Whether you're craving a cosy fireside feast or a scenic outdoor snack, SoGlos showcases the top picks that promise fresh flavours made with local ingredients — perfect for a lunchtime treat!
The Lygon Arms Hotel in Broadway
With charm and style in abundance, escape from the bustling Broadway streets to the historic Lygon Arms Hotel for a delicious lunch with friends, family or colleagues in the Cotswolds.
Take your pick of menus curated by celebrity chef James Martin for the hotel. Perfect for any season, guests can choose a table within the elegant great hall restaurant, Grill, or keep it casual with lighter bites in the Tavern or the bar and lounge area, for classic dishes like fish and chips or a ploughman's. And summer months are covered, too, with the Lygon's courtyard providing an excellent spot for sun-soaked lunchtime treats and seasonal delicacies.
The Village Pub in Barnsley
Another essential destination for cosiness, hit up The Village Pub in Barnsley, near Cirencester, for a menu packed with traditional British flavours that are sure to fill you up and warm you from the inside.
Specialising in 'proper pub food' — and housed in a characterful Grade II-listed inn — choices range from bangers and mash to pork chops, all paired with local ales and ciders, as well as an extensive wine list.
The Manor House in Castle Combe
A countryside hotel put on the map by its own 18-hole championship golf course, The Manor House welcomes lunchers to its very own on-site pub, The Castle Inn.
Located in Chippenham, guests can enjoy a more casual setting as an alternative to the Bybrook Michelin Star fine dining restaurant and tuck into a menu celebrating the seasons as they change — be sure to check the board for something special, too.
Daylesford Organic Farm near Kingham
Daylesford Organic Farm offers a variety of dining options for luxurious lunching near Kingham in the Cotswolds
The brand is a staple for organic food and drink in the UK, with locations in prestigious spots like Notting Hill and Pimlico in London, but head to its Gloucestershire base for a lunchtime menu, in its Michelin Green Star dining room and courtyard, The Trough Restaurant, that changes with the seasons and 'champions fresh produce picked a few steps away.'
The Farmer's Dog in Burford
A favourite for fans of SoGlos Top 50 individual, Jeremy Clarkson, The Farmer's Dog in Burford sits right on the edge of the Cotswolds and proudly offers a menu that is (mostly) grown or reared by British farmers.
Refusing to serve anything that can't be grown in Britain, even Coca-Cola, this pub serves lunchtime meals weekly from Tuesday to Saturday, with humble options for starters, mains and desserts.
THE PIG in Barnsley
Found in the heart of the Cotswolds, pick out a table at THE PIG in Barnsley to overlook original arts and crafts style gardens designed by Rosemary Verey, within a unspoilt Grade II-listed honey-hued building.
The first PIG in Gloucestershire, it's part of the reputable chain that's expanding throughout the country. And its 25-mile menu is supported by its kitchen garden — one of the largest in its fleet — which includes vegetation beds and large fruit cages that help to make up the selection of seasonal dishes available for lunch daily.
The Bell at Sapperton
Named one of the top winter pubs in the UK by The Times, The Bell at Sapperton is a wonderful lunching destination in North Cirencester, with fantastic indoor and outdoor areas to enjoy a meal within.
Its menu changes with the seasons, so diners can expect refreshing salads in the summer and comforting home-style classics for the colder months.
The Royal Oak in Tetbury
For a lunch where you can spend time sampling a range of hearty real ales and ciders, book a table between noon and 2.30pm from Monday to Saturday at The Royal Oak in Tetbury.
The ever-changing seasonal menu found there can be enjoyed in its dog-friendly bar, its upstairs dining area or outside in its Airstream — with street food being served up in the summer months.
The Crown at Ampney Brook in Cirencester
Part of the Wild Thyme and Honey brand, The Crown at Ampney Brook is a village pub full of community spirit, continuing the farm-to-table, nature-first ethos of the boutique countryside retreat.
Casual weekday lunches are made special thanks to the idyllic Cotswold surroundings, as well as the open copper kitchen in which chefs prepare everything from small plates and light bites to elevated classics from the land, sea and grill.
The Angel at Burford
The Angel at Burford serves up heavenly lunchtime dishes every day of the week — it's even won Food Pub of the Year at the Hook Norton Brewery awards.
The accolades don't stop there, as the Cotswold eatery has also received an AA Rosette for its cooking. It's a great spot for sandwiches, too, if you're after a light lunch.
The Halfway at Kineton near Guiting Power
Located just a few miles from Bourton-on-the-Water, The Halfway at Kineton is a pub within a 17th-century inn offering a relaxed setting for a classic British lunch.
Taken over by new management in 2023, the team has seen plenty of high praise from The Times and The Good Food Guide, as well as being named Conde Nast's best new restaurant in 2024, all for its menu packed with wholesome starters and mains to savour.
The Porch House in Stow-on-the-Wold
Take a trip to England's oldest inn, The Porch House, to peruse the list of fresh, seasonal choices using local ingredients, from tasty ciabattas to juicy burgers.
Surrounded by rolling countryside, stop by after a hack on horseback or a bracing hike and get cosy by the fire for a lunchtime treat.
The Gilbertine Kitchen in Tetbury
A community hotspot, The Gilbertine Kitchen is one of Tetbury's favourite places for a lunchtime snack that comes with a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
Family-run, the restaurant is open for lunch from Tuesday to Saturday until 3pm and the menu features classic toasties, ciabatta sandwiches, salads and homemade soups.
The Chequers in Chipping Norton
The Chequers was built in Medieval times, meaning good old fashioned grub is prioritised for a comforting dining experience.
This dog-friendly, historic pub in Chipping Norton serves up lunch from 12pm until 3pm — and is a great option for a pre-theatre meal, with the Chipping Norton Theatre just next door.
Waterside Kitchen & Bar in Cirencester
For diners with a taste for Asian flavours, Waterside Kitchen & Bar's mission is to emulate the Japanese term for eating together, kyōshoku, through its sharing dishes.
Book a table for lunch and expect poke bowls, yakisoba noodles, coconut curries, chicken katsu curry and prawn tempura — as well as a full sushi bar!
