The Fox at Oddington Hotel

Cotswold, England

Cotswolds villages are best known for honey-coloured stone houses draped with wisteria, winding rivulets and toy-town bridges – and the look extends to a distinctive interiors aesthetic too.

Few places adhere to it more stringently than The Fox at Oddington. After all, its year-long renovation was masterminded by Lady Bamford – a figurehead in the Cotswolds’ aesthetic movement. When she founded Daylesford Organic, the first farm shop was strictly grassfed beef – now temple-like buildings sell everything from cultured buttermilk to Château Léoube organic rosé made at the Bamfords’ Provençal vineyard, and
even Daylesford diffusers.

The Fox is laden with all the trappings you might expect. The six suites (with names such as Hedgerow, Wild Meadow and Hunting Lodge) are decked out in natural materials, all in tastefully muted tones. Downstairs, the equestrian-themed bar is fully equipped with huge inglenook fireplaces, worn leather and wall-mounted rosettes. One of the oldest nooks in the pub – now known as The Tack Room – is a great spot to enjoy an artisanal ale or perhaps a seasonal cocktail or two. Perfect for accompanying the food, which doesn’t stray far from British classics, but everything is executed with passion and precision. After all, given the surroundings, a half pint of prawns followed by roast pork belly with crackling and lashings of apple sauce more than fits the bill.

Doubles from £225. 01451 767000, thefoxatoddington.com

Words by Rachel Walker.

This review was taken from the August/September 2023 issue of Food and Travel. To subscribe today, click here.