Intrigued by the sumptuous food photography adorning the bedroom walls of this stylish inn, delicious. online reviewed The George in Shipston, in Shakespeare country, and found an affordable gem on the edge of the costly Cotswolds.
The George is a handsome Georgian townhouse both inside and out. The bar's a convivial combo of exposed stone, timber and aubergine and olive walls. To the right, a snug – with its leather chairs and come hither fireplace – is a haven after a hectic motorway drive, while the easy-going mix of guests and locals was a good sign that The George is a place with as many friends close to home as further afield.
The library
Beyond the cosy hotel reception a library with deep red walls and a huge stone fireplace beckoned, but we headed straight up the stairs to our large, bright ensuite ‘asparagus’ bedroom. Decorated in earthy tones with contemporary silver furniture, it included a trendy sofa that wouldn’t look out of place in a Soho production office. Tasteful, comfortable and spotless with mod cons – TV, dvd player, ipod speaker dock – the only items lacking were the promised Molton Brown goodies.
Asparagus room
If you enjoy admiring your food as much as you like eating it, picking this inn for a night or two away is a sage choice. Its USP is the food-themed rooms – each one named after such sensuous fodder as asparagus, chillies, chocolates and marshmallows, which feature in striking photographs above comfy beds.
Marshmallow room
Dinner was in a warmly-lit and welcoming restaurant attached to the bar. Starters were a promising opening: we shared an excellent beetroot-cured gravadlax with a dollop of creamy crème fraîche studded with salty caviar on a generously-sized homemade blini, and a fresh basil and chicken risotto with al dente rice and a perfectly poached egg.
Mains were a fine rack of lamb with a rose-tinted hue, potato cake, and just-cooked-right green beans, and a minute steak with fries. No complaints there – the flavourful steak was cooked to order, the string fries moreishly salted, and (being a lady) the well-dressed heap of salad appreciated. The medley of cabbage side order – often an afterthought in kitchens – was spot on.
For dessert we opted to share a poached pear with mulled wine sorbet, partly because it sounded like the kind of pud Masterchef’s Gregg Wallace would happily suck on his spoon for. Though the pear was a little bitter, the sorbet was light and cleansing – the flavours of winter married beautifully with textures of summer.
The friendly staff and homely atmosphere make The George’s restaurant a boon to the area. It serves fairly priced, good quality, well-proportioned food, and the chef showed flashes of real talent. The quality continued at breakfast; a pleasingly traditional Warwickshire fry-up was devoured alongside croissants, fresh fruit and yogurt, and an agreeably large pile of Sunday papers.
Exterior
Overall, the George is more of an elegant inn than high-end boutique hotel but its lack of pretension adds to its appeal. Shipston-on-Stour is a pretty, historical market town that’s often overlooked in favour of its more famous, more touristy neighbours such as Stratford-upon-Avon and Warwick. Ideally located and excellent value for money, staying there was an inexpensive treat.
www.thefabulousgeorgehotel.com
Weeknights range from £65-£85: weekends range from £75-£95
The George is currently running the following offers:
- Stay 3 nights for the price of 2 over May Bank Holiday
- Stay 2 nights for the price of 1 Sun-Thurs if guests dine in the restaurant one night
- Stay Sunday night for £15 when you dine in the restaurant with a minimum spend of £65