The Pavilion

This is the kind of area that lets you experience how locals actually live, without the tourist traffic you'll find in the more famous spots around here. The restaurant has a relaxed feel that works just as well for a quick lunch as it does for a proper evening out. You'll get the sort of straightforward, fresh cooking that appeals equally to people who live nearby and visitors stopping by.

Eastcombe's location gives you good access to some interesting places. Stroud is just a short drive away if you want markets and independent shops, while Minchinhampton Common is close by for its open moorland, and Nailsworth offers decent boutique shopping. If you're walking the footpaths and exploring the countryside around the valleys, The Pavilion is a sensible place to stop and eat without having to stray too far from the quieter areas. It's very much a local restaurant, the sort of place you'll see the same faces regularly, which usually means honest cooking and genuine service rather than something set up mainly for people passing through. Worth knowing about if you're exploring this quieter corner of the Cotswolds.