THE TIMES – THE COOL HOTEL GUIDE

We’re so pleased to have been featured in this article ‘The Times Cool Hotel Guide’ in Saturday’s Times. A huge thanks to Tom Chesshyre for including us.

In a nutshell
When Archie Orr-Ewing opened a letter that arrived last autumn, he was expecting a bill. Instead, he found a message from the Good Pub Guide. “As I read it, my lower lip began to wobble,” he recalls. “We’d been named pub of the year!” Archie and his wife, Nicola, bought this 16th-century inn in the quiet village of Bledington in 2000. Inside the old grey-stone building there’s a cosy, eclectic look, with rugs scattered on flagstone floors, framed Bob Dylan and David Bowie album covers on walls, and shiny brass regimental locker plates by a lovely inglenook fireplace (Archie is ex-army). Locals chatter by the bar, supping pints of Butcombe beer and glasses of wine from an impressive list.

What are the rooms like?
They’re a mixed bag, to be found across the main pub building and a more modern structure at the back. The latter are referred to as “courtyard rooms” (from £140 B&B) and are bigger than the ones above the pub. All have been recently done up with swirly patterned wallpaper, oyster-grey wood panels, espresso machines and Bantam toiletries in the shiny little bathrooms. The cheapest rooms above the pub are pokier but make decent crashpads (from £110 B&B).

Which is the best room?
Room No 10, tucked at the back, is big and airy, with a four-poster bed and striking wallpaper (from £140 B&B). The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge stayed here when courting.

So what’s the food like?
Pub staples such as fish and chips, steak and ale pie, and soups are offered. After trying a refreshing rhubarb fizz cocktail by the fire, comprising rhubarb vodka, cranberry and English sparkling wine, I sat down to a flavoursome bowl of onion and thyme soup. The pheasant schnitzel with cabbage and new potatoes was a good solid main course, while the pistachio cake with orange sorbet was delicious. Three courses cost from £28.

Who goes there?
Pub lovers (of course) and walkers.

The highs, the lows, the verdict
Nine out of ten – This is indeed a very good pub, but go for one of the bigger courtyard rooms.

Need to know
Tom Chesshyre was a guest of the King’s Head Inn (01608 658365, thekingsheadinn.net), The Green, Bledington, Oxfordshire OX7 6XQ; B&B doubles cost from £110, single rooms from £75 B&B.

Review and check availability of Accommodation at The King’s Head Inn HERE.