Wild Garlic, Nailsworth

It may have cosy lodgings and a quaint town setting, but with Matthew Beardshall’s creative cooking, this is no traditional Cotswolds experience

After working under Marcus Wareing and a stint at Gordon Ramsay’s flagship restaurant, Matthew opened the Wild Garlic Restaurant with Rooms with his wife Hannah in 2007, and has been cranking up the innovation levels ever since.

VISIT FOR general manager Henry Bannister’s flawless, friendly service and the chef patron’s fantastic food.

Don’t be fooled by the stripped-back names of the dishes, as Matthew likes to keep diners guessing when it comes to his inventive tasting menus. For example, ‘burnt cabbage’ is a joyous explosion of mint, sage and smoked eel between fine layers of smoky charred leaves and a silky topping of miso butter.

DON’T VISIT  for a big gathering or family party. This is an intimate dining space with intelligently put together food that’s worthy of guests’ full attention.

WE LIKED the invitingly cosy and classic Cotswolds bedrooms above the restaurant. With sink-into-it soft bedding, our slumber can only be described as having reached godly status, plus the Aladdin’s cave of foodie treats (olives, biscotti and handmade chocolates) is an undisputed crowd-pleaser.