Staying at the Historic Kings Head – far more than just a pub!
The Cotswolds is one of the most beautiful parts of England and is a delightful area to visit at any time of the year. Its rolling hills and woodlands give shelter to chocolate – box thatched medieval stone-built villages, fine looking historical towns, outstanding churches, stately homes and stunning gardens. Many unique features originate from the use of the distinctive Cotswold honey – coloured Jurassic limestone. Encompassing an area across six counties, most notably Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire, but also parts of Warwickshire, the Cotswolds includes many beautiful small towns & villages such as Cirencester, the Capital of the Cotswolds.
Despite its rich Roman past, it is often overlooked by its noisy neighbour Cheltenham, but it has remained a traditional & beautiful Cotswolds market town, far quieter than other, more crowded areas of the Cotswolds. The Cirencester Spring FEASTival was taking place on the day I arrived, with a wide-ranging mix of crafts, street food stalls, bar and live music providing a fun day out for the whole family.
The square was buzzing, full of traditional market stalls selling a wide variety of goods from local traders including quality fresh foodstuffs such as jams, chutneys & cheeses, the work of local artists & photographers, a profusion of plants, local craftwork, clothing, luxury jewellery items, touristy keepsakes & much, much more.
The spacious, centrally located ancient Market Place is the perfect place for the regular twice weekly charter markets, which take place on Monday and Friday, one of the oldest Charter Markets in the country, having been recorded as far back as 1086 in the Domesday Book. There is also a very popular Farmers’ Market which takes place on the 2nd & 4th Saturday of each month highlighting produce and goods from local traders within a 30-mile radius of the town. From locally brewed beer, pies, chocolate brownies, game meat plus seasonal fruit & vegetables such as asparagus, apples, strawberries & herbs.
St. John the Baptist, one of the largest parish churches in England & one of the great wool churches of the Cotswolds looks out over the market square. The south porch which borders the market square was built around 1500 as an office for the abbey & much later became the town hall!
Cirencester is a delightful place in which to take a leisurely stroll, it is full of fine – looking golden stone buildings and many small independent shops, smart restaurants, cosy cafes & inviting food shops. Cirencester is a foodie’s paradise particularly the area around the historic Kings Head Hotel, which is where i would be staying.
The Kings Head, is an historic 14th century coaching Inn, situated in the very heart of this beautiful Cotswolds town. It is more than just a pub, it is an Inn with comfortable bars, a fine brasserie restaurant, a cool roof terrace, a stunning vaulted cellar space of Roman origin, in which they provide musical events and 64 stylish rooms, 32 of which are dog friendly, and many of which, still have their original architectural features.
To celebrate the arrival of Spring, The Kings Head and Head chef, Mathew Peter, have just launched their new Spring menus of seasonal dishes, showcasing the best locally sourced fresh produce and ingredients from trusted suppliers within the Cotswolds region, alongside fresh daily fish and seafood deliveries from Devon. I was invited along to The Kings Head to sample and review the new, fresh, vibrant dishes on offer. Open for breakfast, brunch, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner daily, the new Spring menus offer lighter, modern British dishes and a range of elevated pub classics packed with plenty of flavour. Classic Sunday roasts, a special children’s menu and vegetarian and vegan options are also available. Diners can choose to eat in the smart & informal brasserie, the comfortable pub bar, the courtyard garden or the first-floor garden roof terrace to enjoy the delicious dishes with a fresh taste of Spring.
in 2023 Head chef, Mathew Peter was awarded a Bronze medal in the Pub Chef of the Year category and in 2025, won a Bronze Medal in the Culinary Duck Showdown at the International Salon Culinaire. Mathew, originally from India, began his career working on Cruise ships and travelling extensively across the globe. He then moved to the UK and obtained an M.A in Culinary Arts Management before becoming Sous Chef at the Kings Head’s sister property, The Frogmill, in 2022, and was then promoted to head chef within a year.
Mathew is now working with Kings Head general manager, Matthew Cain, (formerly GM at The Frogmill, Andoversford). Together with their Kings Head teams, they’re creating a relaxed, inviting pub with rooms offering warm hospitality and excellent drinking and dining options in stylish surroundings, with lots more potential for growth within the pub. The Kings Head is like a Tardis, from the outside, it looks a lot smaller than it is on the inside. I was surprised how big the pub is and the many different facets to the hospitality spaces, there are.
The Kings Head’s cosy pub bar offers an excellent range of seventy carefully selected bottles of wine, sparkling wines and champagnes, with sixteen available by the glass, alongside their traditional Brakspear Gravity and local ale, Corinium Gold. The Kings Head is also a popular destination for private events such as weddings, parties, dinners and business meetings with an exceptional range of beautiful spaces available to hire. There’s the grand Georgian Lavender Hall with high ceilings, original wood panelling and chandeliers with adjacent lobby, outside roof terrace and cosy bar, and an incredible vaulted cellar, dating from Roman times, with private vaulted dining spaces.
The 64 rooms (32 dog friendly), come furnished in a contemporary style with many retaining original architectural features. Each room offers luxury linen bedsheets, Nespresso machines with local Rave coffee, daily homemade cookies, which were excellent, complimentary Wi-Fi and smart TVs, whilst en-suite bathrooms feature walk-in showers, some with free-standing baths.
A coaching inn since the 14th century, the Kings Head has expanded over the centuries to include surrounding buildings of Georgian, Tudor and Medieval origin. This blend of architectural styles has created charming and unique interiors. The interiors demonstrates real flair whilst highlighting Cotswold artisanal craftsmanship and its cultural heritage using fabrics and wallpapers by iconic local designer, William Morris, and artisanal finishes by local craftspeople.
Perfect for a romantic getaway, family escape or a group get-together, the relaxed atmosphere at the Kings Head makes it ideal for families with children of all ages to dine and stay and the perfect base for exploring this particularly stunning part of the Cotswolds. Dogs are also very welcome in the pub area, with water bowls and treats available at a dedicated dog station close to the bar.
I was staying in a spacious Feature Super King room, overlooking the market square, which included an iconic, free-standing roll top bath. Large headboard, stylish ceiling to floor curtains, smart body length dress mirrors, classic bedside tables with smart lampshades, all contributed to create a room of sharp sophistication & panache.
Our feature room included the following; a comfortable King-size Bed four poster bed, covered with a large collection of pillows & cushions, luxury Linen sheets, a En-suite Bathroom with a spacious walk-in shower, comfortable settee and armchairs, the usual Tea and Coffee Making Facilities, Bramley Toiletries, a Flat Screen LCD Television, Iron and Ironing Board, Hairdryer & Air-conditioning and there is free Wi-Fi throughout the Hotel & Restaurant. The colour scheme was bold & courageous, with a matt black covering all four walls.
The staff at reception, serving at our dining table in the Brasserie were all very professional, polite & friendly, engaging my wife & I in genuine bouts of conversation. On arrival my check in was swift and we were asked whether we needed help with our small amount of luggage. In the Brasserie we were seated quickly & the table service was first class, attentive but not obtrusive! A big shout out to Angela, who looked after us throughout the evening. The food was excellent, with fresh quality produce and excellent value. It was very special. The décor is very stylish in the Brasserie with some striking design throughout.
We were dining on a Sunday evening, but the restaurant was still very busy with several hotel guests eating and other diners coming in off the street through a separate entrance. The Kings Head offers a carefully created set of seasonal menus offering a modern impression on the British classics & universal favourites, using only the highest quality local ingredients. To compliment the flavours of the dishes & customers preferences, there is also a finely crafted menu of drinks, from fine international wines & craft ales to hand – crafted gins & cocktails.
Starters:
Panko & Garlic King Prawns, Lime & Sweet Chilli dressing:
The Panko breadcrumbs made the King Prawns nice & crispy. I dipped each of the Prawns into the small pot of Lime and Sweet Chilli and the flavours merged comfortably with the slight edge of garlic and spring onions. A very tasty, flavoursome start to the meal. Perfect!
Thai Green Curry Bites, Asian Slaw, Sesame Dressing and Pickled Coriander.
Three flavoursome crusty shell bites with a soft centre, topped with a sprinkling of watercress. An aromatic flavour of traditional green curry in a compact round bitesize ball. A creamy, strong herbaceous & savoury flavouring with a just a gentle hint of spicy heat. A simply delicious starter. I loved them and wanted more!
Mains:
Chilli & Garlic Confit Duck Leg, Charred Pak Choi and Oriental Noodles.
A generous crispy confit duck leg, prepared in the traditional French way, salted and slowly cooked with little slivers of chilli and garlic, for a long time, producing some beautifully tender duck meat, which easily fell off the bone. The Pak choi or Chinese cabbage was sweet and peppery, combining perfectly with the generous amount of oriental noodles. A very flavoursome dish and foodie feast of genuine quality. Loved it!
Fish & King Prawn Pie, Lobster Bisque & Tenderstem Broccoli.
I love a Pie and this fish pie ticked all the boxes. When the large square pie arrived at the table, I was simply delighted, it looked so good. It was packed with creamy fish & juicy king prawns, soaked in a rich creamy lobster bisque and it was hot, a lot of heat, not spice! This was a luxury fish pie topped with a handful of fresh, crunchy, healthy tenderstem broccoli. I simply loved it! I can still taste it, it was so good. Food memories are made from pies like this.
Desserts:
Sticky Toffee Pudding:, Toffee Sauce and Caramel Ice Cream.
A rich, moist soft flavour of caramel and butterscotch sauce with a wonderful chewy texture created by the dates. I simply loved the warm gooey, caramel flavour of the pudding, drenched in a warm, buttery toffee sauce. One of my favourite desserts, served with a cold caramel ice cream. A moist sponge cake covered in toffee sauce, served with caramel ice cream, complementing the rich flavours of the chopped date pudding, is a delightful way to finish a meal.
Baked Chocolate Brownie, Vanilla Ice Cream with a Chocolate glaze.
This rich, chocolate brownie had a crispy crust and soft, chewy interior covered in a generous portion of Vanilla Ice cream. Decorated with stripes of a chocolate buttery fudge glaze, the dessert looked sensational and it tasted just as good as it looked. Chocolate Heaven. What is there not to like?
Breakfast: The Breakfast was well worth getting up for.
Full English: Pork sausage, smoked back bacon, baked beans, field mushroom, two poached eggs, gremolata marinated grilled tomato, crispy potato rösti, sourdough toast & black pudding.
Eggs Royale. Toasted English sourdough, poached eggs, smoked salmon, and a small pot of hollandaise sauce. As requested.
“The food was exceptional. I must admit to trying some of my wife’s meal and can vouch that all of the dishes were beautifully cooked and professionally presented to table. Breakfast did not disappoint either. It was well worth getting up for! “
The food dishes at the Kings Head Cirencester were simply amazing and so much of it! If you are looking for a friendly but professional fine dining restaurant then look no further than the Kings Head Cirencester. My wife and I enjoyed a fantastic dining experience! A sophisticated setting with efficient and professional table service. It was a dining experience to remember, I would fully recommend a visit to the Kings Head for a short stopover or longer stay if visiting Cirencester or touring the Cotswolds.
Step out the front door of the Kings Head on to Cirencester’s bustling high street with a range of upmarket independent outlets and speciality stores to explore. The Corn Hall Arcade next door to the Kings Head is lined with some great shops which lead to the historic Corn Hall with regular markets and exhibitions taking place weekly, the Corn Hall Deli was a particular favourite with an assortment of Cotswolds produce including wine, gin, olive oils, ales, bread, cheeses, handmade pies, pastries, cakes, Scotch eggs and some enormous sausage rolls.
Cirencester’s town centre features numerous little lanes and quaint alleyways that visitors to the town can explore, packed with independent shops, cafes and eateries. You could also take a stroll around the Parish Church of St John the Baptist and climb the church tower for far-reaching views over the town (book in advance!). There’s also a very good museum, The Corinium, focusing on Cirencester’s Roman history, the New Brewery Arts Centre, an open-air swimming pool and wide open spaces at Cirencester Park on the edge of town.
The towns of Cheltenham and Stroud are within easy reach, while the beautiful Cotswolds villages of Barnsley, Bibury, Bisley, Burford, Painswick and Northleach are close by. Outdoor activities include walking a stretch of the Cotswold Way, the Cotswold Lakes with its many water-based activities, Cotswold Wildlife Park and Chedworth Roman Villa.
I had a fantastic time & I am already looking forward to returning to Cirencester! I could have spent a lot more time exploring this fascinating town.
Disclosure: My visit to Kings Head Hotel was courtesy of the management and bridgetstott@btinternet.com
The views and comments expressed are as usual my own.
The Kings Head, 24 Market Place, Cirencester, Gloucestershire GL7 2NR.
Reservations – 01285 700900, info@kingsheadcotswolds.co.uk
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/KingsHeadCirencester
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/kingsheadciren/
Credit photographer: Jake Eastman.
Some of the photographs were my own, mainly the food and exterior shots of the Kings Head.
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