The Sheep On Sheep Street, The Cotswolds
THE SHEEP ON SHEEP STREET: THE COTSWOLDS
02/12/16
By Ellie
WHY YOU SHOULD VISIT:
- Enjoy a break in the pretty Cotswolds countryside
- Take in the modern and stylish surroundings and relax in style
- If it's a bit chilly outside, settle in front of the fire in the bar with a tipple
- Indulge in some delicious food with the restaurants extensive menu
After being invited to stay at the Sheep on Sheep Street hotel in Stow-on-the-Wold, I couldn’t have been more excited to say goodbye to London and retreat to the beautiful and tranquil English countryside.
Sheep on Sheep Street is tucked away in a small English village in the heart of the Cotswolds and belongs to Brakspear, a family run company with over 200 years experience in the industry. Brakspear own eight hotels and have many more pubs dotted around the Cotswolds, London and Brighton. Having only taken over the pub in January 2016, Brakspear unveiled the hotel’s Soho inspired look in July of the same year. Although modern in style the new decor is still in keeping with the building’s 17th century roots. Bare stone walls, exposed beams and original antiques are complemented by bold colour schemes and patterned furnishings. Overall, the design cleverly embraces the cosy country feel without being stuffy.
I visited Sheep on Sheep Street hotel with my partner and we tried to contain our excitement as we were shown to the honeymoon suite, or premium room as stated on the website, which was big enough for four people and beautifully decorated with hand painted antique furniture. The room was complete with hydrobath, flat screen TV and coffee machine, enough to keep my boyfriend entertained for the rest of the stay!
Our bedroom window allowed a lovely view of delightful Stow-on-the-Wold illuminated by Christmas lights. Although small, there was a variety of interesting shops to browse in Stow-on-the-Wold, including delis, galleries and even an après bar for ski enthusiasts. The few pubs to choose from were mostly empty and lacked atmosphere in contrast to Sheep on Sheep Street which had a cosy fire in the middle of a bustling bar. Drinks in hand, we settled into two large armchairs next to the Christmas tree for a relaxed and pleasurable evening.
The restaurant adjoining the bar felt more exclusive with mirrored walls and mock chandeliers but still retained a welcoming feel. The menu was extensive and offered a range of dishes from pizza to Malaysian curry and everything in between. I opted for two Asian style dishes; Soy and sesame duck salad to start and a Sichuan style pork belly for main, both of which were delicious. The salad was delicate, light and the duck was full of flavour. Pork Belly, which I normally find fatty, was pan fried until crisp and sat on a heap of saucy noodles. The leeks and chopped nuts added texture and complimented the spicy sauce beautifully.
Although completely full, I couldn’t resist ordering pain au chocolat bread and butter pudding, a particular favourite of mine. The pudding was swimming in a buttery sauce but retained the flakiness of the croissant, a difficult feat and absolutely yummy!
After a delightful night’s sleep, we headed downstairs where we were greeted in the restaurant by friendly staff. The continental buffet presented a selection of large glazed pastries, fresh bread, crumpets, cereals, yoghurt and a selection of fruit. I began with a croissant which was as delightful as it looked, light, flaky and buttery. The breakfast menu offered a range of hot options with eggs Benedict being my preferred choice. The eggs were slightly underdone for my liking but the tangy hollandaise sauce more than made up for it.
Altogether a lovely trip made all the more enjoyable thanks to friendly and helpful staff. Sheep on Sheep Street is the perfect place to enjoy a relaxed country retreat with a modern twist.
Dotty Dishes was a guest of Sheep on Sheep Street
Sheep on Sheep Street, Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire, GL54 1AG
