Set in 400 acres of Cotswold beauty, The Fish has established itself as one of the finest hotels in the area. Michael Purton took his partner and baby to spend the night.

  • Location

When you first arrive at The Fish, you’d be forgiven for thinking you’d taken a wrong turn somewhere and ended up in a nearby village. The place is not so much a hotel as a collection of farm-like houses and stables set on a steep hill within the 400-acre Farncombe Estate and, unsurprisingly, the views across the Vale of Evesham and beyond are spectacular.

To make the most of the setting, The Fish – which shares the Farncombe Estate with its sister hotels Dormy House and Foxhill Manor – has an Activity Team which, for the more energetic guests, can arrange a ‘Segway safari’ or quad bike tour of the sprawling grounds, archery, pistol shooting and clay pigeon shooting, all of which is ideal if you’re a family with children to keep entertained. Oh, and the selection of Hunter wellies for guests to choose from for their outdoor exploits is a real touch of class.

If you want to explore further afield, the village of Broadway is a 20-minute walk away with its picturesque high street of boutique shops and cosy pubs, or there is Broadway Tower from which you can enjoy stunning 360-degree views of the surrounding landscape.

All of this is well worth experiencing and makes staying at The Fish more than just your average Cotswold hotel trip. Of course, if you do feel like just relaxing in your suite or at the bar in the main reception building, you won’t be disappointed…

  • Rooms

The Fish comprises of 68 bedrooms and suites located in five different buildings as well as five shepherds’ hut-style Hilly Huts.

This was our first night away with our baby and so we were somewhat apprehensive because, as any parent will tell you, taking an infant anywhere can be something of a mission.

We stayed in the Lancaster, a spacious suite which looked like it had been plucked from a Farrow & Ball catalogue with its combination of modern colours and vintage chic (the retro telephone and radio were a particularly nice touch). As well as a super-kingsize bed which was so comfortable you felt you became one with the mattress, there was a log-burner with armchairs opposite and a large wall-mounted TV, a separate lounge area with a plush sofa, a beautiful tiled bathroom adorned with a walk-in shower and claw-foot bathtub, a large cot and, to top it all off, unimpeded views of the aforementioned Cotswold hills.

Perhaps the biggest compliment I can give is that, as soon as we walked into the suite, our 'first night away' concerns melted away. There was such a relaxed atmosphere, and so much space, that both we and our baby were instantly chilled and ready to make the most of being there.

  • Dining

The Fish takes its name from the Benedictine monks of Pershore Abbey who stored their catch in hillside caves so, as you’d expect, the menu specialises in seafood.

The restaurant and bar are situated in the main building and benefit from huge windows that afford views of the breathtaking estate. Between the two there is a games room with satellite TV, table football, a pool table and toys, to keep youngsters – and their young-at-heart parents – entertained.

Like the rooms, the bar has a retro charm with vintage armchairs, sofas and wooden tables set around a circular fireplace, and there is a fantastic range of drinks from real ale to cocktails.

Although the menu is not huge, there is a decent selection on offer and the prices are reasonable considering you’re on a Cotswold country estate.

To start, I had home-smoked salmon with gin and cucumber relish (£7.50) while my other half chose Scottish mussels with white wine and cream sauce (£8). She went for the haddock and chips (£13.50) for her main while I opted for something from the surf & turf section, a chargrilled cheeseburger (£13.50) and king prawns (£7.50). For dessert, she picked churros with salted caramel and orange mascarpone and I plumped for apple crumble with ice cream (both £6).

Everything was cooked to perfection and tasted exquisite – although we tried, we couldn’t find a single fault with our meal; well, except for my demanding appetite being not quite fully satisfied with just four king prawns, but, to be fair, they were a side to the cheeseburger main, which was filling and flavourful. Our drinks were just as good, with her enjoying a glass of New Zealand sauvignon blanc and me a Hendrick’s gin and tonic.

All in all, it was a superb dining experience with the food, drinks and setting combining perfectly, and the staff were brilliant in timing the delivery of our dishes around our baby’s mid-meal feed (as a newborn, he doesn’t quite understand the concept of waiting just yet!). Breakfast, served in the restaurant, was delicious too, with a combination of continental buffet and cooked fare – the porridge was particularly good.

  • Overall

As you can see, I have nothing but praise for The Fish and would heartily recommend the hotel to families looking for an energetic weekend and couples in need of a relaxing romantic getaway.

5/5

Rates at The Fish Hotel start from £85 per room, per night including breakfast and VAT. See www.thefishhotel.co.uk or call 01386 858000 for more.