The Bell at Stow

The food, atmosphere and decor were faultless, but service really let us down today. It looked like they were short-staffed: we stood at the bar for 10 minutes before anyone greeted us, and the service stayed poor. The woman who served us seemed disengaged. We were celebrating a 50th birthday lunch, but left underwhelmed. With better service, we would easily have spent another £50-60 on drinks and desserts. The bearded man behind the bar when we left was faultless. He seemed to be the only front-of-house person then, and was managing the whole place. It's a lovely pub in one of the nicest towns in the country.

The food was basic. My steak was tough and short on flavour, and the croquettes were mushy, though their flavour was okay. My wife enjoyed the wild garlic soup. The inside was dark and uninteresting, but the bartender did recommend a very good beer.

The staff were friendly and helpful despite being very busy. Lunch was good value, with excellent-tasting food and a generous portion, and I had a glass of wine.

After hiking 7mi from Moreton in Marsh, we came in absolutely starving. I went for the fish and chips, and it was among the best I've ever had: crispy cod and chips that weren't too greasy. I care a lot about atmosphere, and this had the cosy Cotswolds inn vibe we wanted. The bathroom was immaculately clean, with a great choice of hand soap. Loved the place, and I'd recommend friends visit if they're in town.