At the top of Fish Hill above the chocolate-box Worcestershire village of Broadway is the 500-acre Farncombe Estate. Within its grasp are much-loved properties Dormy House, Foxhill Manor and the Fish — which is more a fun collection of treehouses, shepherds’ huts and stables than a hotel. The Fish is the most family-friendly of the trio, priding itself on its laid-back nature (guests feel more than comfortable kicking off their muddy wellies in the boot room and walking barefoot to the green sofa-stuffed lounge for drinks), its superb restaurant Hook and gobsmacking views over the Cotswolds hills. It’s a fun place to stay for a few nights — kids will love the signature wooden treehouses, with rope bridges, telescopes and outdoor tubs — and there’s plenty to keep the whole family (including the dog) entertained, with outdoor pursuits such as archery and clay-pigeon shooting. While it caters superbly for families, it’s better suited to adventurous older children and teens than toddlers.
Overall score 8/10
Main photo: The Fish Hotel in the Cotswolds village of Broadway
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Rooms and suites
Score 8/10
If you’re looking for a more interesting Cotswolds stay that the usual honey-stone number, then the Fish will fit the bill. Rooms are spread across the various buildings on the estate, and range from rustic shepherds’ huts (sweetly called “hilly huts” and “hideaway huts”) with wood-burners and private hot tubs to the three wooden treehouses, with double oak-wood tubs on the terrace and bunkbeds for kids. Reassuringly, there’s plenty for adults too: the outdoor baths and hot tubs come with a “press for booze” intercom, and the minibars with the Fish’s own pilsner and IPA are free. What you might consider more typical accommodation is in the coach house and the stables, where rooms are bigger than the huts or treehouses. Decor throughout is genteel and light-touch — lots of blond wood, reflecting the natural environment, and cosy soft furnishings in calming dove greys and pastel pinks.
Food and drink
Score 8/10
The central lodge is home to the bar, lounge and Hook restaurant. The bar area (which spills into the lounge, all forest-green walls, squashy sofas and chunky wooden tables with board games) is for lunch and lighter bites — small plates include burrata and heritage tomatoes, sweetcorn “ribs” with paprika and proper wood-fired pizzas. Seafood speciality restaurant Hook is a real treat, though, and welcomes locals as enthusiastically as guests. The gambas al pil pil are deliciously spicy, and the massaman curry with salmon, prawns and hake is a tasty take on the classic. Save room for lovely puds such as the beloved milk chocolate crème brulée with pistachios. The kids’ menu is crowd-pleasing and reasonable, although it’s the same menu all day — fish and chips, wood-fired pizza and a cheeseburger among the choices (£8 for a main). The bar area retains the relaxed feel — expect to run into canine patrons as well as adults who feel equally at home in a tuxedo or a woolly jumper and wellies. There’s an open wine cellar behind an Enomatic wine dispenser.
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What else is there?
Score 7/10
There’s plenty to do in and around the entire Farncombe estate — although walking is very much encouraged. In the lodge is the boot room, which lends guests wellies of all sizes to use on walks (alongside nicely illustrated maps). Suggested walks start from the 1.25-mile “nature walk”, which does nothing more than loop around the top of the accommodation, to walks into nearby Broadway and Chipping Campden. Dogs are VIPs here. There’s a bath with dog shampoo just outside reception to wash off mud, as well as treats, dog bowls and cushions — and a “pooch playground”. Higher octane activities for older children include axe-throwing, falconry and archery (there’s a small playground made from recycled wood for younger kids), while their exhausted parents can book classes including meditation, reflexology and sound baths at Zen, at neighbouring Dormy House. Unscheduled entertainment includes watching for helicopters landing in the field, dropping guests off at next-door Foxhill Manor.
Where is it?
Score 9/10
Within the 500-acre estate in the Cotswolds, about a mile up the hill from Broadway — one of this region’s most-loved (note: very touristy) towns. Chipping Campden, another star, is about a mile and a half in the opposite direction. The station of Moreton-in-Marsh, on the fast line into London, is about a 15-minute drive; the nearest city, Gloucester, is about 45 minutes away — not that you’ll care, given this place is all about enjoying the surrounding countryside.
Cathy Adams was a guest of the Fish Hotel
Price B&B doubles from £225
Restaurant mains from £21
Family-friendly Y
Dog-friendly Y
Accessible Y
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