Burford House

The cottage was a lovely base for me, my husband and the group, with room to gather before and after going out. It was a bit unloved, but that suited the age and character of the building. The food was fresh and lovely. There were eight of us on a long weekend, which was a surprise birthday treat for me. The staff were great throughout, made us feel welcome and did all they could to accommodate us. I’d recommend it for a Cotswolds break with friends or as a couple.

A good pub with friendly staff, a great choice of Hawkstone beer and decent happy hour prices. My one gripe is the pizza. The dough is pale and far too bready, and I think the recipe needs another look. There’s so much good pizza around now, so it needs to step up.

This was lunch, not a hotel stay. The pub itself is nicely decorated in a beautiful building, and the front of house staff were absolutely lovely. The food, though, was a huge letdown. The Korean BBQ Pork was unbelievably salty, to the point that it was inedible. I forced myself to try some, then sent half back, thinking someone must have dropped the salt pot in it. I was told that’s how the chef likes it, even though customers have complained before. I was stunned. The cheeseburger was disappointing too. At £19.75 with cheddar and the service fee, I expected better than a cheap frozen industrial patty, the sort you might get from a kebab truck at 1am. A £5 truck burger and a £20 lunch burger in Burford shouldn’t feel like the same quality. The menu and specials were broad. Maybe a smaller menu would help the food. If the chef has been told several times that things are too salty and doesn’t listen, I doubt he’d listen to that either. The front of house team were great, though. I’d warmly recommend stopping in for a drink and a bag of crisps.

The breakfast was good, and the reception staff were friendly. Our top-floor room was spacious, with a large bathroom, but it was dusty. The fittings looked dated and battered, and the carpets were stained. It needs a deep clean at the very least, or a refurb. I wouldn’t stay again.