WHAT’S NEW IN THE COTSWOLDS

These popular venues in this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty all have something new to reveal

THE CASTLE INN, CASTLE COMBE, WILTSHIRE

Castle Combe is a quintessentially English village in North West Wiltshire, often referred to as the prettiest village in England. It’s home to The Castle Inn, a 12th-century destination pub complete with 12 en suite rooms and offering local beverages matched with good, honest pub food that has just appointed talented South West-based chef, Jamie Barnett as head chef.

Jamie, who has previously held positions at Lucknam Park and Bowood tells us, “I’m thrilled to have joined the team at The Castle Inn and am excited to create and deliver a menu that pays homage to traditional gastro-dining, using quality local produce from trusted suppliers and delivering each dish with warm hospitality. For me, pub fare isn’t about being fancy, it’s about imparting great cookery and letting the produce speak for itself.”

Guests can expect traditional gastro dishes on the menu made with high-quality local produce cooked simply with the menu changing often to adapt to the seasons. Current snacks include home-cured bresaola and Padrón peppers and salt beef croquettes and aioli. Starter choices are twice-baked double-barrelled cheese souffle, the Castle Inn scotch egg and beetroot-cured salmon served with fennel and pickled radish and beetroot. Highlights from the main menu are the castle burger topped with cheese, bacon jam, house pickles and burger sauce served with fries, Wiltshire venison steamed pudding accompanied with wild mushrooms, sticky red cabbage and mashed potato and Cotswold battered catch of the day served with hand-cut chips, mushy peas and tartare reign supreme. The dessert offering includes sticky toffee stout pudding served with vanilla ice cream and white chocolate cheesecake with gingerbread puree and cinnamon ice cream. A selection of cheeses with pear chutney and crackers is also available on request alongside a hand-picked offering of Dalva port.

In other news at the property, considerate restoration projects have been carried out throughout the pub to preserve yet enhance the charm of this historic building. Diners can relax at a table in the bar, the central dining room or the outdoor terrace. Those looking to host an event, for example, an intimate wedding dinner, can book one of the inn’s woodenclad private dining spaces, seating between six and 24 guests, with the option to hire the entire property. Upstairs, 12 en suite bedrooms provide a comfortable retreat for guests.

Located opposite is its sister property, The Manor House, a luxury hotel and golf club home to the Michelin-starred restaurant, Bybrook, overseen by Rob Potter that’s part of the Exclusive Collection, a family-owned independent collection of hotels and spas, a golf club, cookery school and a pub.

Ceremony licence? No Contact: www.exclusive.co.uk/the-castle-inn

TEWKESBURY PARK, GLOUCESTERSHIRE

This stylish hotel and wedding venue is set in 165 acres of parkland overlooking the famous site of the 1471 Battle of Tewkesbury. In 2019, the hotel completed an extensive four-year renovation costing £10 million that saw the addition of nine luxury historic suites, two new spa rooms, two meeting rooms, an Orangery, a Cocktail Lounge and the Cotswolds Suite - a glass façade events suite showcasing magnificent views that’s fully air-conditioned and equipped with a video wall. Just outside, there’s a wood-fired pizza oven and terrace perfect for summer weddings.

Accommodating up to 200 wedding guests, the Cotswolds Suite can be subdivided into three equal sections; The Broadway Suite that’s adjacent to the golf putting green; The Burford Suite which is the middle room and The Bibury Suite adjoining the exclusive-use Berkeley Lounge, Bar and Terrace.

Spring 2021 saw the completion of a room refurbishment with 17 new outdoor garden terraces created, and four ground-floor guest rooms being fully refurbished to create brand-new terrace rooms.

Ceremony licence? Yes Contact: 01684 272 300, www.tewkesburypark.co.uk

We love... the décor of the new outdoor garden terrace rooms with the bathrooms boasting bold statement fittings and large mirrors and the bedrooms providing a fresh country-style feel with a modern twist.

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THE SPEECH HOUSE HOTEL, COLEFORD, GLOUCESTERSHIRE

This former 17th-century hunting lodge is set in the heart of the idyllic Royal Forest of Dean combining period charm with modern hotel and purposebuilt wedding venue facilities that are showcased in this new wedding video that the property has released.

The manicured garden area provides a much-photographed stag statue for photo opportunities and the hotel borders the 15-acre Speech House field that can be hired for wedding games during the summer months.

The Edwin Tauber Suite overlooking the Speech House field and the ancient woodland beyond is a picture-perfect setting for a party. The large bi-fold doors open out on to a covered terrace that leads to the hotel garden and beyond. This spacious and light purpose-built function suite has a bar and reception area offering plenty of space for up to 150 guests seated at dinner and dancing for up to 200 people. The ceremony can take place outdoors under the sheltered terrace with guests looking on while the suite can be laid out traditionally for the wedding breakfast with everyone seated at round tables or, for a more contemporary feel, long rustic banquet tables can be positioned in this flexible space.

Alternatively, the historic Verderers’ Court provides a traditional setting for any celebration for between 50 and 70 guests. It’s steeped in history, from the hand-carved chairs to the open fireplace and beamed ceiling. The Carolean Room, named after the era of King Charles II, is ideal for smaller parties of up to 25 guests. This charming room is situated in the main part of the hotel and is decorated in a traditional country house style.

The Orangery is a light and airy garden room available to hire exclusively for post-wedding drinks and canapés or as an extra space for the wedding party. It opens out on to a pretty garden and can be hired alongside the Edwin Tauber Suite, Verderers’ Court or The Carolean Room.

Ceremony licence? Yes Contact: 01594 822 607, https://thespeechhouse.co.uk