The Wheatsheaf Inn

The atmosphere is genuinely relaxed, the sort of place where settling in by the fire with a local ale feels like the natural thing to do. The kitchen turns out proper British food with modern sensibilities, sourcing from farms in the area whenever they can, so you're eating well without pretension.

If you're thinking of staying longer, the inn has comfortable rooms upstairs that work perfectly as a base for exploring the wider region. Stowell's location is really quite handy for getting around. Northleach, a proper market town with its notable church and independent shops, is just a short drive away. Cirencester, which people call the Capital of the Cotswolds, is within easy reach, as are Bourton-on-the-Water and Stow-on-the-Wold. The staff here have a real gift for hospitality, which seems to be in the water around these parts. Whether you're stopping for a quick drink or making an evening of it, you'll find the kind of genuine welcome that makes the Cotswolds worth visiting in the first place.