Grade II-listed charm meets modern countryside luxury at The Rectory.
Located on the southern edge of the Cotswolds, Crudwell is a delightfully sleepy village, and an ideal base for exploring the more bustling towns and villages. This honeyed limestone hotel was the rectory to All Saint’s Church, which lies just outside the perfectly manicured walled garden. It was originally designed to accommodate the rector’s 14 children and now draws a well-heeled crowd looking for a little respite from city life.
The Vibe
Grade II-listed charm meets London private members’ club, with a dash of Farrow & Ball thrown in for good measure. The hotel immediately opens into a cordial, sofa-clad reception laden with glossy magazines, setting a tone of unpretentious luxury which will permeate your stay.
The Rooms
Simple yet chic in decoration, oatmeal and dusty pink walls are punctuated with considered prints, whilst the plumpest beds are complemented by soft textured cushions and throws. Big Rooms feature exposed wooden beams and a roll-top bath with views of the bucolic countryside. There’s a touch of kitsch charm too, with old school Roberts radios placed atop bedside tables.
The Little Extras
In your room you will find a detailed list of walking routes easily accessible from the hotel. This handily takes into account duration, as well as suitability for any stragglers you may have in tow: including four-legged friends and children (both of which are welcome here). Bathrooms are equipped with Bramley toiletries – an organic British Beauty brand to add an extra indulgence to your morning shower or indulgent bath.
There is an honesty box located on the first-floor landing in case you fancy a scotch or cognac nightcap. Here you’ll also find fresh milk to accompany the in-room tea, coffee, and moreish homemade shortbread.
The Food + Drink
The restaurant is split into two locations, a moodier wooden dining room and light-flooded glasshouse (we preferred the latter). In keeping with the rest of the hotel, this is an elegant yet informal affair – leave the dinner jacket at home.
The breakfast buffet offers up an array of buttery croissants, fruits, and yoghurt, whilst à la carte options offer a hearty full English and decadent waffles. The pièce de résistance is the self-serve drink station where you can mix a bloody Mary or mimosa to your liking.
Dinner in the glasshouse – dimly lit by candlelight – offers classic dishes with a contemporary twist. Starters, including a silky crab linguine and hunk of burrata, do not disappoint. Locally sourced meats dominate the main dishes – from melt-in-the-mouth Gloucester lamb to Hampshire pork belly. Be sure to save room for dessert: sticky toffee pudding and rhubarb Eton mess are nostalgic yet refined.
The sleek bar is painted in a very fashionable dark green, with red velvet sofas creating a brilliantly raucous feel here – expect a steady stream of laughter filtering out from here into the belly of the hotel. Perch here for one (or three), the affable staff will whip you up a pleasingly strong cocktail from behind a very well-stocked, marble-topped bar.
The To-Do List
The Potting Shed pub, owned by the hotel, sits just 200 yards away. Here you will find a jovial spot frequented by locals, serving great beers on tap alongside hearty, locally sourced fare. It’s the perfect spot to hunker down next to the fireplace for a few hours.
The grounds are exemplary of a beautiful British garden, and well worth an explore. Here you’ll also find an outdoor heated pool flanked by loungers, which is open between April and October.
Whilst surrounded by pretty chocolate box villages, you may almost find yourself wishing for a rainy afternoon, so there’s no excuse to not make your way through a hoard of board games that are situated in the Drawing Room. Blissful indeed.
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