and beyond.

Dom Joly’s SpeakeaZy: Final 2025 Dates

Thursday 2nd October
Thursday 6th November
Thursday 4th December at

The Steam & Whistle, Cheltenham

TICKETS: https://www.domjoly.tv/dom-jolys-speakeazy

Artisan pizzas & bar from 5pm last pizza orders 6.50pm, show starts 7.30pm, bars stay open after the show. Please note seating is SpeakeaZy style, first come first serve so arrive early

There was a time when the pub was where Britain happened. Arguments were settled in the car park or over a game of darts and spilled beer, lifelong friendships were forged and local legends born.

Yet, somewhere between lockdown number whatever and the first delivery of warm Sauvignon Blanc to your doorstep, you started gradually forgetting about that pub or bar that you once frequented every Friday or Saturday night. And that's it really, we've allowed the pub, the heartbeat of the town or village, the nation's living room to wither while we guzzle chicken wine in our pyjamas and half-watch the kind of telly that we used to go to the pub to avoid, while scrolling through TikTok and Instagram.

It’s been happening for years, of course. The spreadsheets will tell you it's the rise in cost of living, or healthier lifestyles, or the price of beer, or the rise of Deliveroo. And they’re all a bit right, but none of them are quite it. The truth is, we let it happen quietly, politely, as only the British can by choosing convenience over community. And yet, somehow, when these places have truly gone, we feel it. That big aching space where life used to happen.

And a pub, a real pub, is not about the drink. It never has been. It’s about people. It's the somewhere to go when you’ve nowhere else to be. It’s about knowing that the world still spins, that someone remembers how you like your pint, that someone will look up and nod when you walk in.

But here's the twist. Things are starting to change.

There’s a new kind of pub resurgence taking place. Not a PR campaign from the soulless arms of corporate chains who think that putting “Craft” in front of lager makes it a revolution, but in the hands of chefs and locals who get it. Yes, actual chefs. The ones who once did 90 hour weeks cooking rabbit saddle in Michelin-starred kitchens, now turning up in small villages and towns to bring the boozer back to life.

Let's take The Hollow Bottom in Guiting Power as an example. A racing hotspot. A local legend, in fact. A place where jockeys (on their days off), trainers, stable staff, gamblers, and gentry would stand side by side screaming at one of the two televisions showing the races. And then the lease changed and so did the pub. This was followed a big brewery not understanding its heritage and then in May, like so many pubs in the UK, it closed. 

A couple of months on it's back open, with top chefs Nathan Eades and Liam Goff at the helm, the duo responsible for bringing The Halfway in Kineton back to life in 2023 and more recently putting The Horse and Groom in Bourton on the Hill back on the culinary map with a Bib Gourmand in their first six months of opening. In fact it's just open, but singing, literally. There were over 400 locals there on the night of their "soft launch" last week enjoying the music from local heroes Andrew James and John Neild, the owner of Splash Of Ginge who has a lager named after him in the pub.

And all it needed was someone to give a damn, not just about the pub but its heritage and locals too. 

The horse racing memorabilia, some saved from the skip, has been reinstated to the walls. The food is comforting but clever. The drinks are local but lush with Deya Steady Rolling Man, Hook Norton and North Cotswold ales on the taps and a bar you lean on like an old friend. There's a two-hour happy hour every day for the farmers and stable staff that finish work at 4pm in the winter or are rained off in the summer and a TV showing live sport.

The Hollow Bottom isn’t just a comeback story. It’s a blueprint. Because the pub is not dead, it just needs people who care on both sides of the bar.

Just in the last couple of weeks, Cheltenham has seen two new openings too.

The Beehive, nestled into the pretty Montpellier quarter, was always a popular pub. It's where I, and many others who live far from Cornwall, discovered Rattler. Never again. And then it closed. 

Weeks later it flung its doors back open with new Executive Chef Tom Rains (formerly of The Daffodil and No.3 in town) and new General Manager Richard Shakeshaft (formerly of, oh, The Beehive and back for his second stint) and a bold new vision for what proper pub food should be. 

The Beehive isn’t reinventing the wheel. It’s about making sure the wheel has good tread, rolls smooth, and pairs beautifully with Chef Tom's Pie of the Day, mashed potato and gravy. They have kept the same previous soul with classics on the menu. Nothing too shouty or flashy, just a real kind of pub that feels like a pub, with hearty food, proper ales and decent wines.

You go to The Beehive and remember why pubs matter. Because everyone’s there from young to old, professionals to trades persons, all mix well in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere with a drink in hand.

Away from pubs but something equally important is Parler, Cheltenham's new high-fidelity listening bar. There are no pork scratchings or dart boards, but it plays the same role with community, atmosphere and connection at its heart.

Think turntables, vinyl and cocktails that feel like they've been stirred by Marvin Gaye himself. You walk in to Parler and the world goes quiet except for the music. It’s the kind of bar Tokyo has been perfecting for 30 years, and now we’ve now got one on our doorstep that offers beautiful beer brews from the awesome folk at Deya and flaky, golden pastries and small plates from La Boulangerie Artisan.

And all of this matters.

Because this isn’t just about pints, cocktails and "Chef Tom's" pies. It’s about community. It’s about having a place to go when you’re toasting another orbit around the sun, or celebrating a new job, or when you just want somewhere to sit quietly with a pint of Guinness and watch the rugby. It’s where you meet people you wouldn’t swipe right on. Where you talk to strangers. It's where life happens, unfiltered.

Even Jeremy Clarkson, he of farming and petrol gets it. His Farmer's Dog pub has been open for nearly a year and has been heaving since day one. He’s not doing it for kicks, he’s doing it to create a community of people coming to his pub, to support the locals who contribute to his menu and to sell his own Hawkstone beer, of course. 

We need to support them. Not once a year for a Christmas pint. But regularly. We take friends. We try the new place. Rain or shine. And we don't complain about the prices like it's still 1995. Because these pubs and bars can’t exist on sentiment alone. They need us, and we need them.

One of the Cotswolds’ most iconic racing pubs, The Hollow Bottom, is set to reopen its doors on Friday 25th July 2025, under the experienced stewardship of chefs Nathan Eades and Liam Goff.
 
Situated just 25 minutes from Cheltenham Racecourse in the heart of the Cotswolds, The Hollow Bottom has long been a favourite among racing fans, locals, and visitors alike. 

​Nestled within a few miles of the legendary stables of Nigel and Willy Twiston-Davies and Jonjo and AJ O’Neill Racing, the pub’s strong horse racing heritage will continue to be celebrated at its core.
 
Eades and Goff, who already run two acclaimed pubs - the Michelin recommend Halfway at Kineton and Horse and Groom in Bourton on the Hill that was awarded a coveted Bib Gourmand in 2025 - bring with them a passion for honest food, warm hospitality, and breathing new life into beloved village pubs.

“We’re incredibly proud to be taking on such an important local institution,” said Nathan Eades. “The Hollow Bottom is more than just a pub, it’s a huge part of Guiting Power and the local farming and racing community, and we’re honoured to carry that legacy forward and give the village their much-loved pub back. It’s sadly lost its way in recent years and we very much want to take it back to its glory days of yesteryear.”
 
Guests can expect daily-changing menus with some local favourites, drinks that pay homage to the pub’s heritage, cracking wines and a vibrant warm welcome. 

The kitchen will be headed up by Josh Murphy, who has worked in Michelin starred establishments, including Lucknam Park near Bath and Le Champignon Sauvage in Cheltenham. He will be supported by Nathan and Liam’s long standing chef Felipe Escoda, formerly of The Cross at Kenilworth, The Ritz and, more locally, The Wild Rabbit.

he pair, alongside Operations Director Silviu Dinu, have appointed Claudio Liquori as Restaurant Manager where they all worked together at The Wild Rabbit.

Miles Partridge, who has worked in pubs locally in the last few years, will be assisting and ensuring the bar runs like clockwork.

Eades added “We are just very excited to get going and welcome everyone back to ‘The Hollow’ to enjoy its unique atmosphere, outstanding hospitality, and rich heritage.”

“Our main aim is to put the heart and soul back into this fantastic pub, with daily happy hours, racing and other on the TV, a buzzing garden and high-quality food on the plates”
 
The pub will open its doors on Friday 25th July 2025. For reservations, please contact the restaurant at [email protected]

www.thehollowbottom.com

One of Montpellier’s most iconic pubs is making its comeback, promising the same legendary vibe that has made it so popular over the last decade or more.

The Beehive Montpellier has officially reopened with a brand-new kitchen, a bold food direction, and a powerhouse team at the helm. This isn’t just a reopening – it’s a complete reset.

Leading the charge is a formidable duo.

Tom Rains, Executive Chef at the acclaimed Fildes Restaurant at Montpellier Wine Bar, is now taking the reins across both venues – becoming Executive Chef for Fildes and The Beehive. With a background that includes kitchens like The Berkeley, Claridge’s, L’Escargot, and Gstaad Palace, Tom brings serious culinary firepower to Cheltenham’s pub scene. At The Beehive, he’s delivering elevated comfort food with real craft: handmade pies, stacked burgers, and scratch-made sauces — done properly, with no shortcuts.

​Joining him is returning favourite Richard Shakeshaft, now back as General Manager after a much-loved run at The Beehive from 2016 to 2019. With 25 years in hospitality, a passion for real ale, and a CV packed with CAMRA-recognised pubs and standout independents, Richard brings warmth, precision, and personality to the front of house.

“We’re not just back — we’re better,” says Shakeshaft. “We’ve kept the soul of The Beehive, but we’ve raised the bar. Proper pints, handcrafted food, and the same buzz locals love.”

thebeehivemontpellier.com

After three sell out shows since Dom Joly’s Speakeazy started in April this year, the next two Speakeazy dates with a Dom Joly exclusive for Cheltenham have been announced at The Steam and Whistle Pub.

Not only will there be some incredible guests appearing, but ahead of Dom’s 25th Anniversary Trigger Happy Live Nation UK tour later this year, Dom thought it would be fun to give Cheltenham a very special sneak peak of Trigger Happy, a trip down memory lane and some exclusive content from the forthcoming UK tour. 

FRIDAY 8th August 
THURSDAY 11th September

What started off as a whimsical idea has come true

Dom Joly’s Speakeazy appears to have been a massive success with Cheltonians, and he couldn’t be happier. The opportunity to curate a regular mystery night out in his hometown has been both amazing fun and an incredible privilege for him.

“I set out to curate Dom Joly’s Speakeazy to host big name guests like Jenny Éclair alongside emerging new talent like the extraordinary Tom A Smith whom Elton John described as “a massive star for the future.” Dom is also keen to support local talent and is on the look-out for interesting Cheltonian artists. “I want to support a wide range of acts, both in content and in age and across the whole spectrum of show business.

The feedback has been fantastic with all the shows sold out so far and demand for future ones off the charts.

Dom and the team have listened to regulars of the show and have slightly decreased the ticket capacity to make the experience more enjoyable. SpeakeaZy is driven by Dom’s wicked sense of fun along with his impeccable music taste. He adores curating the evenings so that SpeakeaZers never know what’s coming next. This Cabaret of Curiosities ranges from Dom’s tales of thirty extraordinary years stumbling through showbusiness, outrageous comedy characters, incredible music and of course, surprises…lots of surprises.

August & September exclusive

“What with this being the 25th anniversary of Trigger Happy TV, it’s a massively busy year for me, but for the next couple of shows prior to my UK tour I thought it might be fun to to give Cheltenham at our SpeakeaZy a very special sneak peak of Trigger Happy, a trip down memory lane and some exclusive content from the forthcoming shows on my 25th Anniversary Trigger Happy UK tour.

So, the August and September Speakeazys will have a decidedly Trigger Happy TV theme to them and as news builds outside of Cheltenham about this incredibly popular night more names are set to join me on stage. We’ve moved the August date from a usual Thursday to a Friday to fit in with a particular name! But as always, you’ll have to wait to find out on the night!

Tickets are on sale now - www.domjoly.tv/dom-jolys-speakeazy

One of our favourite things at the Cheltenham Jazz Festival is the incredible free "around town" events that take place across various venues in the town.

This dynamic programme showcases an exciting mix of performances, from intimate pop-up shows in pubs and bars to vibrant acts in unexpected spaces around town. With 70+ artists, it’s your chance to discover fresh talent, support emerging artists and maybe even catch a future headliner.

The venues include The Free Stage on the festival site, Bottle of Sauce, Smokey Joes, The Queens, Hotel du Vin, The Tavern, The Brewery Quarter, John Lewis, and the Imperial Garden Bar.

For the full day-to-day line-ups, visit www.cheltenhamfestivals.org/our-projects/around-town/cheltenham-jazz-festival-around-town

​In partnership with Visit Cheltenham
www.visitcheltenham.com

After a sell-out first Cabaret of Curiosities last week, multi-award-winning comedian, and Cheltenham resident, Dom Joly has added some new dates at The Steam and Whistle Pub in Cheltenham

The next dates are:

Thursday 1st May

Thursday 5th June

Thursday 3rd July

The 230 deep crowd enjoyed a performance from the "You're Gorgeous" famed 90s rockers Babybird and the brilliantly funny French comedian Marcel Lucont.

The Speakeazy is recorded for a podcast, with a mission to not only shine a light of local talent but invite bands he loves to do unplugged sets as well as a series of top mystery guests that, with the help of the audience, he will interview on stage. 

You can find all the information and ticket links HERE and photos from the first show below.

It has been confirmed today that season 4 of the superb Clarkson's Farm will land on Amazon Prime on Friday 23rd May.

The series follows Jeremy Clarkson and Kaleb Cooper's ups and downs in the world farming and now, of course, the hospitality industry with Jeremy's pub The Farmer's Dog opening in the Cotswolds last summer.

Season 3 of the show breaking Amazon Prime UK's ratings record and we wouldn't be surprised if Season 4 does the same!

Multi-award-winning comedian, and Cheltenham resident, Dom Joly has created an awesome new night in town.

Dom’s first Cabaret of Curiosities will take place aton Thursday 3rd April at The Steam and Whistle Pub (opposite Chetenham Spa railway station) and have a late-night chat show vibe with guests, music & comedy.

Dom wants to provide a unique, off-beat experience. The idea is to have an evening that incorporates all of Joly’s interests- music, comedy, a bit of culture and a smattering of current affairs.  

It aims to be a monthly affair, taking place on the first Thursday of every month, and the evenings will be recorded for a podcast of the same name which he promises that it will not be your usual podcast. 

Joly wants to not only shine a light of local talent in his curiosity show, he has persuaded bands he loves to do unplugged sets and promises a series of top mystery guests that, with the help of the audience, he will interview on stage. These could be musicians, comedians, writers, politicians…anybody who Dom feels might be interesting and are foolish enough to accept his invitation. 

2025 is already a huge year with the 25th anniversary of global smash hit Trigger Happy TV, and a tour being announced this week.

You can find all the information of the Speakeazy HERE.

Kingham Plough Head Chef Ashleigh Farrand will represent the South West on the new series of the Great British Menu on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer.

Keep your eyes peeled this coming Tuesday 4th February at 8pm.

We wish Ashleigh all the very best!

With short days and long nights, winter can feel very long for many of us. 

However, there is lots to enjoy and we think that we have found some of the best things to do (in our humble opinion) in and around the Cotswolds to help get through the next few months, from great sport, music, films and, of course, food, booze and pubs!

Cheltenham (arguably) is the best National Hunt racecourse in the country. It has regular racedays pretty much every month up until May.

Enjoy the smaller meetings in October, December and January or dive into the buzz and excitement of the bigger days in November, New Year's Day (the best way to shake off a hangover!) and, of course, the Cheltenham Festival in March where the atmosphere is electric. 

BUY TICKETS

The Sub Rooms in Stroud and Cheltenham Town Hall are a hotbed of live music and comedy here in the Cotswolds.

Altered Images, Nick Heyward, The Bay City Rollers (yes, you read that correctly!) and John Power (Cast) can all be found playing in Stroud over the next few months.

For laughs, you will find Russell Kane, Jimmy Carr, Jimeoin, Dara O'Brien and Rob Beckett gracing the stage at Cheltenham Town Hall.

thesubrooms.co.uk
​
cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk

All local rugby fans have probably experienced the atmosphere in The Shed at Kingsholm, but have you ever explored the hospitality options to elevate your day even more?

Perfect for birthdays, festive parties, corporate gatherings and rugby-loving stag and hen days, there is a wide range to choose from that suits all budgets, from boxes with spectacular views of the pitch, to the Captain’s Lounge and 1873 Bistro which offer fantastic dining and great match-day entertainment.

www.gloucesterrugby.co.uk

Winter is the perfect time for settling into a comfy sofa and watching a film. We are big fans of The Living Room in Chipping Norton where you can do just that, as well as enjoying a cocktail or a glass of wine or two at the same time.

With huge films including Gladiator II, Paddington, Blitz and Small Things Like These as well as their hugely popular Boozy Elf and Cheese, Wine and Love Actually Christmas specials, the cinema is a great place to spend a dark, chilly winter evening,

thelivingroomcinemachippy.co.uk

If you're looking for an uber-social sport to play in the winter, go a try padel. It's something we really bang the drum for as it's great fun and good fitness too.

Padel Shift at Bamford are in the process of building a roof on one of their courts and there are two new indoor courts at Far Peak near Northleach.

www.padelshift.com

www.cotswoldpadel.club

If this isn't your first visit to our site, you will know that we are huge supporters of the wonderful pubs that the Cotswolds has to offer.

Experiencing the Cotswolds on foot is one of the best ways to explore the beautiful countryside, and walking could have had its own section. 

However, what could be better than doing a circular walk from a pub and returning to enjoy a pint next a roaring log fire a with family, friends and dogs (most pubs are dog friendly now) and tucking into some incredible food from some top chefs.

Our Top 50 Pubs in the Cotswolds guide will help you discover some of the of the best ones, but if you need more info/help at all, drop us a note on our Instagram page and we will point you in the right direction.

The Everyman in Cheltenham is an architectural masterpiece and boasts some wonderful stage shows, music and comedy.

This winter, you can enjoy Chicago, Al Murray, Jack Dee, The Girl On The Train, Six and, of course, their legendary panto starring Tweedy the Clown.

www.everymantheatre.org.uk

​If you're in the Cirencester area, check out The Barn Theatre which has Room 13 and The Three Musketeers on their stage.

barntheatre.org.uk

There are quite a few Christmas Light Trails to enjoy in the Cotswolds to get you into the festival spirit.

Spectacle of Lights at Sudeley Castle, Adam Henson's Cotswold Farm Park and, probably the most spectacular, Blenheim Palace.

www.blenheimpalace.com

If you love your spirits, you will love a tour or masterclass at the Cotswolds Distillery.

A tour consists of a look around the distillery where you will see the process in action, before heading back to sample lots of their beautiful spirits and liqueurs.

If you want to experience something extra, why not book yourselves on a whisky or gin masterclass where you get to blend you very own drinks.

www.cotswoldsdistillery.com

The Manor House Golf Club in Castle Combe is one of the most stunning golf courses in the country. 

On top of that, the golf club is part of The Manor House estate, a luxury country house hotel with Michelin star dining, also home to The Castle Inn, a 12th century pub offering rooms and great food in the heart of of of the most beautiful villages in the UK.

www.exclusive.co.uk/the-manor-house-golf-club

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

​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

DEYA, in collaboration with FOUR CATS, will be opening a new venue, The Swamp, in Unit 33/34 Lansdown Industrial Estate, Cheltenham. Coming August 2024.

Taking over DEYA's former Mixed Fermentation Taproom (and our OG Brewery), the Swamp will offer a lineup of delicious DEYA beers, fresh FOUR CATS cocktails, and banging natural wines. A brand-new kitchen will provide amazing plates to accompany the drinks. Built on collaboration, this is a place that brings people together. 

​The Swamp will offer walk-ins and reservations from 4pm until midnight on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. It's a cosy alternative to the main Taprooms for a drink, a bite to eat, and intimate service. The space will also host an eclectic calendar of festivals and events.  

“When imagining rejuvenating our OG DEYA brewery and taproom, collaboration has always been at the heart of the project. Our aim for The Swamp is to create a space that is unique to anything else Cheltenham currently has to offer. We feel that FOUR CATS was the perfect partner.. Working together to create an exciting menu of beer, cocktails, and an extensive events calendar for visitors of Cheltenham to enjoy.” - Katie Brown, DEYA, Brand Manager

“DEYA’s Mixed Ferm taproom always felt like a hidden gem to me. It’s an intimate, cosy space that contrasts perfectly with the main Tappy’s bustling beer hall vibe. We’re over the moon to be joining DEYA in reimagining their original unit as The Swamp. We’re really going to focus on maintaining the same kind of welcoming, friendly atmosphere and genuine service whilst extending the selection of quality bevs and making it accessible to everyone” Matt, FOUR CATS, Founder

Opening Hours: Thurs-Sat 4pm-12am

They are also offering the space out for private event hire. 

Contact [email protected]

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

Happy New Year!

Our highly anticipated Top 50 Pubs in the Cotswolds guide for 2024 will be landing very soon.

It's always hugely popular with the last two years' additions both attracting over 250,000 views, which it is absolutely ridiculous!

A huge thank you to all of our readers and followers for their incredible support.

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