The Castle Inn

The Cotswolds village of Castle Combe, with its honey-coloured cottages and picture-postcard setting, has often been hailed as the prettiest village in England, but its most delightful asset is undoubtedly The Castle Inn.

The 12th-century pub with rooms treats diners to a thoughtfully curated menu of seasonally inspired dishes. It was crowned Best Trencherman’s Pub in 2023 and has picked up a Michelin listing.

Since then, James Boniface has taken up the head chef mantle. Through his own philosophy of keep it local, make it accessible, his graceful but generous menu continues the pub’s already-cemented reputation for beautiful flavour combinations.

Such skilful cooking is effortlessly demonstrated in James’ new menu. It features knockout plates such as beef short rib with beef-dripping waffle, duck liver parfait, cavolo nero and sweet potato puree, as well as hake with pink fir potato, silverskin onions, clams, chilli garlic and lemon butter.

Sweet-toothed diners will find it impossible to avoid a helping of sticky toffee pudding with prune and ginger puree, vanilla ice cream and candied walnuts to finish.

Drinks are sourced with as much care as the food, and the list includes fellow B-Corp business Toast. This brewery crafts ale from surplus bread to reduce food waste and donates all its profits to a charity with the same aim.

Trencherman’s tip

Make a night of it and stay in one of 12 immaculately furnished rooms.