We will be spending a long weekend in the Cotswolds and wonder if you have recommendations for good eateries. We are to be based at Stow In The Wold and I heard from a friend that visited last week that a new restaurant has opened called Wheelers and she raved about the desserts. Has anyone tried it. Many thanks for your help.

About 10 miles from Stow is Winchcombe and a wonderful restaurant, Wesley House. We had several delightful meals there while staying at Lords of the Manor..we found the menu and the food much nicer at WH!

http://www.wesleyhouse.co.uk/restaurant.asp

I'm no great fan of Cotswold restaurants. But a few exceptions:

- Sonia Kidney's place, the Churchill Arms, at Paxford. IMHO, THE absolute best, and best value, pub eatery in the whole of Greater Greater London. You can't book, so get there earlyish (though I've never found it so full you couldn't eat, and hanging around gives you an excuse to sample the Hooky)
- The Lygon Arms, in Broadway, used to be a byword for tourist ripoff medocrity. But it's now got a Michelin star - and possibly the only serious Latvian cook in Britain. It even includes interesting Latvian dishes (I'm not making this up, honest)
- The Daylesford Farm shop sets records for ambitious prices that seem extreme even by Cotswold standards (£20 or so for a bottle of organic gin). But Mrs F - who's more into their rather girlyish food than I am - reckons their cafe is both surprisingly good, and pretty good value. It's also worth checking their website (www.daylesfordorganic.com)for their occasional Saturday night themed meals, which are serious celebrations of quite non-girly events, like new season's lamb.
- Although it sounds touristy, tea at Huffkins, on the main drag at Burford, has well-conceived sandwiches, hard to find staples like cinnamon toast, cakes they tell me are good and terribly pleasant staff (almost all local sixth-formers). Avert your eyes from the wall-to-wall tweeness surrounding it, concentrating instead on the many, many wonderfulnesses inside Burford church.

Have spent a bit of time in the Cotswolds, so have some real favourites. None of them are that fancy, but offer good food, sometimes great food, and good beer.

- The Falkland Arms in Great Tew is a place we return to each trip. Lovely to sit outside with a pint on an early summer day. The chicken and cheesy bake is very good.
- Stop at the Plough along the A423 north of Banbury, if only for appetizers - the deep fried Camembert and spicy potato wedges are delicious. We also enjoyed the steak and kidney pie and lasagna. Nice bar staff, and sometimes in the evenings they have an auction (advertised ahead of time).
- The Three Pigeons in Banbury isn't that fancy, but food was hearty and good and the bar staff very friendly.
- Enjoyed good cream tea at the Badger Tea Rooms in Chipping Campden. Also in C.C. - had a great dinner at Joel's. Their chicken escalope w. new potatoes in onion and chicken broth, w. carrots, cauliflower and zucchini, a home-made salsa, side salad plus glass of wine cost me 11 pounds. Also recommend the Lygon Arms in C.C. Try the Lygon platter - their version of the ploughman's with a jacket potato. Lasagna also good.
- The Black Bear in Moreton on Marsh is, again, not fancy but they have great soup.
- The Snowshill Arms in Snowshill, just outside of the gates of, you guess it, the National Trust's Snowshill. Can recommend the sausage and chips and quiche.
- Haven't eaten much in Stow - everything seemed quite expensive - but did have sandwiches at The Old Stocks. Good for egg mayonniase and home-baked ham sandwiches. With two 1/2 pints came to 6.20 pounds. Staff very friendly.

Hope you have a great time.

We have just returned from England and Scotland. One of the best meals of our entire trip was at the restaurant at the Washbourne Court Hotel in Lower Slaughter--an excellent five course dinner. we did eat at Wheelers in Stowe but did not have dessert and the meal was not especially memorable--but okay. Currently there is a road closed to Snowshill and if you are driving from Broadway you will not get through. The weather in the Cotswolds was the only warm weather of our trip but we were there two weeks ago so it may be improving. Have a great trip!

Outside of Stow, in a little village called Oddington - Upper and Lower, there is The Fox Inn where we had a wonderful meal. Also, we found The Horse and the Groom very memorable.
They were both recommended to us, and we were not disappointed. Reservations a must.

Thanks for all the suggestions I think I will have to visit Slimming World on my return.

My husband and I often travel form Cheltenham to Stow to eat at the Kings Arms. It is a wonderful place with superb food, right in the centre of Stow. Please try it, you will not be disappointed! It features in the cookbook Gastropubs for good reason.

Fab, thanks for all the recommendations - hub and I are booked for 4 nights in July and will be staying at the home of the Pudding Club. We'll be eating one night with the Pudding Club, another also at the hotel but have 2 nights free for other dinner choices plus our lunchstops too...

ttt

A message for Nini...Im sorry you didnt have a memorable meal at my restaurant!! since opening i have been unable to find any staff! im the only chef..this is explained on the menu..i limit the amount of covers each night so as to keep the level of food and service at the highest level..Im really sorry you didnt have the experience that i want all my guests to have..My only wish is that you made these feelings known on the night so i may have put things right..food is my paasion and being my first venture i want to hear from my customers!!!!

ps just exactly was wrong that night. just so i can put things right for other guests? Many thanks

Perry

Had the best Worstershire Pie ever at the Crown & Trumpet Pub in Chipping Campden.

Wish I had a recipe for that. have been craving it from time to time ever since.