Dog‑owning gourmets and gin‑ophiles should bookmark this 16th‑century Cotswold inn, as The Bell Inn’s fido‑friendly policy and collection of 80 gins make it an unusual find.
An even greater reason to visit is chef owner Mark Payne’s cooking, which is big on seasonal and local produce, including veggies from his own allotment and lamb from the fields next door. Everything is treated with the greatest respect: humble blade of beef, for example, is gently cooked for five hours until it falls apart under the merest application of knife and fork.
Starters such as smoked haddock and dill rillettes – fresh, lemony, lightly dressed and served with crisp sourdough toast – provide another example of simple things done extremely well.
If, after two courses you’re thinking of swerving pud, take the middle ground and order the house Gingato – a scoop of homemade vanilla ice cream drenched, affogato style, in rhubarb and ginger gin liqueur.
Trencherman’s tip: three smart guestrooms – also dog‑friendly – are to be found above the inn.
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