The Times - UK (2021-12-18)

the times Saturday December 18 2021

We e ke n d 3

room. Try venison Wellington made

with meat from Daylesford’s

Staffordshire estate.

Details 01608 658389;

thewildrabbit.co.uk

The Carpenters Arms

Fulbrook, Burford,

Oxfordshire

This family-run Cotswolds pub has a

large stone fireplace, hand-pulled ales

at the bar and a menu of seasonal

produce including local trout and game

in the dining room.

Details 01993 823823;

thecarpentersarmsfulbrook.co.uk

The Bottle and

Glass Inn

Binfield Heath,

Oxfordshire

Located on the Phillimore Estate in the

Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural

Beauty, this picture-perfect grade II

listed rural thatched pub with rooms has

been lovingly restored by David Holliday

and Alex Sergeant, both formerly of the

only Michelin-starred pub in London,

the Harwood Arms. Work up a thirst

for a pint in the beamed bar by following

a footpath from the inn’s front door

through the estate that supplies

hedgerow ingredients and venison

for the pub’s menu.

Details 01491 412625;

bottleandglassinn.com

The Sheep

Heid Inn

Duddingston,

Edinburgh

Stroll through Holyrood

Park to Arthur’s Seat for

views across Edinburgh, then

seek out this stylishly

restored, ancient pub, hidden

away on a narrow residential

street in Duddingston village on the

south side of the park. Wood panelling

contrasting with bare stone walls and a

cast-iron fireplace make for an intimate,

welcoming atmosphere in which to enjoy

the pub’s range of craft beers and ciders.

Details 0131 661 7974;

thesheepheidedinburgh.co.uk

The Kings Arms

Keswick, Cumbria

Work off festive indulgences with a walk

around beautiful Derwentwater or on

the fells, then head to this 17th-century

coaching inn to warm up by the fireplace

RICHIE HOPSON; MARTIN MORRELL; JAMES BEDFORD; MATT AUSTIN

best winter pubs in the UK

cosy festive bolt hole. Enjoy a pint of the

pub’s own Talbot Ale or wine supplied by

the award-winning Beckford Bottle Shop

in Bath. The menu of local and seasonal

produce might include supreme of

guinea fowl with haggis croquette and

pickled turnip.

Details 01373 812254; talbotinn.com

The Bell at Sapperton

Cirencester,

Gloucestershire

Set between Stroud and Cirencester in

the chocolate box village of Sapperton in

the Cotswold Hills Area of Outstanding

Natural Beauty, this country gastropub is

an idyllic festive retreat, with stone walls,

exposed beams, cosy corners and log

fires. Wine lovers will appreciate the

self-service wine shop in the bar, where

there’s a corkage fee of £10-£20 above

the retail price (the typical restaurant

mark-up is about 300 per cent) to drink

the bottles in the pub.

Details 01285 760298;

bellsapperton.co.uk

The Onslow Arms

Loxwood, Billingshurst,

Kent

Stroll along the Wey and Arun Canal

then head to this 17th-century grade II

listed village pub for a hand-pulled pint

by the fireside. The pub has been

recently renovated but retains bags of

character, with solid oak beams, wooden

floors and exposed brickwork.

Details 01403 752022;

onslowarmsloxwood.com

The Woodsmans Arms

Whickham, Newcastle

upon Tyne

They take the festive season seriously

at this family-friendly rural pub, really

going to town on their decorations, but

the character of the pub shines through,

with rugged stone walls, slate-tiled floor

and comfy armchairs arranged around

an open fireplace.

Details 0191 488 8998;

thewoodmansarms.com

The Fishpool Inn

Delamere, Cheshire

This 18th-century inn with its Victorian

tiled floor and collection of vintage

artefacts is the perfect spot for a pint of

hand-pumped cask-conditioned beer

from a local microbrewery and a seat by

the open fire.

Details 01606 883277;

thefishpoolinn.co.uk

Five Bells

Bassingham, Lincolnshire

This quaint village pub ticks all the cosy

boxes with exposed beams, dried hops,

a wood-burning stove in a brick

fireplace, wooden floors and

mix-and-match wooden chairs. There

are hand-pulled ales at the bar and

Grimsby haddock on the approachable

menu of pub classics.

Details 01522 788269;

fivebellsbassingham.co.uk

with a hand-pulled locally brewed pint

or one of more than 40 whiskies.

Details 017687 72083;

lakedistricthotels.net/kingsarms

The Golden Lion

Settle, North

Yorkshire

Nestled in a picturesque

village, this award-winning

17th-century coaching inn

not only has an elegant

yet cosy interior, with open

fires, but also an “Alpine

village” in the courtyard —

a seasonally decked out winter

lodge and five smaller huts

where you can snuggle up under

a blanket and enjoy a festive afternoon

tea or three-course meal (until

February 2022, booking required).

Details 01729 822203;

goldenlionsettle.co.uk

The Talbot

Mells, Somerset

Set in a historic village in beautiful

countryside, this 15th-century coaching

inn with rooms has been stylishly

restored while retaining original features

including exposed beams, fireplaces and

rough plastered walls, for an elegant yet

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Dining at the Sheep

Heid Inn, Edinburgh

The Golden Lion, North Yorkshire

The Bell at Sapperton,

Gloucestershire

More pubs next page

The Wild Rabbit, Oxfordshire

Christmas special