Double Red Duke Hotel

Cotswolds

What’s not to like about the Double Red Duke, the 17th-century inn turned restaurant with rooms? A wood-fired grill to cook up a menu devised by the talented Richard Sandiford, with the assistance of meat guru Richard Turner (of Hawksmoor and Meatopia fame, so expect large cuts and whole fish); 19 cosy, characterful rooms; a ‘Shepherd’s Hut’ in the garden for wellbeing treatments; a 13th-century church for a neighbour and all within a typically serene Cotswoldian village setting.

That it won best Newcomer in our Reader Awards this year only underlines the fact that this place is meeting expectations. A flavour of the menu: milk and honey lamb chops with pea and haggis salad; spit-roast turbot with lemon ketchup and grilled rose veal chop, fried oysters and egg tartare.

Doubles from £135. 01367 810222, countrycreatures.com

Words by Alex Mead.

This review featured in the May 2022 issue of Food and Travel. To subscribe today, click here.