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Catching flights for someplace new is fun, but have you spent a long weekend exploring medieval villages and settled in for the night next to a roaring pub fire? Swap airport queues for winding country roads fringed with frosty hedgerows, and save time spent searching ‘where to eat, drink and eat like a local’ by staying at the source. We’ve explored the best British stays, where you can eat, drink and sleep all under one roof, minimising stress and optimising excellence.
The Three Horseshoes, Batcombe, Somerset
Ed Schofield
A new addition to the sleepy village of Batcombe, The Three Horseshoes was brought to life by adored chef and restaurateur Margot Henderson, the queen of understated deliciousness. The 17th-century pub is a welcome sight after a series of twists and turns through West Country roads. The Three Horseshoes is exactly what you want from a country pub, with a delightfully worn-in facade that has welcomed three centuries' worth of punters over its threshold. Inside, medieval-style paintings on the theme of feasting are fixed to white walls in an ode to the Henderson nose-to-tail ethos. The main menu is small and succinct, filled with hearty country food made using the best local produce. There are five guest rooms above the pub – furnished in traditional style – to host devotees making the trip from afar.
The Gunton Arms, Norfolk
Tucked into the bucolic landscapes of North Norfolk, The Gunton Arms is a traditional inn surrounded by 1,000 acres of deer park, with hyper-local, seasonal food and ingredient-led menus. They use their own venison, which is cooked over a large open fire in the Elk Room, and chef Stuart Tattersall sources seafood from local fishermen down the road in Cromer. Though the food is delicious, what makes the pub so unique is the art. Back in 2009, art dealer Ivor Braka bought the building, bringing his abundant art collection with him. Works by the likes of Tracey Emin, Damien Hirst and Lucien Freud can be found through the dining spaces, the pub and into all eight bedrooms. Staying the weekend? Take a 40-minute stroll to sister pub, The Suffield Arms, for a taste of the Mediterranean.
Holm, South Petherton, Somerset
Ed Schofield
Somerset simply tastes great: the meat is bolder, the vegetables brighter and the cider packs an unfiltered punch. Holm takes all that regional greatness and presents it proudly, from the perfectly dense dark chocolate cooked with a salted crust found in rooms upon arrival, to the thoughtful Chef’s Menu that seamlessly knits together traditional West Country staples with innovative flavours. When you’re done sipping traditional method Brut produced by Devon’s Castlewood Vineyards, walk through the cellar and climb the stairs to your chic Scandinavian-style hideout, featuring a sculptural bath at the foot of the bed. Breakfast is a three-course affair that will set you up for a day spent ambling around Hauser & Wirth and nearby villages.
Updown Farmhouse, Betteshanger, Kent
Ed Schofield
Updown Farmhouse is a Grade II listed building dropped into acres of neatly manicured green space just outside the seaside town of Deal. Small but luxurious, this former farmstead was lovingly renovated into a guesthouse with six luxurious rooms and an al fresco restaurant sitting within walled gardens. Menus change regularly but there’s always a nod to Italy with garden-herb negronis and plates like pheasant agnolotti, seafood fazzoletti and transcendental morsels of extra virgin olive oil-drenched focaccia. The quintessentially British rooms serve as a reminder that you are, in fact, in England and not a charming Umbrian farmhouse.
The Bull, Charlbury, Oxfordshire
Photo courtesy of The Bull Charlbury, UK
A picture-perfect pub in the handsome town of Charlbury, The Bull is the perfect spot for a weekend of delicious food and good wine enjoyed beside multiple Instagram-worthy fireplaces. Owners Phil Winser and James Gummer, the duo behind The Pelican in Notting Hill, spent their childhood in the Cotswolds and later drank their first pints in the pub which makes this a very special, personal project. The menu is constantly changing based on the produce delivered by farmers as part of their growing programme at Bruern Farm, but The Bull goes beyond seasonal cooking to regenerate farming communities and the land. Interiors are unpretentiously chic, showcasing the best of British craftsmanship and all 10 ensuite bedrooms have views of undulating fields – some even have a fireplace next to a roll-top soaking tub.
Boath House, Nairn, Nairnshire
Beth Evans
A few nights at Boath House, an impressive Georgian mansion built over two centuries ago, feels like a weekend in the home of an aristocrat – the perfect base for touring the Scottish Highlands. The hotel was designed by artist Jonathan Gent, who ditched the quintessentially Scottish interiors for a neutral Farrow & Ball palette that puts the period features centre-stage. With Florence Knight (of London’s Sessions Arts Club) at the helm, the food offering orbits around seasonality: think pretty plates punctuated by plants like radish and dandelion tart, scallops with kohlrabi and apple, and local cheeses served with wildflowers. Because of its remote location, this is a place to settle in for a short while, which is made easy by endless possibilities to forage, draw, drink, dine and explore.
The Lamb, Shipton, Oxfordshire
Packed with personality in the form of exposed beams, contemporary artwork and 16th-century flagstone floors, The Lamb is a classic pub with a generous serving of countryside chic. This is not a place for delicate small plates and serious wine; it’s a joyful, heartwarming and belly-filling celebration of British food. There are 10 cosy rooms divided equally between the main building and cottage next door, all of which feature handmade wool throws from nearby weavers and striped curtains crafted by the owner’s mother. Not only will you eat and sleep well, but you’ll play well too as The Lamb offers deer stalking, pigeon shooting and simulated game days during the summer.
Glebe House, Colyton, Devon
This guesthouse, restaurant and 15-acre smallholding in the heart of East Devon is the ultimate retreat for the culinary curious. Just a short drive from the dramatic Jurassic coast and surrounded by the rolling hills of the Coly Valley, the surrounding area makes for excellent walking territory. Glebe House is a family affair: current owner Hugo took the bed and breakfast over from his parents, using his expertise acquired in the kitchens of Sorella and The Marksman to make this a favourite destination on the foodie map. There’s always a warm loaf of bread to get stuck into with house-cured charcuterie and pickles, and plates piled high with tagliolini and locally sourced saddleback chop. Glebe House is like staying with good friends, who happen to cook really, really well.
Rothay Manor, Ambleside, Cumbria
Live the country life with a touch of luxury at Rothay Manor. The Lake District is well known for its countryside inns supplying sustenance after a day of stomping around the Lakes, but Rothay Manor brings a touch of elegance and grandeur. The restaurant is the beating heart and chef Daniel McGeorge is dedicated to using the best produce he can get his hands on as close to home as possible: meat is from Cumbria, fish from the Northeast, and seafood is from Scotland. Rooms are stylish and spacious, with whimsical wallpaper, mid-century interiors and standalone baths.
The Grandtully Hotel by Ballintaggart, Grandtully, Perthshire
The owners of nearby Ballintaggart Farm have given this former railway hotel dating back to 1866 an entirely new look. Aesthetically, it feels more Scandinavian than Scottish with exposed hanging bulbs and sheepskin-lined chairs, though the vintage luggage racks nod to its Victorian roots. The food is well worth the long journey into deepest Perthshire, which makes sense considering their sister site is a cookery school. Diners can choose between a seasonal set menu or a longer tasting menu featuring the most impressive Scotland ingredients such as Loch Fyne oyster with fermented hot sauce, Negroni-cured wild halibut and Murthly Estate venison loin.
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