All photos by Bryan Dearsley / LuxuryUK
There’s a moment, just after you pull into The Hare & Hounds Hotel near Tetbury, when you find yourself doing a double-take. Having parked the car and started off toward the hotel’s reception area, you’ll be faced with one of the prettiest scenes in the Cotswolds. And it’s quite unexpected.
Several honey-coloured Cotswold stone cottages frame what could almost pass for a small village green, rather than the lawn of a luxury hotel. Adding to this quaint scene are apple and cherry trees erupting into blossom, their petals falling like snow at the merest hint of a breeze.
These, I later learned, are part of the hotel’s Silkwood Court, a purpose-built annex added to this plush hotel’s menu of luxury accommodations in 2006, but looking like they’d been around for centuries. It’s this combination of modernity with traditional Cotswolds hospitality that makes a stay at The Hare & Hounds such a wonderful experience.
The Hare & Hounds Hotel, Tetbury
Part of the Cotswold Inns & Hotels group, The Hare & Hounds occupies a former country house in the posh hamlet of Westonbirt, just two miles southwest of Tetbury in Gloucestershire. And I mean posh.
Highgrove House, the Cotswolds residence of King Charles III and Queen Camilla, is barely a mile down the road, while Princess Anne‘s Cotswolds home, Gatcombe Park, is just a few miles further in Minchinhampton. It also doesn’t hurt that Westonbirt, The National Arboretum, home to one of the most important tree collections on the planet, is barely a half-mile stroll from the hotel’s front door.
Add to the mix the fact that there are 42 bedrooms spread across the property to choose from, and you realize The Hare & Hounds is perfectly positioned to explore this perfect little corner of the Cotswolds.
A Brief History of The Hare & Hounds
Built in the 1860s as a farmhouse on the Westonbirt estate, the main building was converted for use as an inn around 1891, eventually becoming a “proper” country house hotel in the 1950s. A fixture of the southern Cotswolds social scene, it hosted everything from hunt balls to concerts in its large ballroom.
Expanded in 2006 with the addition of 12 Silkwood Court suites, ownership was transferred to Fuller’s in 2019, and the Hare & Hounds was incorporated into the brand’s Cotswold Inns & Hotels portfolio. A complete refurbishment has since updated the public spaces, including the restaurant and bar, all while preserving the building’s character.
The original beamed ceilings, log fireplaces, and bay windows that define the property have all survived, and now serve as a reminder that, yes, while this 4-star hotel has been brought into the 21st century, it’s still very much a country inn at heart.
Accommodations at The Hare & Hounds
The hotel’s rooms and suites, spread over several buildings, come in a variety of categories, each with its own unique character. The Classic Double and Twin Rooms, found in the Main House, Coach House, and Garden Cottage, are individually designed with what the hotel calls a “quintessential Cotswold country feel” (you can’t argue with them on that count).
Comfortable, clean, and quiet, they come with en-suite bathrooms stocked with Molton Brown toiletries. Some Main House rooms also feature four-poster beds. The Superior Double and Twin Rooms, located in the Main House and Coach House, offer more space and a little more luxury.
For that village-like feel I mentioned earlier, book a room in Silkwood Court. The newest accommodations on the property, they feature air conditioning and some even have private garden terraces. Two accessible rooms are also available and feature bathrooms with grab rails. The real prize, though, is the Gamekeeper’s Cottage, a standalone unit featuring a large living area as well as a private garden with hot tub. A cottage-style suite in Silkwood Court also comes with its own garden terrace and private hot tub.
Traveling with a four-legged friend? Dogs are welcome in select rooms for an additional fee, and the hotel provides beds, bowls, and blankets. There’s also an outdoor dog wash station for those muddy paws.
Food and Drink at The Hare & Hounds
Given its hospitality heritage, you’ll not be surprised to hear that the dining options at The Hare & Hounds are first-rate. Two distinct dining experiences are available, and between them they cover every mood, from a casual pint with a bar snack to a proper three-course meal overlooking the gardens.
The Beaufort Restaurant is the formal option. A handsome room with beamed ceilings, large windows framing views of the grounds, and an impressive wine feature wall running along one side, its seasonal menus lean toward classic British fare with a dash of Europe, all built around locally sourced Cotswold produce.
For a more relaxed ambiance, head to Jack Hare’s Bar. Effectively a country pub, it features log fires, real ales, a menu of hearty bar food, and plenty of locals to chat to. In warmer months, terrace and garden seating are available.
Traditional afternoon teas are also available, and hearty breakfasts are served in the main restaurant. For a quiet drink, park yourself in the chic Beaufort Lounge, a contemporary space just off the restaurant with comfortable sofas and access to the terrace.
Tips & Tactics
Here’s what you should know when booking a stay at The Hare & Hounds, Tetbury:
- A full breakfast is included with most stay packages and is served in the Beaufort Restaurant.
- Check-in is at 3 pm, with check-out at 11 am.
- The hotel is dog-friendly in selected rooms, with a nightly charge per pet.
- Ample free parking is available on site at the front and rear of the property.
- An EV charging station is available via the POD network.
- Non-residents are welcome at the Beaufort Restaurant, but booking ahead is a good idea… particularly for the hotel’s popular Sunday roast.
- The Hare & Hounds Hotel is located on Bath Road (A433), Westonbirt, Tetbury, Gloucestershire GL8 8QL.
- The nearest railway station is Kemble, on the Great Western main line between London Paddington and Gloucester. Taxis to the hotel take around 15 minutes.
- For more details, including prices and packages, visit cotswold-inns-hotels.co.uk/hare-and-hounds-hotel. Alternatively, call +44 (0)1666 881000, or email [email protected].
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Travel and lifestyles writer Bryan Dearsley is Editor of LuxuryUK, a leading source of news and reviews relating to luxury lifestyles and travel in the United Kingdom, as well as RileyMag.com.
