Regardless of all the amazing restaurants out there; some quirky, some traditional, some very ‘Michelin’, others just perfect for that quick bite to eat, we all have that go-to restaurant that we prefer when even the new restaurants do not tickle our fancy. Sometimes you don’t want to try out a new venue with their new interior and their new menu with their new drinks list, sometimes, you just want to go to a place you already know and feel like they already know you too. There is no ‘let me charm you because you’re a new customer’, it’s more like ‘Hey welcome back, how’s it going?’ That’s the type of service I prefer.
So with that in mind, I would like to introduce you to The Ox Barn at Thyme which sits inside, believe it or not, a countryside resort set in the beautiful Cotswold, filled with little cottages, a spa area, the main building itself which is a converted barn and this restaurant in particular with plenty of seating area and places to potter. It’s truly the place where you go to escape city life and only focus solely on the hotel and restaurant experience. There are hardly any shops in the surrounding area but that’s not what you’re suppose to do. You’re just suppose to enjoy the countryside vibe.
I regularly go to The Ox Barn because they offer a simple yet colourful menu. It is complicated enough to make it worth the journey, but not too complicated. If you’re looking for bangers and mash or the classic scampi and chips from that dare I say ‘cliche’ pub in a countryside, then this is not the restaurant for you. With the wealth of many country estates around the area, this restaurant caters to the more well travelled customer. It is also very family friendly which is lovely.
There are plenty of well known individuals who turn up for their exclusive weekend in the countryside where they’re finally able to dress themselves in the most country-chic outfits because where else would you wear wellies and a Chanel bag together.
If someone asked me what to do or where to stay in the Cotswold, I would certainly guide them here.
