The Masons Arms

Our Saturday meal was just okay. The server didn’t mention the specials board, so we only noticed it after ordering, when other tables were shown it. My fish and chips arrived with a black hair on it and had to go back; a new one came ten minutes later. The kids liked their meals, though burgers and chips are hard to get wrong, and I’m not sure whether the burgers were homemade. The panna cotta was okay, but I couldn’t find raspberry in it beyond the drizzle on the side. I know pubs are having a difficult time, but £30 for an 8oz sirloin seems really steep. It’s a great village pub for drinks, and the green outside is nice in summer. For food, there are nicer pubs in Fairford.

Kate made our two-night stay special. She was the friendliest, most helpful host, and gave us good tips for Bibury, Burford, Bourton on the Water, Fairford church’s stained glass windows, Cirencester and the wider area. The old pub and restaurant are beautiful, the rooms were very well presented and clean, and the beds were comfy. We ate there both nights and enjoyed the lovely food, quick service and superb beer. Breakfast starts at 8.30am, with a good choice; the full English was truly wonderful. The Masons Arms is a great base for exploring the Cotswolds.

We finally made it in for lunch on a Tuesday in November, after meaning to visit for ages. We hadn’t booked, but getting a table was no problem. It’s a lovely village pub that changed hands fairly recently. We can’t say what it was like before, but we enjoyed the visit and will definitely return. The menu was a manageable size, which I think is a good thing, and there was something for everyone. We shared an Aranchini starter, then had chilli and sausages and mash. Everything was very tasty, portions were generous, and the standard was very good. I’m often wary of ordering chilli in a pub because it can be bland, but this one was absolutely delicious. We were too full for dessert. Everyone who looked after us was welcoming and friendly. If you want excellent quality pub food, this place is well worth a visit. Based on our experience, I think the new owners will do well.

It’s still a lovely spot, with a beautiful building and green space with outdoor seating for warmer days, but the change in management and chef was a real surprise and such a shame. This used to be one of my favourite pubs for consistently lovely food and excellent service. The menu hasn’t changed, but the food was much more basic and nothing like before. People in our group who tried to order said management and another staff member ignored them and seemed unwilling to take orders. The only person who helped us was a lovely, smiley, cheerful woman with dark curly hair. We had to send one dish back because it smelled very bad. Nobody offered a replacement; we were just told there was nothing wrong with it. When we offered to pay straight away, someone asked, “Are you sure you don’t want to wait and see how the food is?”