The New Inn, Coln St Aldwyns

Deep in the heart of Coln Valley, just down the road from the picturesque Cotswold market town of Cirencester, is The New Inn. Situated in the quaint little village of Coln St Aldwyns, this 16^th century coach house inn dates back to the reign of Elizabeth l. Having undergone major renovations, it offers a collection of fourteen stylish bedrooms in which the old features of ancient oak beams remain, beautifully in-keeping with the building’s character. However, in addition, they have also bought in the new, modernising with flat-screen televisions, wifi and plump mattresses, adding to the comforting aspects that make for a charming stay.

Upon arrival, we received a warm welcome from staff and were shown to our room in one of the adjacent buildings. With each room named after one of the charismatic villages that surrounds The New Inn, ours, ‘Fairford’ was decorated in a warm burgundy and furnished with a range of black French-style shabby-chic furniture. The room displayed attention to detail with elements of elegance, opulence and allurement, which, alongside the toasty warmth that welcomed us the moment we entered was, in my eyes, all you need in a romantic retreat at this time of year.   Once we’d settled and enjoyed the comforts on offer, which included complimentary tasters of Godminster’s Elderflower vodka, we made our way down to the restaurant to embark on the eight course gastro-taster menu we would be sampling that evening.

When you enter the Inn itself, you’re welcomed by the warming charactistics of a local country pub; the blazing fire in the corner surrounded by locals enjoying a pint of local ale with their loyal canine companions obediently sat at their feet. The New Inn is a dog friendly establishment with rooms available to accommodate our furry friends – Billy the Jack Russell would’ve been most put out if he’d known he could have come along.

Once seated and sipping on a chilled glass of fragrant Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc, we were presented with the first of our eight courses of the evening: Wild Mushroom Cappuccino. Bringing the perfect level of warmth to begin our feast, this little mug of soup held a great depth of flavour– a delicious beginning of what was hoped to be a happy ending. Next, came an all-time favourite, Chicken Liver Parfait served on toasted brioche with shallot marmalade, again a faultless delight; the smoothness in texture enriched with the sweetness of the liver and brandy disappeared soon after the waiter had delivered it. This was followed by a fish course of Scallop, Monkfish and Tiger Prawn, cooked to perfection and served plainly with care not to disturb their natural flavours. At this moment, it was time to cleanse the taste-buds – a classic element to fine-dining. I was chuffed to see it had made the menu here and with their own stamp, that gin lovers would appreciate – “Frozen Hendricks”. This was simply divine, the refreshing taste of cucumber, the signature flavour of Hendricks, alongside the sweet bitterness of the gin created a party in my mouth – if it wasn’t for certain etiquettes that accompany fine-dining and the fact that we still had four courses to go, I would have asked the waiter to bring out the tub along with the recipe! We moved on to the main course of Gloucester Old Spot Pork Belly served on Fondant Potato, with Confit Savoy Cabbage and Celeriac topped with a Toffee Apple and Pork Scratching. My guest and I agreed that this was one of the best main courses we had both eaten in a while – the pork was perfectly cooked and worked well with the other elements on the plate, and who can say no to a pork scratching and a toffee apple? Overall a very well thought out dish which in itself alongside the “Frozen Hendricks” makes The New Inn worthy of a visit. We finished off our feast with Tempura Battered Apple Fritters served with Caramel Sauce and Black Pepper and Vanilla Ice-Cream, a selection of Best of British Cheeses, which I was happy to see, included one of my favourites, Simon Weaver’s Cotswold Brie made in the nearby village of Upper Slaughter.

Now I know eight courses may seem a little daunting – indeed, when I first set eyes upon this menu, I had visions of being carried back to my room in a wheelbarrow – very romantic! However, each course was carefully portioned, and even though each delicious mouthful left us wanting more, it set us in good stead for what was yet to come– by which point, we were just the right amount of full – although this was nothing a digestif from the New Inn’s collection couldn’t cure.

Overall, The New Inn is worth a visit: the rooms and food were excellent. And whether your stay is for a romantic weekend getaway or a place to billet during Cheltenham Race Week (which is conveniently located nearby) breakfast of eggs benedict with Coln Valley Smoked Salmon puts you in good stead for a walk around the exquisite surrounding countryside or a day at the races.

The New Inn, Coln St Aldwyns - 01285 750651

http://www.new-inn.co.uk/

info@new-inn.co.uk