Car park, The Shepherd's Rest, Foxhill, Swindon The once well-patronised pub has closed within the last twelve months, the victim of the credit crunch, cheap beer from supermarkets, the smoking ban, the drink-driving laws or a combination of all of the above. Whatever the cause, the freehold is for sale to anyone willing to risk a punt in the licensed trade. The checkerboard on the right is an indicator that oncoming drivers have to give way to traffic from the right or left.

RestaurantEat & Drink

The Burj

📷 Photo by Brian Robert Marshall · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

The Burj is an Indian restaurant located in Liddington village, positioned conveniently on the eastern edge of the Cotswolds near the Marlborough Downs.

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It fills a genuine gap in what's available locally, offering something quite different from the traditional pub food you'll find across most smaller villages in the region. The menu spans both classic and contemporary Indian cooking, with particularly strong curries and tandoori specialities that give you plenty of options whether you're looking for something familiar or want to branch out and try something new.

The atmosphere here is relaxed and genuinely friendly, making it work just as well for a proper evening out as it does for a quick meal if you're passing through. The service strikes that nice balance of being attentive without ever feeling stiff or formal, and the whole experience has a comfortable, unpretentious feel. Liddington itself is fairly quiet, but the restaurant's location means it's well positioned if you're based in nearby Swindon, and the M4 corridor is close by too, making it practical if you're heading into or out of the main Cotswolds area. You'll get a flavourful meal here and a genuinely pleasant break from what else is typically on offer in the surrounding villages.