Why The Fish Hotel in the Cotswolds Sets the Benchmark for Luxury Countryside Stays

I’m very lucky to have spent a great deal of time in the Lake District. I’d go so far as to say it feels like my second home — sometimes, perhaps, to the detriment of exploring other beautiful corners of Britain. So when I was invited to stay at The Fish Hotel, perched on the edge of the Cotswolds, I jumped at the chance. It felt like the perfect opportunity to step outside my usual comfort zone and experience a different kind of British escape.

The Cotswolds National Landscape is the largest of its kind in the UK, stretching across nearly 800 square miles of rolling countryside, honey-coloured villages and quietly dramatic views. The Fish Hotel sits within the 500-acre Farncombe Estate, perched high above the postcard-perfect village of Broadway. From its elevated position, the hotel feels wonderfully removed, surrounded by woodland and open skies, yet still firmly rooted in one of England’s most cherished landscapes.

It was a gloomy Monday in January when a friend and I rolled into the Farncombe Estate. On a day like that, what else is there to do but pull up at a luxury hotel and surrender to a little rest and relaxation? Grey skies, quiet roads and no pressing agenda — this, I thought, is very much the life.

The Farncombe Estate is far more than just a setting for The Fish Hotel. Spanning 500 acres of rolling countryside, woodland and winding paths, it feels like a destination in its own right. The estate is also home to Dormy House and Foxhill Manor, each offering its own distinct take on luxury, while sharing the same sweeping views across the Cotswolds National Landscape.

Walking the grounds, it’s easy to forget how close you are to everyday life. There are quiet trails through ancient woodland, open meadows that invite slow morning strolls, and viewpoints that reward you with far-reaching vistas over Broadway and beyond. Everything is designed to encourage guests to down tools and slow their pace — whether that’s wrapping up for a winter wander, lingering over coffee with a view, or simply appreciating the sense of space that’s becoming increasingly rare in the UK.

Check-in takes place in a beautiful, light-filled space that instantly sets the tone for the stay. At its heart is a striking open fire, encased within a contemporary cylindrical surround that feels both sculptural and inviting. Around it, oversized lounging sofas encourage guests to sink in and slow down, while floor-to-ceiling glass windows frame views across the surrounding woodland and a charming little pond just beyond.

Check-in itself was seamless and genuinely friendly, with a warm welcome that immediately set the tone for our stay. Within minutes, I already knew that one night simply wasn’t going to be enough — but I’d happily take what I could get.

The Fish offers a wonderfully varied mix of accommodation, from treehouses tucked deep within the woodland to luxury bedrooms and suites. My personal favourite, however, is the Hideaway Huts — and, as luck would have it, this was to be our home for the next 24 hours. Cue an internal oh my goodness. I was officially in seventh heaven.

To call them “huts” feels almost misleading. These are unbelievably luxurious spaces, dressed with every bell and whistle you could possibly want from a high-end stay. Impeccably clean and exquisitely designed, they’re created with total tranquillity in mind — and Puck quickly became my new favourite place. Ever.

Inside, there’s a bijoux living area complete with the cutest wood-burning stove, which opens out into a gorgeous bedroom beyond. And then there’s the bath — a beautiful roll-top, softly lit and impossibly inviting. There’s something wonderfully indulgent about sinking into hot water while the rest of the space glows around you, trees visible through the skylight above and nothing on the agenda but doing absolutely nothing at all. It’s the kind of detail that makes you grin to yourself and wonder how quickly it would be inappropriate to cancel all your plans and stay put.

But it doesn’t stop there. Outside, a private garden houses a bubbling hot tub and — quite brilliantly — an intercom that allows you to happily buzz for booze without leaving the warmth of the water. If I’ve stayed somewhere more impressive, more indulgent, or more thoughtfully designed, I honestly can’t bring it to mind right now. It’s less a hotel stay and more a countryside resort experience done exceptionally well.

We had a wander around the grounds to get our bearings, stretching our legs and taking in a bit more of the estate before the evening set in. January isn’t exactly balmy, but it felt good to be out for a while before heading indoors.

After that, we stopped at the bar for a drink — relaxed, welcoming and just the right place to pause before dinner — before making our way over to Hook, The Fish’s in-house restaurant. Nothing rushed, nothing overthought, just a natural flow into the evening and a clear sense that dinner was going to be the main event.

Let’s be honest — if you’ve read any of my previous articles, you’ll already know that food is usually the main event for me, so I was genuinely looking forward to dinner at Hook by Martin Burge. The restaurant itself is a lovely space to spend an evening, with floor-to-ceiling windows once again making the most of the woodland setting outside. It’s stylish without being stuffy, relaxed but still special — exactly what you want from a hotel restaurant.

The menu leans heavily into seafood, as you’d expect, but with plenty of variety beyond that. There are oysters to start (non‑negotiable, obviously), alongside dishes like crab parfait, crispy cod cheeks, gambas al pil pil and twice-baked Comté soufflé. Mains range from Cornish mussels and Hook’s fish of the day to rib-eye steak, ray wing and more substantial plates designed for lingering over rather than rushing through.

It’s the sort of menu that makes ordering tricky in the best possible way — tempting, well thought out and clearly rooted in quality produce — and it set us up nicely for what turned out to be a very enjoyable meal.

To start, my guest went for the squid, while I did exactly what I always do when oysters are on the menu — ordered them without hesitation. Fresh, briny and beautifully simple, they were everything you want from a good oyster and set the bar high straight away.

For mains, I opted for the chicken, a comforting but well-executed dish that felt generous and satisfying without being heavy. My guest had initially set his heart on the ray wing, but as it was a Monday and the delivery hadn’t arrived yet, it wasn’t available. Instead, the kitchen offered pan-fried skate as a replacement — a swap that was handled without fuss and turned out to be an excellent alternative. We skipped the prawns altogether due to my allergy, which was dealt with confidently and without any awkwardness, something that’s always reassuring when dining out.

Overall, it was a genuinely impressive dinner — the kind that reminds you why food-led hotels are worth seeking out. Everything felt confident and well judged, from the quality of the ingredients to the way the dishes were put together. Nothing was overcomplicated, but every plate delivered on flavour, and there was a clear sense that the kitchen knows exactly what it’s doing. It was satisfying, memorable and, crucially, made us immediately start discussing what we’d order if we came back again — always the sign of a very good meal indeed.

Sleep came easily. Whether it was the quiet of the estate, the comfort of the bed, or the simple fact that everything about the stay encourages you to properly switch off, I slept incredibly well — the kind of deep, uninterrupted sleep that feels like a small luxury in itself. Waking up tucked away among the trees, with nowhere to be and nothing to do but enjoy the morning, was an absolute pleasure.

Breakfast was served back in Hook and proved to be just as much of a highlight as dinner the night before. The service was warm, efficient and full of good humour, and the food was generous, well cooked and exactly what you want to start the day. My friend — never knowingly under‑ordering at breakfast — took full advantage, ordering a full English with four eggs, followed by an entirely separate serving of pancakes and bacon. Impressively, the staff took it all in their stride, appearing mildly amused rather than alarmed, and couldn’t have been more accommodating.

It felt like the perfect end to our short stay — great food, genuinely lovely service and that rare feeling of leaving somewhere already plotting a return visit. The Fish Hotel manages to strike that sweet spot between indulgent and easy-going, and it’s a place I’d happily recommend to anyone in need of a proper countryside escape.

In conclusion, I didn’t want to leave — and honestly, I wanted to book a return visit almost immediately. From the impeccable service and truly incredible accommodation to the thoughtful extras, outstanding food and breathtaking setting, The Fish Hotel delivers on every level. It manages to feel indulgent without ever being intimidating, luxurious without losing its sense of fun, and polished while still being wonderfully relaxed.

This is hospitality done properly — considered, confident and genuinely memorable. If you’re looking for an upscale countryside stay that gets everything right, The Fish Hotel sets the benchmark. Don’t miss it — and if you do book, tell them I sent you.

Words – Joanne Brook-Smith, visit January 2026

The Fish Hotel
Farncombe
Broadway
Worcestershire
WR12 7LH

Tel: 01386 858000
Email: reception@thefishhotel.co.uk