Double Red Duke Hotel: A Gorgeous New Opening In The Cotswolds
The Cotswolds isn’t short of beautiful hotels, already being home to The Fish, The Rectory, The Wild Rabbit, Soho Farmhouse, Thyme and The Painswick. But new kid on the block, Double Red Duke is a strong contender for the prettiest one yet. Nestled in the sleepy village of Clanfield, this former wool merchant’s house was renovated in 2020 by Georgie and Sam Pearman, the husband and wife duo behind the Country Creatures group. Already boasting The Swan and The Chequers, I knew it was going to be beautiful when I stayed there last July, but my visit exceeded all my expectations.
Getting to Double Red Duke
It’s a 2-hour drive from London, or an hour on the train into Shipton or Oxford, both a 30-minute taxi ride away. If you’re driving, parking isn’t that great. There’s a small car park but Double Red Duke’s also a pub, and spaces aren’t prioritised for overnight guests. So if you head out during the day, be prepared to lose your space when you return.
This meant we ended up having to park far away from the hotel, leaving our car on a residential street. And were then told by reception to be careful where it’s parked as the neighbours get quite annoyed. Luckily everything was fine, but it did leave us slightly anxious about what we’d come back to!
That being said, if you can, I’d recommend driving anyway. If you want to explore other towns in The Cotswolds (you definitely should), you’ll need a car to get there. Bibury is a 25-minute drive and Burford is 15-minutes, so you won’t be able to walk there!
➡️ Looking for the best villages to visit in The Cotswolds? Click here for my guide
First impressions
From the moment you arrive, this Cotswolds hotel is impressive. The facade is stunning – flowers frame the building and draw your eye into the most Instagrammable parasols I’ve seen in a beer garden. Although ‘beer garden’ feels far too casual a phrase for what is actually a perfectly landscaped labour of love.
Step inside and you’re greeted by a small reception area with doors leading to cosy corners and nooks for grabbing a drink. The whole hotel is designed with comfort in mind. It’s the sort of place you step into and don’t want to leave. There’s endless spots to relax with a board game or a book and while away the evening.
Which room should I choose?
There’s 19 bedrooms at Double Red Duke, ranging from the cosy double rooms to the spacious family rooms. We opted for a large double room and I had one of the best night’s sleep I’ve ever had, so it gets top marks for comfort. There’s a kettle & cafetiere, a Roberts Radio and even freshly baked cookies on arrival.
My decision to book this room was mostly due to the beautiful free-standing bathtub. I’d definitely recommend upgrading your room if you can, we spent hours soaking in the tub filled with 100-acres bubble bath (the best!). All of the bedrooms are tastefully decorated with clashing prints, bold colours and thoughtful details, so you’re bound to have an amazing stay whichever one you pick.
What’s the food and drink like at Double Red Duke?
I can’t talk about the food here without first mentioning the room you eat it in. The whole hotel is beautifully furnished but The Garden Room and the adjoining Orangery steal the show. Comfy sofas and dramatic lighting take centre stage, whilst quirky artwork and plants line the walls. It manages to be light and airy whilst still retaining a cosy feel.
I can imagine sipping cocktails here in summer and hunkering down with a mulled wine in winter – few places I’ve stayed strike that balance quite so well.
Breakfast
Continental breakfast is included in your stay and it’s more than enough to sustain you for the day. Choose from cereal, pastries and local jams, or boil your own eggs for a heartier meal. There’s cooked breakfasts too, you’ll just need to pay extra for them.
Lunch and Dinner
For me, it’s the all-day menu where Double Red Duke shines. I wish I lived nearby so I could pop in for the food, it was some of the best I’ve ever had. In the afternoon we sipped on (many) Fresh Coupe cocktails (you have to order one if you visit), and nibbled on Sea Scallops with Garlic Crumbs, Grilled Bone Marrow Oysters & Courgette and Mint flatbread from the snacks menu.
The evening menu is designed to be shared, so on the Friday evening we did exactly that. The stand-outs were the Apple Glazed Bacon Ribs with Fennel Slaw (even writing this is making me hungry, they were incredible!) & the Potato Salad.
On Saturday night we shared a steak and a selection of sides, including round two of the potato salad. We were slightly disappointed on the second evening as the potato salad tasted completely different to the previous night, but the hotel was newly opened when we visited and the staff were very accommodating when we mentioned it, so I’m sure that the consistency is something that will have improved now they’ve been open longer.
The Chef’s Counter
Book one of 10 seats at the chef’s counter for front-row viewing of your dinner being prepared.
The Feasting Room
Perfect if you’re visiting with a group, you can hire this room exclusively for your own private dinner. There’s a separate entrance, a 60″ TV and you can play whatever music you want.
Is it suitable for children?
Definitely – there’s family rooms that sleep up to four people, and some even have bunk beds! Cots are also available upon request. And there’s plenty of choice when it comes to dinner – there’s a separate children’s menu offering pizza, fish and chips and cheeseburgers.
That being said, I wouldn’t say it’s designed with children in mind. It’s a pub converted into a boutique hotel, so there aren’t endless activities to keep them entertained. But if you’re using it as a base to explore the rest of The Cotswolds – it’s perfect.
What activities are there at Double Red Duke?
Double Red Duke is a small hotel, so there’s not loads of facilities within the grounds. But they’ve partnered with local businesses to provide endless options for your stay. Book in for a tour of the local gin distillery, or if you’re visiting with a group, there’s lots of incredible shooting estates locally. So you can enjoy a day shooting, and then come back to Double Red Duke and enjoy a private dinner in the 12-seater feasting room.
They also offer cycling and walking tours, although both of them require at least 4-nights away, but you’ll get to stay at all of the Country Creatures hotels along the route!
All that sound far too hectic? Cancel all your plans and book yourself in for a massage in the garden spa shed instead.
Can I bring my dog?
You can, you’ll just need to let them know when you book! There’s a few dog-friendly bedrooms in the barn annex. You’ll need to pay £25 per dog, per night, and the hotel provides a dog bed and bowl.
Dogs are welcome in the bar as long they’re on a lead, but they aren’t allowed in the dining rooms or the Chef’s Counter.
How much does it cost?
Rooms start from £120 a night.
What’s the service like?
We visited Double Red Duke not long after opening, and the service was a bit hit and miss. There were inconsistencies in the food, a few delays when ordering, and a little hiccup in the restaurant where we found an unwelcome guest in our dinner.
To their credit, they were extremely accommodating in resolving the issue, but only after we flagged it on check-out, the waiter who dealt with the situation at the time looked a little flustered and unsure of how to handle the situation. This would in no way stop me going back, I simply put it down to teething problems that I’m sure most businesses experience in their first few months.
Things to do near Double Red Duke
Whilst there’s not much to do at the hotel except eat great food and drink delicious cocktails (both perfectly fine with me), you’re only a 15-minute drive from lots of amazing villages in The Cotswolds.
If you’re looking for another pub with incredible food, The Bell Inn is less than 10 minutes away. We stopped off for pizza and fried chicken en-route and the food and service were both incredible. Make sure you have a wander around Langford afterwards, it’s a gorgeous village. Talking of good pubs serving good food, you’ve got to pay a visit to Double Red Duke’s sister properties – The Swan and The Chequers. Both pubs are about 30 minutes away from Double Red Duke and are well worth a visit.
If you don’t have a car, there’s a lovely walk to neighbouring Bampton, where parts of Downton Abbey were filmed.
Double Red Duke’s the perfect hotel for…
A romantic escape in the countryside with good food and drink. It’s a flawless blend of traditional, cosy pub and stylish, modern interiors.
➡️ Book your stay at Double Red Duke here
