The Old Bell Hotel

If peak dining is a finely tuned alchemy of cuisine, service and ambience, it’s achieved to great effect here in the shade of an ancient abbey in the market town of Malmesbury. But what takes the Cotswolds address next level is something more enigmatic. It’s the thrill of time travel.

As if Kim and Whit Hanks weren’t spellbound enough when they first took the reins of the Grade I-listed, 800-year-old hotel (rumoured to be England’s oldest), discovering their ancestors owned it many centuries before positively lit them up. It’s why they have kept period features and tradition front of mind when creating the hotel’s contemporary restaurant Abbey Row.

Time doesn’t stand still in the kitchen, however. Menu highlights range from comforting classics (think memorable roasts and carefully crafted fish and chips) to inventive à la carte plates that satisfy the culinarily curious. Provenance is key, and the chefs prioritise using the very best, whether that’s produce from the local larder at Abbey House Manor Gardens or the freshest catch from Brixham Harbour.

In the bar, lounges and restaurant, luxury textures, a sophisticated palette and statement pieces combine to elegant effect without being overly formal. After all, The Old Bell Hotel chimes as the convivial heart of the community as much as the perfect place for a luxury escape.

Trencherman’s tip

Those planning on exploring the Cotswolds should consider this a delightful base. Each room has its own personality and is decorated to exacting standards. Bath, Cirencester, Tetbury and an abundance of quintessentially English villages all lie within easy reach.