bhuty, you had a lot of great ideas on this thread and on the other recent Cotswolds thread. We are going at the end of April so we appreciate all points of view, thank you!

I noticed you and janisj had good things to say about Burford and that's where we are staying, so we are excited!
I noticed on another thread, you were referencing an upcoming trip to the Cotswolds last September. Did you end up going? If, so, where did you stay and how did you like it? What were some of your favorite experiences? Thanks, again!

Considering bringing some special wines for diner. How common is corkage? Will email restaurants but curious as I have never done this outside of the US.

I've never brought my own out in the countryside -- even when I lived there. Have once or twice in London and the corkage fees were modest. But TBH most upscale restaurants/gastro pubs will have very extensive wine lists which they are rightly proud of. My advice is basically ring the restaurants and ask . . .

Oh -- and I specifically mentioned phoning rather than using e-mail. Maybe even speak to the wine steward/sommelier personally I wouldn't want to show up with my own bottles only to find out they have the same vintage in their cellar.

edit: But -- many restaurants do explain their corkage policies on their website.

Taking wine to restaurant is not common, but it does happen. I'd certainly not consider flying with a bottle I thought was worth taking to a restaurant especially, unless I had made it myself.

I always do check if the restaurant stocks something I am bringing but I am thinking about bringing a first growth from the 80's so it is unlikely they stock it.
I actually find most restaurants do not mention corkage.

Seriously would not fly that sort of wine, it needs treating with reverence and physical gentleness. I agree most restaurants do not mention corkage. If you are buying it in London before hand, then your wine merchant might make the call for you.

A friend just gave me 70s Tokaji which he had flown back from Singapore, ruined.

I have been worried about the same thing Bilbo. On one hand I would like to open a special bottle for my birthday. On the other hand I might cry if something happened to it on transit. Maybe I will just bring a 10 year old California Cabernet. More likely to survive and if found bad would be merely sad.

We have 10 year old CA wines in the UK. I assume you've been here https://www.bbr.com/our-wine-shop I don't know the fine wine shops of the Cotswolds that well but if you ever come to Yorkshire I can advise.

But Yapp Bros down in Mere, might amuse https://www.yapp.co.uk

I wouldn't myself -- I have a quite extensive wine collection and I'd never consider lugging a bottle(s) to the UK.

During our last summer's visit in London we stopped by Berry Brothers & Rudd. What a disappointing experience that turned out to be. Not sure that, first-growth Bordeaux and grand crus Burgundies aside, one can't find a better selection in the average Carrefour or Tesco.

lol, "aside" you owe me a new laptop

So will this wine be in checked baggage? Have you seen how they can throw luggage around at airports? What a mess if it smashes.

I have a very sturdy suitcase and have special bubble wrap for the bottle of wine. It is well protected and would probably survive a 20 foot fall or more. Have used this luggage for over 500,000 miles of flying and it still works well.

I was more worried about the movement of the wine within the bottle. First growths often have solid contents that doesn't need stirring up and the actual liquid is pretty fragile from the 80s. But I thik you know all this stuff.

I have the same concerns as Bilbo. I only have a few first growths and I would hate to destroy a rare bottle. I also do not want to spend $800 for a bottle of wine to celebrate my birthday. Will be flying into LHR in two days, spending the night at Hilton T2 before picking up a rental car to head to the Cotswolds. Will spend no time in London this trip unless United loses my luggage again and I have to go shopping.

I’m surprised by everyone’s confidence that most restaurants in the Cotswolds will let you bring your own wine. It would certainly not be generally allowed up here in Lancashire unless it was specifically an unlicensed restaurant. And before anyone suggests standards are different I’m talking the 7 Michelin starred restaurants and a succession of pubs around the best gastropubs in the country.

Not everyone, I would certainly ask before hand, if only out of courtesy. Much of a restaurant's profits come from booze sales.

I personally think the whole idea of bringing a grand, irreplaceable bottle of wine from the States to be completely daft . . . meant in the nicest possible way

Arrived LHR 2020. Not crowded. Gates working. Hilton T2 bar. Agreed with Janisj and did not bring wine