IN THE COTSWOLDS What ’s new These popular venues in this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty all have something new to reveal THE CASTLE INN, CASTLE COMBE, WILTSHIRE Castle Combe is a quintessentially English village in North West Wiltshire, often referred to as the prettiest village in England. It’s home to The Castle Inn, a 12th-century destination pub complete with 12 en suite rooms and offering local beverages matched with good, honest pub food that has just appointed talented South West-based chef, Jamie Barnett as head chef. Jamie, who has previously held positions at Lucknam Park and Bowood tells us, “I’m thrilled to have joined the team at The Castle Inn and am excited to create and deliver a menu that pays homage to traditional gastro-dining, using quality local produce from trusted suppliers and delivering each dish with warm hospitality. For me, pub fare isn’t about being fancy, it’s about imparting great cookery and letting the produce speak for itself.” Guests can expect traditional gastro dishes on the menu made with high-quality local produce cooked simply with the menu changing often to adapt to the seasons. Current snacks include home-cured bresaola and Padrón peppers and salt beef croquettes and aioli. Starter choices are twice-baked double-barrelled cheese souffle, the Castle Inn scotch egg and beetroot-cured salmon served with fennel and pickled radish and beetroot. Highlights from the main menu are the castle burger topped with cheese, bacon jam, house pickles and burger sauce served with fries, Wiltshire venison steamed pudding accompanied with wild mushrooms, sticky red cabbage and mashed potato and Cotswold battered catch of the day served with hand-cut chips, mushy peas and tartare reign supreme. The dessert offering includes sticky toffee stout pudding served with vanilla ice cream and white chocolate cheesecake with gingerbread puree and cinnamon ice cream. A selection of cheeses with pear chutney and crackers is also available on request alongside a hand-picked offering of Dalva port. In other news at the property, considerate restoration projects have been carried out throughout the pub to preserve yet enhance the charm of this historic building. Diners can relax at a table in the bar, the central dining room or the outdoor terrace. Those looking to host an event, for example, an intimate wedding dinner, can book one of the inn’s woodenclad private dining spaces, seating between six and 24 guests, with the option to hire the entire property. Upstairs, 12 en suite bedrooms provide a comfortable retreat for guests. Located opposite is its sister property, The Manor House, a luxury hotel and golf club home to the Michelin-starred restaurant, Bybrook, overseen by Rob Potter that’s part of the Exclusive Collection, a family-owned independent collection of hotels and spas, a golf club, cookery school and a pub. Ceremony licence? No Contact: www.exclusive.co.uk/the-castle-inn We love... that the village of Castle Combe is often used as a filming location. REGIONAL VENUES 11
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