Hotel Review: The Double Red Duke, The Cotswolds

Rain started to fall heavily as we ran from the car park and ducked under the small door into our new weekend getaway; The Double Red Duke. Instantly our eyes needed to adjust to the low-level lighting as we were hit with a strong smell of wood smoke wafting from the cosy-looking room to our left. Making a mental note to order a glass of red wine and curl up there for the afternoon a cheerful receptionist greeted us instantly and handed us a red leather embossed circle containing the key. Under two hours from London, The Double Red Duke offers hearty meals, friendly service and a warm cosy atmosphere on the doorstep of the Cotswolds.

Food + Drink 4/5

The Double Red Duke is known for its warming meat-based dishes cooked over a smoking charcoal and wood fire in front of on-looking diners. The rich smokey scent oozes into the aged wooden beams of the building and drifts into the main dining room, bar and conservatory which is situated behind reception. To see all the action up close and to chat to the chefs as they work you must pre-book your spot at the 'Chef's Counter' for a fun and unique dining experience. As our dishes came to life right in front of us the waiter produced a bottle of their recommended red wine for us to sip on as we watched our starters sizzle away on the fire.

We started with scallops served piping hot and dripping in butter with the addition of a smooth aubergine miso dip accompanied by flatbread and Oysters. The freshly caught catch of the day was thick, richly seasoned and perched on a delicate pea puree with a charcoaled lemon. The menu is a fusion of British and nordic flavours and are uncomplicated but fresh with a distinctive wood-smoked taste.

Breakfast is served in the conservatory, which was a lovely brighter contract from sitting by the kitchen the evening before, and continental options are included in the price of each room. This includes the usual options of fresh fruit, local pastries, cereals and toast or if you are in the mood for something more there is a cooked breakfast menu available to order off and can be paid per dish. 

Overall I thoroughly enjoyed the bustling atmosphere, freshly made cocktails and luxe pub-style dining and would highly recommend visiting for dinner even if you are not staying the night. The food and atmosphere created around having an open kitchen fit in perfectly with the warm and cosy English charm of the building.

Aesthetic + Interiors 4/5

The wisteria-clad 17th-century inn has been perfectly resorted while maintaining the property's crooked and wrinkled external features. Communal areas are made up of a series of interconnecting rooms featuring richly upholstered sofas, age-appropriate cabinets and decorative antiques scattered throughout. The colour palette is periodically suitable with deep green walls and walnut joinery creating a cosy English country home suitable for the building. Cotswolds-based fabrics and wallpapers have been sourced from Lewis and Wood as well as local artisans George Smith for the upholstery.

Fun Fact - Upholstery began to appear at the start of the 17th Century when it became fashionable for the wealthy to have luxurious items in their home such as padding on their chairs. The padding was in fact stuffing, which comprised of basic materials such as grass, feathers, sawdust, and animal hair such as that to be found on a horse or a goat.

The 19 guestrooms are individually decorated creating a relaxed yet informal feel with a mixture of patterned wallpapers and velvet headboards. We stayed in one of the large guest rooms which featured an in-room roll-top bath, ensuite and large double bed with fresh and well-maintained soft furnishings.

In contrast to the low-level lighting of the communal areas the dining room, bar and conservatory feature skylights and flood the area with natural light during the day. Stained glass windows between the two areas inject colour and add some theatre to the space as well as large indoor planters.

Facilities + Small Touches 4/5

There is a good quality selection of tea and coffee with a handy guide to local walks, towns and restaurants in each room with the option for fresh dairy milk each morning. A treatment room sits in the newly built outhouse and offers a selection of massages however during our short stay we didn't get to utilise this.

Service + Atmosphere 4/5

The atmosphere has a low-level comfortable hum throughout which grows during the evening with restaurant visitors coming in from nearby towns. The energy feels relaxed and comforting and as soon as we walked in the staff were very chatty and informative but never intrusive with food and drinks orders always promptly made and delivered.

The Area

Nestled in the small village of Clanfield the Cotswolds sits just on the doorstep of The Double Red Duke giving you a never-ending list of picturesque towns to explore and cute coffee spots to people-watch from. We headed to the upper and lower slaughter for an hour walk between the two villages before heading to Daylesford for lunch, a glass of rose and a look around the garden centre. As we stayed for two nights we also had dinner at The Bell Inn up the road in the town of Langford which was delightful and an excellent causal lunch in Blakes Kitchen which is only a 5 minute walk away.

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