[Advertisement – this post is based on a press stay, but all words and opinions are my own]
Despite all the talk of new plans and a fresh start, I often find January quite heavy – the excitement of Christmas is over, work pressure is starting to pile up again, and there’s the dreaded tax return to attend to. So, it always seems like a good time to escape to the countryside for an impromptu minibreak and make the most of the bits of winter – crisp weather, lazy evenings, warming fires – that I actually enjoy. That’s what Chris and I did last week, when we headed to the Cotswolds to check out recently launched boutique inn Wild Thyme & Honey, and it was just the tonic we needed.
Located in the pretty village of Ampney Crucis just outside Cirencester, Wild Thyme & Honey is attached to existing riverside pub The Crown and opened its doors to guests in December. At first glance it’s fairly typical Cotswolds stuff, with its thick honey-stone walls, crooked gables and wisping chimneys. But look a little closer and you’ll spy contemporary firepits glowing by the entrance, sheepskin-covered benches hewn from logs, and candles flickering in smart steel lanterns – hints of the stylish yet very relaxing haven that lies within.
Inside, the decor is pared-back and cosy, with clean lines, snuggly textiles and a calming palette of grey, cream and beige. It’s all offset beautifully by exposed stone walls, gnarled beams and raw-timber skirting boards, together with Crittal-style doors and reeded-glass panes. The furniture and lighting also mix old and new, with vintage milking stools and salvaged church pews alongside concrete-cast lamps and oversized fabric headboards sporting integrated plug sockets and USB ports. It all makes for the perfect balance of 21st-century elegance and period character, and the overall effect is rustic without being twee.
There are 24 bedrooms, including dog-friendly, family-friendly and accessible options. We stayed in one of the Waterside Suites, which overlook the babbling Ampney Brook at the rear of the building, and instantly felt at home. The name ‘suite’ is slightly misleading as they’re normal-sized hotel rooms, but what they lack in extra space they make up for in considered design, thoughtful touches and a very clever layout. Our kingsize bed was wonderfully comfy, and I spent hours wallowing in the freestanding in-room bathtub with a book and a glass of wine. Behind an internal window was a separate ensuite clad in stone tiles, and there was plenty of built-in storage for luggage and clothes. Other welcome treats included a complimentary decanter of sloe gin, gorgeous-smelling Bramley toiletries, relaxing pillow mist, fluffy robes and slippers and a Roberts radio, but for us city dwellers the biggest luxuries were the tranquility and the beautiful view. Few things beat waking up to nothing but birdsong, then lounging in bed with coffee while gazing over frost-covered fields tinged pink by the morning light.
As well as enjoying our own room, we got to have a quick peek at Wild Thyme & Honey’s fabulous private apartment, No.3 London Road. Sprawling across a large chunk of the ground floor, it has a sitting room, a decadent copper bathtub, a four-poster bed crafted from tree trunks, a dressing room, a cocktail corner and a private riverside terrace complete with a barrel sauna and a jacuzzi – perfect if you want to splash out for a special occasion.
In all rooms there are gentle nods to the inn’s name and setting, including bee-shaped drawer handles, hive-like doors, bird-themed artwork and gently whimsical monikers such as ‘The Bee’ and ‘The Tickled Trout’. And the theme continues on The Crown’s menu, which focuses on seasonal, farm-to-table dishes and local ingredients. We started our dinner by sharing a wheel of gooey Tunworth cheese baked with thyme and honey, before moving on to Goosnargh chicken and smoked ham-hock pie (Chris) and a fennel, celeriac and goats’ cheese tart (me). Everything was delicious, but the stand-out was the signature dessert: lemon, thyme and honey cheesecake with honeycomb ice cream and tiny bees crafted from jelly. I don’t normally have much of a sweet tooth, but I loved every mouthful and could have happily devoured a second portion! Breakfast the next morning didn’t disappoint, either, with a buffet table of pastries, fruit, yoghurts, cheeses and cold cuts, plus a menu of hot choices. Chris opted for smoked trout and I for sweet potato and chorizo hash – both very tasty, beautifully presented and a far cry from standard hotel fare.
The main dining area sits beneath soaring rafters and has a gently Scandinavian feel, with pale wood-panelled walls, minimalist black wall lamps, rows of potted plants and huge woven pendant lights. The vibe is laid-back and the staff very friendly – this is the kind of place where you can chat for hours over a long meal, with no stuffiness or formality. There’s also a bar and lounge with cushion-strewn window seats, sink-into sofas and other cosy nooks, plus a trio of glass domes that you can hire for private meals, but my favourite spot was the covered courtyard with its crackling fireplace and blanket-draped chairs. In was an unbeatable setting for pre-dinner drinks, and we stayed toasty despite the temperature dropping beneath zero once darkness fell.
So would I recommend Wild Thyme & Honey? Definitely. We felt ourselves start to unwind from the moment we arrived, and even though our stay only lasted for 24 hours it felt like a proper break. Neither of us wanted to drag ourselves away and head back to the city, and we wouldn’t hesitate to return – perhaps for another cosy winter escape, or maybe a summer sojourn when everything is green and leafy…
Book a stay at Wild Thyme & Honey here. Rooms start at £150 per night.
All photography by Abi Dare
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