Inside the typically English Horse and Groom Village Inn guests will find a welcome warmer than the open fire in the lounge and an excellent, innovative cuisine.
Since the seventeenth century the Horse and Groom has been a focal point of the village of Upper Oddington as an inn, a public house and, more recently a restaurant with rooms. A local family, the Boulds were the first owners and occupiers and ran the inn for two centuries before selling up. The Horse and Groom has changed hands several times since then and in 2019 it was bought by the Drunken Sailor Holidays Ltd.
Drunken Sailor Holidays Ltd
Drunken Sailor Holidays Ltd was establish by two enterprising individuals, Norman Liu and Warren Turner and marked their first venture into hospitality, holiday accommodation. The company’s portfolio has since been extended to include events and media and in 2019 they achieved an ambition to own an English pub. Norman and Warren purchased the Grade II listed Horse and Groom Village Inn in Upper Oddington, surrounded by the undulating landscape of the Cotswolds. Initially their intention was to concentrate on the restaurant and bar. But, as the rooms were already there it was decided to offer accommodation as well. There are five cosy, wooden beamed rooms in the main building and two more rooms in The Cottage next door. However, the restaurant is clearly their pride and joy. When they are not involved in their day jobs, Norman works as a software developer in the city and Warren, a retired university professor, works as a consultant, they have a very hands-on approach and will often be seen helping out in their restaurant and bar, Henbrooks Steak and Seafood Grill.
Henbrooks Steak and Seafood Grill at the Horse and Groom
Henbrooks Steak and Seafood Grill is named after the brook that runs through the large garden at the back of the pub and down to the River Evenlode, a tributary of the River Thames. This stylish yet in-character restaurant can seat around 86 people when fully extended so it can accommodate private functions, weddings and other events. Henbrooks offers an inspired menu of surf and turf dishes with a fusion twist – a nod to Norman’s Chinese heritage. Norman does some of the cooking – when he has time – but generally leaves it to their head chef, Darius Hulpe. Local produce is used as much as possible and ingredients are sourced from the surrounding farms.
Sharing dishes are also a popular in this restaurant. Lobster thermidor, perfectly cooked scallops, monkfish skewers, exquisite beef and scrumptious pork and chive dumplings were all served up at a function I attended there. Having sampled the food myself I can confirm that Norman and Warren have achieved their ambition “to create a memorable dining experience mixing fusion cuisine with fantastic local produce, such as Gloucester Old Spot pork, to make the Horse and Groom that little bit more different and exciting.”
But the Horse and Groom is not only famous for its delightful food, it has also achieved recognition for its cask ales. Norman and Warren are keen fans and have achieved a cask marque score of 100% in their last four random cask beer inspections. There is a good choice of draught beers and ciders, an extensive wine list and they make a mean cocktail. I was converted to the margarita during my stay there.
Dogs are Honoured Guests at the Horse and Groom
Norman and Warren have also achieved another ambition here. As the owners of two rescue dogs, Beaker and Bunsen, they were acutely aware of the lack of accommodation in the area that welcomed dogs. They have made sure dogs are welcome at the Horse and Groom. The two bedrooms in The Cottage are designated dog rooms. A dog menu is available so dog owners don’t have to worry about providing meals for their pets. And a good range of treats for them are sold in the pub’s shop as well as local products., books and cards. Photos and sketches of local dogs are on display in the dogs’ gallery.
Facilities at the Horse and Groom
There is ample parking at the Horse and Groom. For sunny days (and smokers) there is a paved patio with tables, chairs and sun umbrellas at the back. A very pretty garden behind the pub features a grassy area with a small marquee, a stream crossed by a small bridge, benches and a pond. The latter was dug out to provide soil to fill in the original cellar beneath the pub as it was liable to flood. Nearby are some lovely walks in the Cotswolds and the pretty little Gloucestershire towns of Stow on the Wold and Moreton in the Marsh.
It is five years since Norman and Warren bought the Horse and Groom and made a success of their first venture as pub owners. Now they are engaged in another new venture, burger outlets called Flipside. They have already opened one in Broadway and a second one, in partnership with their head chef Darius will soon be opening in Stow on the Wold.
For more information and to make a booking click here.
The Horse and Groom in Upper Oddington is recommended by the Experienced Traveller. Valery Collins is the Experienced Traveller
. An excellent raconteur, Valery has been writing about her experiences on the road since she started travelling 28 years ago. After publishing four books she turned to online travel writing and now contributes to several different websites.