We headed to the Cotswolds for a wedding and I finally got to try out the fabulous Double Red Duke, a cosy and very instagrammable 16th-century hotel and restaurant in the village of Clanfield that stands proud with its signature red striped umbrellas in the garden. I did want to stay here, as the wedding was only 10 minutes away, but it didn’t work out, so heading for a spot of lunch was the next best thing.
As soon as you step inside the Double Red Duke, you are completely wowed by the stylish interior, with its statement wallpaper, cosy corners, and retro touches, which was revamped during lockdown. I just adore that if you are staying here, that there are a series of interconnecting sitting rooms with fireplaces, wood panelling and shelves of books – I could just imagine sitting here after dinner with a nightcap before heading off back to the room.
For food, the set-up is just as stunning, with large dining spaces for groups in rooms with exposed beams, as well as romantic little nooks, and a beautiful garden room filled with green foliage, ferns and orchids, complete with an open fire when the weather turns cold. It was warm and inviting, as well as stylish, with red signature touches on the tables, from red-rimmed glasses to sprigs of flowers nestled into the napkins on all the tables.
The menu for lunch was just as impressive, based on open-flame cooking, using local and British produce, including a mix of steak, fish, chicken and pork dishes. From the traditional fish and chips and burgers to rump steak, trout, sea bass and duck. The only thing really missing from this menu are a few more vegetarian options. For the mains you basically only have BBQ king oyster mushroom with Jerusalem artichoke – I would have liked more to choose from.
If you don’t fancy a big lunch, you can also opt for the small plates including smoked beef tartare and shallots, smoked mackerel pate and devilled kidneys on toast, or even salads, where you can add grilled chicken.
Can’t eat at the Double Red Duke without having a dessert
I decided to go for the fish and chips, where the shout-out really needs to go to those incredible triple-cooked chips. While my husband went for the middle white pork with king oyster mushrooms with miso, cherry and beetroot, which he said was amazing – he loved how the meat was cooked.
For me, the best bit though had to be the incredible warm chocolate cake served in a cast iron dish with ice cream. To say it was heavenly is an understatement. This was a simple dish done beautifully. It was definitely a dessert that is big enough to share, but it tastes so good you won’t want to. Plus, the rest of the dessert menu looks amazing from crumble to Bakewell tart, pavlova, sticky toffee pudding and Crème Brûlée. I could happily work my way through the puddings.
Everything about our lunch was a joy, from the location to the food, service, and atmosphere. It was also lovely to see it busy, even on a Wednesday. After lunch, as the weather was beautiful, it was so nice to have a drink in the garden, which has its own open-air bar serving cocktails and nibbles. The only negative is the parking – there isn’t a lot on site, so be prepared to find one on the street.
If like me, you want to stay here. The Double Red Duke has 19 bedrooms, which according to our waitress are all individually decorated with striking feature wallpaper, and vintage furniture and some even have grand baths. Also, this is a dog-friendly hotel and restaurant – and I’m sure Falcon would love this place. I’ll be honest, next time we swing through the Cotswolds, I will be heading here.
Double Red Duke, Bourton Rd, Clanfield, Bampton, Oxfordshire, OX18 2RB.
