Just 15 mins from The Old Mission Church, The Fleece Inn is a rare gem, nestled in the heart of the Cotswolds village of Bretforton. This historic pub has been serving travellers and locals for over 600 years, and has a rich history to tell.
It was originally built in the late 15th century as a traditional longhouse, with both people and livestock living under the same roof. In the 17th century, the building was expanded and converted into a coaching inn, serving travellers on the road between London and Worcester.
It remained in the same family for over 400 years, until it was bequeathed to the National Trust in 1977. Today, the inn is still owned and operated by the National Trust, and is popular with locals and visitors for its cosy atmosphere and excellent beer and food.
We visit regularly as it's open 7 days a week, serves excellent food every day, and there are several nice walks from the pub - see the link to Kermoot below. On our last visit, we treated ourselves to the Warm Pitta Bread with Olives and Hummus, Salt and Pepper Squid and a Beef and Mushroom Pie. They were all excellent but the Pie was exceptional, being made with 30-day-old dry-aged beef, not a scrap of gristle or fat and a delicious gravy!
The interior is decorated with antiques and memorabilia, and the walls are hung with paintings and photographs of the inn's history. There is a large garden which has a variety of covered spaces so it can be used all year round, while inside the large fireplace is a popular spot for guests to gather on cold winter nights. They also have live music events, see website for details.
There are also several pleasant walks from 2 to 7 miles across the fields to enjoy before or after a drink and meal!
