A sunday well spent...

...brings a week of content, so that's the moto we went by last Sunday. After a much needed lie in, we went for a long sunny dog walk with our pup Nelly and then got dressed up for a lunch at Lords of the Manor. We slept on the sofa in the afternoon to Pretty Women (my choice) and then had friends over for a pancake tea...heaven!

So Lords of the Manor was epic and I couldn't recommend it enough. It was the kind of place you could take the family for an afternoon tea treat or a slap up Sunday lunch, dressed up or dressed down (we dressed up...don't go out much!) and feel like every penny was worth it.

We went on a Sunday so took advantage of the Sunday lunch menu. On a rare sunny Sunday this may (seems to have rained for the last 2 weeks!) we started with a leisurely walk around their beautiful English gardens and sat and had a glass of champagne on the terrace whilst browsing over the menus and tucking into out truffle arancini balls and mackerel mille feuille.

Lords of the Manor is without doubt what you would describe as fine dining, so I wasn't expecting the Sunday lunch to be as hearty as it was (I'm talking Yorkshire puddings the size of your head, crispy roast potatoes, creamy cauliflower cheese and good lashings of gravy) however whilst not forgetting the finesse of its surrounds i.e. the gravy was poured for you and the horseradish was served with a silver spoon!

My absolute favorite course was my desert choice which swiftly reminded us we were in a Michelin starred restaurant. I had pineapple carpaccio, with pistachio genoise, pineapple icecream with gold leaf, white chocolate mouse and candied coffee beans. and all sorts of other lovely things. Then we topped off dinner with coffee out in the garden and chocolate truffles with a passion fruit center made in house. 

The whole dining experience was fabulous, kudos to the newly appointed head chef Charles Smith who without doubt will hold up the Michelin torch for Lords  the Manor. 

The staff were attentive and friendly and we enjoyed chatting to the waiter about the chef and overhearing him chatting to a family about his hometown, Paris. 

The only downside was that the decor of the dining rooms itself wasn't to my taste but it has a quintessential and traditional English fine dining feel to it which many would appreciate and really is down to personal taste. The grandeur of the lounges, gardens and entrance speaks for itself and you certainly know you are in a special place when you walk through those walled gardens to the reception.  

My Sunday well spent with my hubby was largely down to the fact that Megs cocked up her dates so couldn't come with me...sorry Meggie! We'll definitely be back...together next time. So after a couple of glasses of bubbly before and couple of glasses of red during (from their 1000 bin wine cellar by the way) , it was time to head home for that nap on the sofa. Perfect.

The Cotswold Juice Company

 Meg and I were crazy busy throughout September. I started a new job and Meg opened her new shop in Stow on the Wold (if you haven't been yet, GO!). So we were much in need of a vitamin boost. As luck would have it Kathryn Green from the Cotswold Juice Company dropped off a selection of juices and smoothies at our door, to see what we thought.

18 hours at Ellenborough Park

 

In the week of Millies' Birthday, a trip to Sussex for Goodwood Festival of Speed, manic normal working life and the unmentionable EU referendum we managed to squeeze in a pretty spectacular 18 hours at Ellenborough Park Hotel, Southam.

David Kelmans' BBQ Marinade's

Supper with Petersham Nurseries

Gifford Circus - The Painted Wagon

We have said for sometime now that the spectacle creeps into your bones and makes a little home there. In fact we would go as far to say we would arrogantly consider ourselves part of the family. We have missed them all year and have eagerly awaited our reunion with them since attending Moon Songs in May 2015 and last night they finally arrived.

That's right folks, Gifford Circus is back, and things are about to get wild.

The Potting Shed

We really wanted to go back to The Potting Shed after we popped in for a quick gin, from possibly the largest gin menu I have ever seen! It was December and we had come to Crudwell for a friend’s wedding and we left in plenty of time to visit this beautiful little pub that we had seen and loved on Instagram.  The food smelt amazing and the cosy “snug” area was very appealing on a cold and drizzly day, complete with large sofas and a generous collection of board games. So, during the February half term James and I found ourselves with a day off together, perfect timing to head back to Crudwell and book into the main “shed” area of the pub.

Supper with Valentine Warner

We were delighted to find an excuse to go back to The Wheatsheaf, our personal favourite of all The Lucky Onion properties. We have blogged about this little Northleach gem before (see here) and have visited for birthdays, engagements and Sunday lunches where you can request a whole chicken sent to your table to devour.  But this time it was for something really special, a supper cooked and hosted by Mr Valentine Warner himself.

The Stable, Cheltenham

It was only a few months ago that we were chatting to fellow bloggers about how far Cheltenham has come restaurant wise in 2015 yet there was still nowhere to go for good pizza... welcome The Stable! Exactly what we wanted and Cheltenham still needed but with an added bonus, Cider too. How'd you like them apples?

The Porch House

Totally ashamed to say after living just around the corner from Stow-on-the-Wold for 15 years I had no idea we were in the midst of England's oldest Inn! C947AD no less! Although brought into the 21st century now, the charm and history of The Porch House, still remains a constant reminder of the Inn past. Beautiful checked and leather dining chairs, roaring fires, etchings on the fireplace to ward off evil spirits, rustic antler chandeliers and dinner by candle light. Quirky rooms that flow effortlessly, despite one being a grand dining room, another being a conservatory, laid back bar and private dining parlour, making use out of a space that used to be two buildings.

Supper Club at Brew And Bake

I always talk about opening a café in a little Cotswold town holding an exclusive supper club on a Friday night. Crazy business idea when you've never even been to a supper club. But I love the mysterious underworld vibe that the title gives out and have been obsessed with likes of Rachel Koo for a few years. 

So when our friends mentioned a Thursday evening supper club at our fave café in Cheltenham, we were in!

Deliveroo

Deliveroo have finally cycled their way to Cheltenham! We were warmly invited to welcome them with open arms and hungry stomachs.

The Old Stocks Inn

Nestled away in our nearest Cotswold town, Stow-on-the-Wold, is a new look Inn, The Old Stocks. It's a far and very welcomed cry from the many Cotswold pubs we all know and love. Instead of Cotswold green Farrow & Ball, The Old Stocks has had a Scandinavian face lift. It's a fresh and exciting style, different to the boutique hotels we know, yet The Old Stocks still has the same cosy Cotswold cuddle we all need sometimes. 

The Chef's Pantry

Our favourite go to for dinner, jazz and cocktails (and of course engagements), The Daffodil, has opened it's doors to their latest venture. Aptly named The Chefs Pantry, this new, trendy and modern deli offers produce made by their very own chefs in addition to some of owner, Marks', favourite produce from across the country and further afield. 

A magical night at Moon Songs - Giffords Circus

“I held the jewel of my childhood up to my eye, and through it I saw ponies and a dressing-up box and a tent, and that was Giffords Circus.” - Nell Gifford

(Nell Gifford)

Cotswold Caterers

We have been lucky enough over the past few years to attend many a party, festival or market with good food, good drink and good fun! As we get deeper into our wedding planning we have started to realise that mobile caterers found in the Cotswolds are some of the best. We are truly spoilt for choice! The following six are some of our faves and we think you will be able to see why. They all cater for way more options that we have spoken about below, so give them a call. We like them because they are friendly, knowledgeable and passionate. Just what you need in the stresses and excitement of party planning.

 

Simpsons Fish and Chips

 
We love Simpsons fish and chips! We have a tradition of picking up a Simpsons take away and taking it up to Cleeve Hill on bonfire night (best view of fireworks in the Cotswolds!). So we were delighted to attend a party at Donnington Brewery last week to find Simpsons have gone mobile! Fish and chip vans seems to have become popular at events in the last decade but Simpsons are different. The van is no more. Replaced by a gorgeous rustic set up of a wooden bar tastefully decorated with Union jacks, festoon lights and apple boxes full of lemons and potatoes. We love the nod to the rock and roll past of husband and wife owners, found in the decor and uniform. Especially the girls wearing red bandanas and a rouge lip, Bonnie's trademark accessory. I haven't even mentioned the fish and chips! They are crunchy, tasty, not greasy and Award winning. Non of this inner city, fish and chip replicas, one taste of a portion of Simpsons finest and you could be by the  Great British sea side! Delicious. 

Summer Feasting at The Kings Head

Food envy. A crippling condition that takes over the stomach, mind and sometimes hands, when your fellow diners' food looks too good to miss. This is, unfortunately, something we both seem to suffer from, on at least a weekly basis, much to the infuriation of our chaps who bare the brunt of this terrible take over! Alas, we have found the cure! The new foodie concept at The Kings Head Hotel. Two words... Oh wow.

All You Can Eat Sushi at WholeFoods

When I was in Australia, Sushi became part of my staple diet. With a little sushi bar on every corner it was hard to resist. Not exactly the same vibes in The Cotswolds however, we are really lucky to have a few amazing sushi restaurants in Gloucestershire but our go to when we get a sushi craving is always WholeFoods Market in Chelteham - actually, WholeFoods in our go to for all food cravings! Seriously love it there. Don't even get us started on the coffee and peanut butter. As you know we love local produce and WholeFoods Cheltenham has an incredible range of Cotswold goodies! But when we spotted an 'All You Can Eat Sushi' Event on Twitter, our excitement hit a new level! 

The Wild Rabbit - Kingham

The Wild Rabbit, My new favourite find! I had heard about this place from so many people and passed it many times on our way through Kingham to see family. 

The Wild Rabbit was taken over by the Bamfords (Owners of Daylesford organics and Farm) and boy can you tell. Their vision for creativity and style makes this pub so much more than your average pub with Guinness limited edition sketches on the walls, quirky natural tables, arms chairs, log fires and a well styled and inviting bar. This pub oozes cool and you know you are going to get quality everything when you walk through the door.  

The Montpellier Cafe

If you read our blog regularly or follow us on Twitter & Instagram, you'll know by now, we like to eat! & drink coffee. A lot! We're so lucky living in Cheltenham (well, just outside now) that we have an abundance of brilliant coffee shops, cafes and restaurants. We're spoilt for choice. But when we saw a foodie snap taken by friend Angie B on Instagram, we were excited to try out the newest cafe in town. The Montpellier Cafe.