UK Culinary TOUR

Cotswolds

One of the UK's most beautiful locations, the Cotswolds has numerous pubs, restaurants, farm shops and cafes which make the ideal foodie getaway. Their hotels are also well-renowned when it comes to high end foodie fare.

Burleigh Court in Stroud's Golden Valley is such a hotel. Burleigh Court o ers guests the ideal country weekend away, thanks to cosy bedrooms featuring four poster beds, a wonderful 2 AA Rosette restaurant and glorious grounds to enjoy.

Burleigh Court was taken over by its current owners in 2019, when they undertook a timetable of extensive renovations. At the core of their activities has been turning the property into the ideal country retreat. Thanks to the hotel's location in the heart of Stroud's Golden Valley guests can enjoy stunning views, and there are acres of grounds to explore.

Rooms have been sympathetically decorated, with some enjoying grand four poster beds. Food is a huge focus at Burleigh Court. Serving a seasonal menu which champions local produce, much of the food served is grown on-site in the hotel's kitchen gardens. In addition to this, the hotel has its own apiary – providing ample honey which the team go on to both serve and sell. burleighcourtcotswolds.co.uk

Devon

Exmouth is home to chef Michael Caines’ country house hotel, Lympstone Manor. At Lympstone Manor hotel guests and visitors can enjoy a meal at either the Michelin starred restaurant and a newly opened, more relaxed dining option, the pool house restaurant. Michael has long championed the outstanding larder of Southwest England. It is Michael’s brilliant creativity allied with his global taste and vision that allows him to transform the seasonal and regional into dishes of rare precision, focus and flavour. In addition, in 2021 Michael opened Mickey’s, a casual dining destination on the shoreside serving delicious locally sourced food.

Exmouth is also home to the River Exe Café, a custom-built barge that floats well o shore in the Exe Estuary. The restaurant o ers a wide range of locally sourced food and drink and is surrounded by amazing views and Darts Farm, a farm shop hut that has evolved into the unique lifestyle shopping destination it is today, with a working farm at the heart. In the restaurant, the chefs use the food hall as their larder, creating delicious seasonal meals. lympstonemanor.co.uk

Cumbria

From Cumberland Sausage to Kendal Mint Cake, Sticky To ee Pudding to Salt Marsh Lamb, Cumbria is a foodie’s heaven. Luxury boutique, Grade II listed hotel Rothay Manor in Ambleside Lake District is the ultimate countryside retreat for foodie lovers. With endless adventures on your doorstep, guests can make the most of outdoor pursuits – from hiking to foraging, discover the lakes, forest, and fells – before returning to the hotel for decadent dining in the 3 AA Rosette restaurant, led by Head Chef Dan McGeorge (who was named the Champion of Champions of the 2021 series of the BBC's Great British Menu). Dan was also recently awarded ‘Restaurant Chef’ at this year’s coveted Craft Guild of Chefs Awards. rothaymanor.co.uk

Wales

Abergavenny is a must-visit for all foodies. Near to the English/ Welsh border, it’s a thriving foodie spot, home to the Abergavenny Food Festival each September, which features some of the biggest names in the food world, plus the legendary Michelin starred restaurant The Walnut Tree Inn, with its charming cottages. There are also many wonderful independent cafés, like the buzzing Art Shop & Chapel Kitchen and the superb Angel Bakery.

The Angel Hotel is a former coaching inn built in 1829, which was acquired by the Gri ths family in 2002 and transformed into a contemporary hotel o ering warm hospitality and special touches to make guests’ experiences extra special.

The 31 bedrooms and four self-contained cottages have sleek contemporary furnishings, and the public areas feature bespoke furniture and original local art. Seasonal modern British food is served in the formal Oak Room dining room and Foxhunter Bar, and The Angel’s impressive Afternoon Tea holds an Award of Excellence from the prestigious UK Tea Guild, with a dedicated tea sommelier on hand to guide you through the vast selection of quality teas. angelabergavenny.com

Berkshire

The village of Bray is home to an unusually high concentration of top class restaurants, so has to make this list. Located beside the River Thames between Windsor and Maidenhead, fine dining in and around the village is exceptional. Bray is the only village in the world with two, three Michelin Star restaurants – The Waterside Inn run by Alain Roux and The Fat Duck run by Heston Blumenthal, who also has The Hinds Head Bray with a Michelin Star menu.

There are AA rosettes at The Crown Bray and also fine dining at Caldesi in Campagna (the country restaurant of celebrity chef Giancarlo Caldesi) and nearby Monkey Island Brasserie.

Located not far from Bray, Cliveden House is a privately owned five AA Red Star awardwinning hotel. Their story is one of over 350 years of powerful personalities, iconic parties and scandalous a airs. Built in 1666 by the 2nd Duke of Buckingham, as a gift to his mistress,

Cliveden House has remained a pinnacle of intrigue and glamour for the elite. Now, the Grade I stately home set upon 376 acres of beautifully presented National Trust grounds is a luxurious five-star Relais & Châteaux hotel and spa. There are di erent restaurant options, but in the Cliveden Dining Room expect innovative, modern British dishes, fastidious preparation by Executive Head Chef, Christopher Hannon and his brigade, which promises immaculate finishes that shine through in each exquisitely crafted creation. clivedenhouse.co.uk

Derbyshire

The original home of the Bakewell pudding, Derbyshire has an enviable range of fabulous food spots to enjoy – and there are some equally stunning places to stay to make the most of it. Located in possibly the UK’s most enviable natural locations, spanning two of Britain’s outstanding National Parks, and set within The Duke of Devonshire’s country estates at Chatsworth and Bolton Abbey, Devonshire Boltholes is a collection of individual country properties. This superb collection features a range of characterful residences, including pretty chocolate-box cottages, traditional stone farmhouses, elegant villas and even a Hunting Tower, dating back to Tudor England, with views over the Chatsworth estate.

As well as their sought-after rural locations and historic character, the cottages provide stylish interiors to rival that of any of the group’s luxurious hotels, influenced by traditional country lifestyle, and classic interiors with a contemporary design edge, bring the ultimate in guest comfort.

The Duke and the Duchess take a great personal interest in the planning and decoration of the holiday cottages, and as such they reflect the traditional country lifestyle and homely feel, with a mixture of antique and classical furniture, sumptuous soft furnishings, original and interesting artwork and book collections, giving a ‘home from home’ ambience. Practicalities and comfort reflect the immersion of guests in the outdoor settings, and include boot rooms, heated floors, and drying racks, with many of the boltholes enjoying the ultimate in country comforts – an AGA range cooker and wood burning stove. devonshiregroup.co.uk