“Oh look, she’s got umbrellas and is ready for her Instagram moment.” That was my first thought the moment I laid my eyes on the Double Red Duke’s cutesy photogenic facade. Plonked in the hinterland of Cotswolds chic, this handsome 17th-century manor house is all shades flamboyant and more. Aside from its Insta credentials and Gen Z cred, the hotel is well placed on the Cotswold fringes for easy access from Oxford and Lechlade-on-Thames via the dashing chocolate box village of Clanfield. In other words, you can reach it by train with little or no hassle, via hotel arranged pick up or a swish taxi of course.
Quintessentially Cotswoldian to a tee, the former wool merchant’s house turned chic rural retreat is the work of Georgie and Sam Pearman, of Country Creatures group fame. It’s all a vision of boutique buzz: snugs with fireplaces, coffee tables piled with books and all shades of wood panelling galore. The vibe is all very atmospheric, with a maze of Alice in Wonderland-esque rooms (all complete with cushty sofas, original artworks and spots kitted out with on-trend spruces obviously) designed to chillax in. Think of it as a tavern, but with the fashion set in mind styled with convivial conservatory armed with banquette seating ready for overdue bitching seshes.
The rooms serve up just as much panache. Like any other boutique hotspot, they have gone bold and original. Think color, color, color. Risky wallpaper, in your-face headboards and the odd curio from an antique fair adorn the timber-clad, and often creaky hangouts. Larger boudoirs come with sex-ready roll top tubs poised with wondrously fragrant 100 Acres products to wash yourselves with after. It’s all natural, darlings. Roberts radios will keep you company if you get lonely and if you are in one of the rooms at the back, you’ll get your own terrace with garden views and après news.
The food? Proper British, theatrics included. The menu offers all sorts from big old burgers to European and Middle eastern mash ups. Everything green is grown locally, and much of the produce is sourced locally. It’s also worth checking out the specials board, and if you just have no clue what to order, one of the overly enthusiastic folk who work at The Duke will just choose for you. Spoiler, go for anything piled with meat because it’s all lush AF. For breakfast, it’s a buffet kind of affair. Sourdough breads, sweet pastries, boiled eggs, fruit and cereals are all spread over the kitchen counter, and if you want to be super American, order some pancakes. The full English is also delicious – minus the bloating.
The beautiful thing about staying here is that it is all decked out in the name of fun. Nothing takes itself too seriously, and in this stuffy and sceney part of the world, that is refreshing. It’s a place to just kick back, get lashed with your mates and chat for hours on end with a good meal on the table. What more do you need, eh?
Top Takeaways
Location: Clanfield, Oxfordshire, Cotswolds, England
Rating: Five-Star
The vibe: Cheap, cheerful and stylish British luxe. You come here for good food and even better banter.
Food + drink: British meets a little bit of everywhere. The menus are well-versed and well-informed, using quality ingredients that your palette will approve of nearly instantly.
Amenities: Spa, Restaurant, Golf course, Bar, Dog-friendly rooms.
Our favourite thing about the hotel: It’s relaxed and casual atmosphere. Here, you feel comfortable as soon as you walk in, and in my book, that’s a sign of any good inn or hotel in Blighty.
What’s nearby: Nothing but the cute village. If you get bored, book yourself into the little spa, set in a shepherd’s hut. It offers a small range of treatments, all based on the aromatic philosophies of 100 Acres products.
Rooms? 19
Pricing: From about 300 USD per night.
Closest International Airport: London Heathrow
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