hips don't lie: Checking in at the The Olde Bell, Berkshire and The Crown in Bucks

Thứ Năm, 6 tháng 6, 2013

Checking in at the The Olde Bell, Berkshire and The Crown in Bucks

By

Eliza Scarborough

PUBLISHED:

10:21 EST, 6 June 2013

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UPDATED:

10:33 EST, 6 June 2013

The Olde Bell in Berkshire is a country inn on the banks of the Thames. Set in the idyllic village of Hurley it boasts beautiful gardens, cosy yet modern-chic rooms and a great restaurant. Being foodies, we were instantly impressed by the inn’s seasonally inspired, gastro-pub menu based around traditional British food.

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Rustic cool: The dining rooms at the Olde Bell pub in Hurley

They use ingredients freshly sourced from the inn gardens where possible to bring a real feel of home cooking meets fine dining in a rustic yet high-class dining room. After relaxing by the fire, it was time to enjoy the Crawford-refurbished bedrooms.

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And so to bed: Natural tones are the order of the day in the Olde Bell’s bedrooms

These still have a quintessentially English feel but with chunky farmhouse furniture, wool blankets, and Farrow and Ball natural tones they are just heaven to relax in. Ours was finished with a free standing bath and a spacious bathroom with a huge waterfall shower and filled with botanical skincare range Aesop.

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Sister with style: The Crown, just half an hour away in Buckinghamshire, is another super stylish country pub

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Pared down chic: a bedroom at The Crown

Following a relaxing breakfast at large wooden tables with home baked bread it was time to make the short half an hour journey to The Olde Bell’s sister hotel, The Crown in Amersham.

With its half-timbered Elizabethan facade opening onto a cobbled courtyard we were yet again settling into another stylish country pub. On arrival we were very impressed with the finish on the rooms.

They really have done an excellent job with a super king bed, sunken plasma television, vast bathroom and subtle lighting.

After wondering around in the local town it was time to retire back to the inns pretty beer garden where I tried a home-made Rhubarb Fizz, made from a reduction of rhubarb grown on the premises and topped with Prosecco.

Although we did not eat here the restaurant looked very nice and people were travelling from all around to enjoy their food.