The New Inn

In a pretty and quiet Cotswold village, this 400-year-old inn is now owned by the small Hillbrooke group (see also The Bath Arms, Horningsham, The Elephant, Pangbourne, qqv). They have refurbished throughout, retaining many original features (flagstone and wooden floors, oak beams, etc). The manager is Stuart Hodges. The bar has wooden tables and chairs, black leather sofas (background pop music); the dining room, with brick red and cream walls, has three eating areas. The chef, Oliver Addis, serves a seasonally changing dinner menu with daily specials. 'These were the pick of an excellent meal,' said an inspector. 'A tasty ham hock terrine with pear chutney; the freshest pollack on a leek risotto; a wonderful apple and pear crumble with a tiny baked Alaska. The Italian house wines were especially good; service was well paced.' The bedrooms vary in size and style. 'Our spacious first-floor room had a bright red carpet and back wall, a black bedcover and furniture; proper hangers in the good cupboards. The well-fitted bathroom was down a short internal corridor.' Breakfast 'was a slight step down from dinner; a small buffet with a fruit salad; decent butter but weak coffee and sliced toast, no sign of last night's bread'. The four-mile walk along the river to Bibury is 'delightful'.