The Bell Inn

Service: Staff were frequently noted for being polite, accommodating, and friendly. Some guests appreciated their attentiveness during meals and their flexibility in meeting requests.

I can't fault the meal,although felt it was more expensive than it needed to be.The staff were excellent & the service was exemplary. The room however had a few issues.The toilet roll holder had come loose & was almost hanging off the wall.I managed to tighten it enough with my fingers for it to work properly.A bolt on one of the chairs outside the back door had also come loose almost causing me to fall off.I managed to find the nut amongst the pebbles & again tightened that with my fingers. The bed seemed to crown in the middle causing both of us to roll to the outside,not a comfortable feeling.We both said it was the worst night's sleep we'd had.I got up at 5 am because I couldn't settle.It was only my wife's pain killers that allowed her a little longer. There was an awful stench of stagnant water/sewerage in the air all the time we were there.I later learnt it was a septic tank in the next property. The website claims,"The Bell pub offers a modern country pub feel,showcasing the pairs' love for a hearty, classic, British menu..." yet the only breakfast option is a continental one!Whatever happened to the full english? My wife is disabled & uses a small mobility scooter to get around which is why we requested one of the ground floor rooms.The path from the rooms to the door of the inn has a large step,inaccessible by scooter/wheelchair.The car park is loose gravel & was extremely difficult to navigate on her scooter.It would have been impossible for a wheelchair. I'd suggest paving at least part of the car park for disabled access.

This is a wonderful inn in the heart of the Cotswolds, and my destination for one night’s stay after walking across country. I was partly drawn to it by Giles Coren’s ecstatic review of the food. I arrived to discover a cosy, kindly hostelry, a perfect hideaway, with aromas of woodsmoke and promising dinners to come. My room was delightful (though there is a smell of sewage on the way up…) and I had a very comfortable night’s sleep - except for one tiny thing - if you leave the window open, it rattles and needs tightening up. (Sorry, I meant to mention this when I checked out.) The St John claret is excellent, a very good and affordable option. For main, I had the venison loin with salsify, horseradish, bacon and a side of creamed spinach. Although the venison could have been a little warmer, this was a magnificent meal. The horseradish was very sharp but the balance of flavours worked beautifully. Pear sorbet to follow also unusual and delicious. My only disappointment was the cheese selection. Only two cheeses, both of them mild to the point of blandness. For that price, and given how much skill went into the main, I thought this was really very poor. I’d always expect three cheeses, and traditionally a cheddar, a blue and a soft cheese. This was just a soft and what looked like perhaps Ashcombe. At least it was served at room temperature and not straight out of the fridge however, as so many places insist on doing. The atmosphere was very genial, and the service was perfect, very attentive and friendly. And at breakfast, the little-known but charming “Path Towards Tomorrow” by Damien Montagu was playing, a favourite of mine. I would definitely stay again - the cheeseboard was the only misstep for me and all the more because everything else was so right.