The Cotswolds Gentleman
  • HOME
  • CULTURE
  • TRAVEL
  • TASTE
  • THE ROAR
  • EVENTS
  • LATEST

REVIEW: THE HOLLOW BOTTOM

18/4/2021

0 Comments

 
After months of domestic imprisonment, the twelfth of April had become a highly significant day as pubs and restaurants were allowed reopen, albeit outside, and everything in the world was hunky-dory once again.

It snowed. Is this some kind of sick joke Mother Nature? She's obviously a bitter and twisted teetotaller.

We didn't venture out until Friday. We also chose to go at lunchtime as I thought a balmy 9 degrees was more appealing than 4 degrees later on that evening. My choice was also based on the size of heaters so The Hollow Bottom it was.

Before The Lucky Onion Group acquired the pub, the previous owners had replaced a tiny unfunctional car park at the rear with some tiered decking, a "beach bar", a boules court and BBQ pit. Although I have to this day never seen either of the latter two used, it was an impressive space. 

Two thirds of the space is covered with the rest open for people to soak up the spring sunshine in their coats and hats. We were undercover. 

I had gone prepared with four layers and a scarf. However, after five minutes I had removed the scarf and two of the layers  as the monster gas burner was making us feel like we were in Greece rather than Guiting Power. 

The Hollow Bottom has a new menu which was long overdue. They tried putting their stamp on various pub classics when they first opened. Some really worked. The Ham, Egg and Chips is an impressive whole honey-glazed ham hock and has survived the cull. Others, like the chicken in a basket, really didn't work and have had the chop.

The menu consists of some light bites, including things like 1/2 Pint Prawns with Aioli and Chilli Whitebait. There are ten starters, twelve main courses, if you include the four "pub classics" and a selection of sides.

We ordered the Twice Baked Haddock Souffle, New Seasons Asparagus, Chives & Caviar Sauce and the Confit Wood Pigeon & Chicken Liver Pate to start, followed by the Cotswold Venison & Claret Pie (with a courtesy side of fries for the gravy) and the Spiced Rubbed Pork Belly, Spring Carrots, Pearl Barley Risotto & Apple Chilli for mains.

It was incredibly impressive. 

This was seriously good grown-up cooking which the pub deserves. It was the kind of food you would expect to see at its sister pub, The Wheatsheaf in Northleach which has always been superb. 

We may have to sometimes battle the elements and the part of your brain that questions why you would consider eating outside in freezing temperatures, but my god, it's good to be back out

www.hollowbottom.com
Picture
Picture
Picture
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    Archives

    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016

    Categories

    All
    Cheltenham
    Cheltenham Festival
    Chipping Campden
    Cirencester
    Cocktails
    Cotswolds
    Dining
    Events
    Food
    Food News
    Gifford's Circus
    Golf
    Horse Racing
    Hotels
    Jonjo O'Neill Jr.
    Photography
    Property
    Pubs
    Restaurants
    Reviews
    Skiing
    Stow On The Wold
    Style
    Summer
    Sunrise
    The Big Feastival
    The Gin Bar
    This Country
    Travel
    Wine Wednesday

    RSS Feed

​​SUBSCRIBE    ADVERTISE     PRIVACY POLICY     COMPETITIONS     CONTACT
Picture
© THE COTSWOLDS GENTLEMAN 2022
  • HOME
  • CULTURE
  • TRAVEL
  • TASTE
  • THE ROAR
  • EVENTS
  • LATEST