The Bell Inn at Langford

I was listening to a recent episode of the travel diaries with Holly Rubenstein where Giles Coren was discussing his ‘hidden gems’. He went on to cite The Bell Inn at Langford as ‘the best pub in the country’, so when it came to picking a place for a birthday celebration this was the top of the list.

I am pleased to say it did not disappoint.

If you try to imagine a picturesque, cosy Cotswold pub then The Bell Inn meets all of the expected criteria; burning log fires, low beams, and local ales. The delightful menu and extensive wine list made choosing our dinner difficult (we decided the best way to deal with this was to over order but we we’re celebrating so I think we got away with it).

We enjoyed steak tartar, saucisson and (quote from Adam) ‘the best fried chicken ever’ (not pictured as they were eaten too quickly).

Next was duck frites and nduja pizza which, fresh out of the wood-fired oven, was the perfect comfort food as the evening temperature cooled. The most notable dish that night though was the bone marrow flatbread. This was without question one of the most delicious things I have had this year. It had the perfect balance of salty bone marrow, garlic and mountains of fresh parsley with the crisp of the slightly charred edges from the oven. This little plate of heaven is worth visiting for on its own.

This is definitely so much more than the average gastropub. The perfect combination of fantastic local ingredients, wonderful seasoning and simple cooking makes for exceptionally tasty and comforting food.

We stayed in one of the pubs cosy adjoining rooms. These are tastefully decorated and very comfortable. The walls are a little thin so you are at the mercy of your fellow guests with regards to your morning wake up call but this did not hinder what was a really enjoyable stay. It was worth it just to be able to sample the fabulous full English the next morning.

The Bell Inn really did make for a lovely birthday night away.