Hotel Review:
The Fleece Inn is a historic pub that was originally built in the early 15th century by a farmer named Byrd and remained in the same family ownership until 1977. The last of the descendants was Miss Lola Taplin who bequeathed the pub to the National Trust after she passed away in 1977.
Location:
The Fleece is situated in the Vale of Evesham in rural Worcestershire close to the Cotswolds and just 18 miles from Junction 6 of the M5 motorway. For guests arriving by train, Great Western Railway operate services from London Paddington to Evesham which is five miles away.
Arrival and check-in:
It was approaching 3.00 p.m. as we drove into the quaint village of Bretforton with its pretty cottages, village school and St. Leonard’s parish church. The Fleece doesn’t have a dedicated car park but as free parking is available in the Cross (a nearby square), we didn’t have any problems finding a space.
On opening the heavy wooden door to the pub we instantly felt welcome with its roaring fires and original low beams. Check-in takes place at the bar and as the inn only has one guest room this was just a quick affair attended to by Alex, one of the friendly team at the pub.
The Room:
Alex insisted on assisting us up the ancient creaky wooden staircase to the Master’s Bedchamber, a cosy room on the first floor with delightful views across to the village church. It felt very special spending the night there with it being the only room at the inn and talk about being pampered, guests even get to choose their preferred breakfast time. By today’s standards the room was compact but don’t let that put you off as it had everything needed for a relaxing stay. The double bed was very comfortable and with ample room to walk around, and there was plenty of space to open out our cases. With exposed beams, oddly shaped walls and little nooks and crannies, the room was charming and included a good sized en-suite with walk-in shower cubicle, fragrant toiletries, fluffy towels and cotton waffle bathrobes.
Standing on a small oak table beneath the window was a well stocked hospitality tray with a selection of teas, a cafetière complete with a jar of fresh coffee, biscuits, complimentary still and sparkling water and a note offering jugs of fresh milk from the bar.
A wall mounted television was positioned for perfect viewing from the bed and for our entertainment a games box had been supplied containing a chess set and several other board games though we were so enchanted by the pub we didn’t have chance to play. Walls are painted in traditional style befitting the building with prints of the inn adorning them. Bedtime reading was fun as a book documenting the 600 year old history of The Fleece had been left on the bed.
Dining:
The Fleece Inn serves delicious food utilising fresh, seasonal and locally grown fruit and vegetables from the surrounding Vale of Evesham. Menus feature classic favourites such as beer battered fish and chips, burgers, roasted duck breast and mushroom and chickpea curried kebabs for vegetarians.
The stars of the show though are definitely their award winning handmade pies which have won gold at the British Pie Awards. We’d booked a table for 7.00 p.m. which to our delight was cosily positioned next to one of the roaring fires. There was no way either of us could resist a pie and our steak and ale pies encased in a deliciously light flaky pastry were to die for. Loaded with tender beef steak and a mouth-watering gravy made with a local ale, it was food heaven for us in chilly April. I wasn’t going to have a dessert but after relaxing in front of the fire awhile with my glass of wine I couldn’t resist the temptation of a bowl of Eton mess.
I’ve been a little disappointed recently with this favourite pudding as it’s been served with hard meringue pieces but this was just as it should be, all soft and creamy with fresh raspberries. Across the table, my husband opted for the steamed almond and syrup tart with custard which he also declared scrumptious. With a good choice of real ales, wines and local ciders we lingered by the fireside reading our books until bedtime. Our stay was on a Monday night and it’s testament to the pub’s good food and friendly service that all the tables had been reserved.
Breakfast is included in the room rate and after a good night’s sleep we went down at 8.30 a.m. to find the fire already lit and blazing away in the Pewter Room. A selection of juices, muesli, cereal and yoghurt had been set out on the oak dresser. The room takes its name from an impressive collection of antique pewter ware arranged on the shelves of the antique dresser.
We thought we would be dining alone but a South African couple and their adorable co*cker spaniel joined us as they were staying in the inn’s gypsy caravan (more about that below).
We enjoyed traditional cooked breakfasts with dry cured bacon and sausages supplied from a high class butcher in nearby Tewkesbury. Alongside a large cafetière of coffee and several slices of toast and marmalade we felt ready for the day ahead.
The Facilities:
The pub is full of rustic charm throughout with its stone flagged floors, inglenook fireplaces and cosy bar which always seemed to be busy. Landlord Nigel Smith has successfully run the pub now for over 20 years and not only has he made it the heart and soul of village life but he’s also found time to ring the church bells and be an active member of the local Morris dancing troupe.
There’s a large beer garden in the fruit orchard with wooden tables and chairs plus a couple of horse boxes which have been transformed into intimate, heated dining booths. These have proved so popular that they usually need to be reserved in advance.
To one side of the inn stands a barn which is available for function hire from weddings to family gatherings. Being the heart of village life it was lovely to spot an old red telephone kiosk in the pub gardens which had been re-purposed into a community book exchange.
As mentioned briefly above, tucked away in one corner of the garden in its own fenced area, is an authentic gypsy caravan with its own private terrace overlooking Bretforton Brook. Breakfast can be served either in the pub or enjoyed outdoors in warm weather. The caravan is painted in a gorgeous duck egg blue and boasts a small wood burning stove to snuggle around. As it was in use during our stay I could only take a photo of the exterior but I’m led to believe it looks lovely inside too.
For such an old building, there were no draughts and despite it being chilly outdoors we were lovely and snug both down in the bar and up in the bedroom. Wi-Fi was simple to connect to and worked perfectly throughout the inn.
Out and About:
The historic inn is ideally situated to explore the Vale of Evesham which is renowned for its springtime Blossom Trail, the British Asparagus Festival and the Pershore Plum Festival. Slightly further afield visitors can enjoy days out touring the Cotswolds. Below are my suggestions:
Evesham– a pretty riverside market town with historic Tudor buildings. Take a stroll through the attractive Abbey Park which leads to the riverside from where you can wander along the banks of the River Avon and relax on a bench whilst watching the boats pass by. Visit The Almonry which was once home to the Almoner, one of the monks from the Benedictine Abbey that was founded in the town in the 8th century. Following the closure of the abbey by Henry VIII it became the private home ofthe last Abbot whilst the rest of the abbey buildings were sold for the quarrying of the stone. The museum contains exhibitions about the Abbey, the Battle of Evesham and horticulture in the area along with a reconstructed Victorian school room.
Pershore– Explore the Georgian market town of Pershore located on the banks of the River Avon. Set within the grounds of Abbey Park is a 15th century Norman abbey which was awash with colourful blossom during our visit. The town also has lots of inviting little shops, cafes and restaurants. Anannual Plum Festival draws visitors from far afield as the town is famous for its award winning Pershore plums.
Snowshill Manor and Garden– the unconventional home of the eccentric architect and artist Charles Wade. Take a leisurely 15 minute walk from the National Trust visitor centre along woodland paths that lead to the Manor House and its enchanting gardens. Don’t miss the Wolf’s Cave small model village and Priest’s House. Wade dedicated his life to collecting anything and everything after inheriting his family’s sugar estates but never actually lived in the house, just filling it with memorabilia.
Hidcote– one of the best known Arts and Crafts inspired gardens in Britain with its linked garden ‘rooms’ of perfectly trimmed hedges created by the American horticulturist Major Lawrence Johnston. Explore the maze of narrow pathways awash with colour from its herbaceous borders and discover secret, hidden areas tucked away. Remember to takea look inside the ground floor of the furnished Manor House and its adjacent glasshouses.
Vale of Evesham Blossom Trail
The Vale of Evesham in rural Worcestershire has been famous for fruit and vegetable growing since medieval times with the delicate blossom from its fruit trees giving stunning displays between mid-March and mid-May. The Blossom Trail stretches for 55 miles with AA yellow signposts marking the way. Japan might have its Sakura but by visiting the Vale of Evesham you don’t need to travel quite so far to see some beautiful spring blossom.
The British Asparagus Festival 23rd April – 21st June
Asparagus is a highly regarded vegetable grown in the Vale of Evesham and celebrated in style with an annual festival. This part of rural Worcestershire benefits from perfect growing conditions with asparagus being widely available from late April to late June.
The Asparagus Festival begins on St. George’s Day (23rd April) with a six week celebration kicking off with the opening ceremony centred around theFleece Inn. For the duration of the festival the pub offers an extensive themed asparagus menu but don’t worry if you’re not a fan of this delicious vegetable as they’ll still be classic fare on offer too.
Overall:
It’s obvious that The Fleece’s landlord Nigel and his friendly team put their heart and souls into the pub as it’s so welcoming. It offers good food and what a dream to feel like the lord of the manor sleeping in his Master’s Bedchamber. If you haven’t visited Worcestershire before I’d highly recommend a visit with its picture-perfect villages and chocolate box thatched cottages but plan ahead if you want to stay at this gorgeous pub as with accommodation limited you need to get in quick.
Details: The Fleece Inn, The Cross, Bretforton, Nr Evesham, Worcestershire WR11 7JE
If you have enjoyed this post you may also like:
The Vale of Evesham BlossomTrail
The British Asparagus Festival, Vale ofEvesham
During our stay we were guests of The Fleece Inn and as always all views and opinions are entirely my own.
