Burford Lodge

Burford Lodge's website describes the town of Burford as "a stunning, honey-coloured Cotswold stone town", and it might well include itself in that description. Sumptuous panelling and Regency-style fabrics abound. Comprehensively stuffed with genuine antique furniture, but not lacking in modern twists where opportunity dictates, the rooms are almost in a time warp, yet well able to deal with the pressures of modern living, and nowhere is this more true than in the dining room, open to residents and non residents, offering a menu that is essentially English with European touches.

Nor is the Lodge, built around 1814, short on the unusual; after all it is not every hotel where you can choose to have your meal cooked at table on volcanic stones, nor dip fruit, profiteroles and mallows in the Belgian chocolate fountain.

A veritable cornucopia of snacks is built round lunch, with light bites of, say smoked haddock fishcake, stuffed jalapeno peppers, or hot hobs, a freshly baked baguette with an attractive choice of fillings. Bigger bites include Thai red chicken curry, or Cumberland sausage with sage and onion gravy. The pie range lists steak, Stilton and mash pie, or various versions of the ploughman's feast.

The dinner specials menu carries a heavy maritime influence, with fresh fish brought daily from Brixham, enabling at starter level lobster, prawn, tomato and mascarpone tart, salmon and crayfish ravioli, or, from further afield, gravadlax of smoked salmon.

Fish features well on the main courses and turbot is presented as a skinless filleted steak lightly basted in champagne butter and pan fried. For the carnivores there is buffalo casseroled in a rich port and red wine sauce. What a delight to see crepes suzettes amongst the desserts; in case you have forgotten, light pancakes served warm and smothered with Grand Marnier and orange sauce, and served with cream or ice cream.

Burford Lodge describes itself as the gateway to the Cotswold and as seen from the map it is very fair claim, making it an ideal choice for business meetings, private gatherings and parties, or destination stop for quality tours; you can find out more about it on their Website.

Whether stopping for a meal en route, or a more leisurely and paced affair, it is very easy to feel at home very quickly at Burford Lodge, so don't be surprised if the stay extends beyond your intentions.