Pub. Ebrington, UK

May 2021

Every day for 2 years I cycled past the Killingworth Castle in Wootton and never thought much of it.  It was only when a friend of mine recommended The Ebrington Arms in Gloucestershire that I found out these are sister pubs, and not only that, are some of the most highly acclaimed (and supposedly most Instagramable, although I'm not sure who's judging!) pubs in the Cotswolds.

After several Covid induced postponements, my mum and I finally made it there one sunny Friday evening, meaning we got to enjoy the beautiful garden with it's sunning, far-reaching Cotswold views.  I rekon it would be lovely in the winter too - the inside looked so cosy with warmth and comfort emanating from the wood paneling.

I quite often find I'm a little underwhelmed by the food at high end establishments, generally preferring simple, homely fare that has been cooked exceptionally, to rich, elegantly presented plates.  The Ebrington Arms was an exception.

When my mum and I eat out, we don't do things conventionally, we share everything and tend to graze on a 'buffet' of starters and desserts.  We started with salted cod brandade, a sort of salt cod porridge served cold with an exciting combination of toppings to really lift the flavour and add a variety of textures - purple potato cubes, loveage, smoked cod's roe and my absolute favourite part - shards of crispy cod skin, the perfect scoop.  It felt hearty whilst being refreshing and light at the same time, and the flavours exploded on my tongue.

Our dessert was also exceptional - mille feuille sandwiching layers of vanilla cheesecake and strawberries.  Again, light and summery, allowing the British strawberries to shine, and the whole dish was lifted with a lively strawberry gel.

Find The Ebrington Arms in the Cotswold village of the same name, close to Chipping Campden.  They serve a variety of beers and ciders from local breweries and there are plenty of scenic walks from the doorstep - perfect for building up a good appetite beforehand.