Review: Burleigh Court Hotel, Cotswolds

Perfect for an elegant foodie break in the Cotswolds with a wild twist, the Burleigh Court Hotel ticks all of our boxes for a relaxing autumn staycation

Words: Holly Shackleton

SLEEP: 

With comfortable four poster beds, elegant décor and gorgeous views of the local valleys, the hotel is an ideal bolthole for discerning travellers wanting to explore the stunning locale. Whether your room overlooks the Cotswold hills or the blissful gardens and listed art deco pool, you’re guaranteed a restful break.

EAT: 

The wood panelled dining room is the perfect setting for head chef Shaun Jones’s outstanding array of dishes. The team has garnered acclaim for its menu and rightly so; it already boasts two AA Rosettes and I believe a third is on the way (if awarded, Burleigh Court will be only the third restaurant in Gloucestershire to boast this accolade). The hotel is rightfully famed for its kitchen garden and foraging tours – an invaluable introduction to the local landscape and its culinary delights, and well worth booking in – and many dishes celebrate the site’s home-grown produce at its best. I relished a Burleigh Court-grown beetroot salad followed by a sumptuous duo of pork tenderloin and belly, and finished with a deliciously modern take on an Eton mess.

DO: 

History buffs will be delighted by Cirencester’s Roman heritage – it boasts an ampitheatre, museum and Roman wall, located in the stunning Abbey Grounds park – while nearby Cheltenham has plenty of independent shops worth a potter. Don’t leave the area without visiting Jolly Nice Farm Shop & Kitchen (just a 10 minute drive from the hotel) and Daylesford Farm, iconic for its organic produce and tasteful home and garden wares.

TOP TIP: 

Don’t leave Burleigh Court Hotel without sampling some of its incredible produce. You’ll find flashes of it tastefully curated across the menu, but for the full experience be sure to purchase a jar of its stunning clear honey and book a Wild Foodie Foraging Experience; from fresh hazelnuts eaten straight off the tree to lime tree leaves and wild strawberries, it’s a must for budding foragers.

burleighcourtcotswolds.co.uk