Forget the sleepy, uptight Cotswolds: The Bull is hip and sexy, offering serious quality dining and drinking. Reopened in July 2023 by James Gummer and Phil Winser, who are also behind The Pelican in Notting Hill, it is lit almost exclusively by candlelight, with open fires and wooden beamed ceilings.
The whole thing is intimate, romantic and inviting: sink into comfy leather armchairs by the roaring fire, with any tipple you could want in hand, and admire the perfectly preserved flagstone floors and Regency-style comforts. Move through to the restaurant, and be guided by your waiter – everything on the menu is local, seasonal and celebratory of British produce. End with a digestif before heading upstairs via a spiraling ancient staircase to flop easily into your open-plan room and enveloping four-poster bed.
There are 10 rooms to choose from in this glorified pub, as well as a boutique cottage if you’re needing something for the whole family. The pared-back design continues in the bedrooms, with soft whites and oak features adding to the relaxing atmosphere. Free-standing bathtubs and kingsize beds are the prime feature in every room, which overlook either the quintessential Costworlds Charlbury high street or pretty pub garden.
Neighbourhood
Situated in the chocolate box town of Charlbury, this idyllic Oxfordshire pub with rooms is an ultimate countryside getaway. With luscious fields and winding footpaths all around, it’s a great option if you want to feel clean air in your lungs and listen to the soft bleating of sheep nearby.
Nearby
- The Plough Inn. A gorgeous wooded 40 min walk away, this cute little thatched pub serves up everything from homemade soups to all the traditional British pub-grub classics.
- Burford Garden Company. A stylish garden centre with rustic chic home interiors, endless gifts, plants and even an art gallery, along with an up-market café.
Time Out tip
For the full Costworlds look, borrow the Barbour wellies on offer from the boot room and set out for a stunning walk to Cornbury Park Estate nearby.