The Hotel Review: The Kings Hotel, Chipping Campden
Review: Dex Jones
The first part of this towns name “Chipping” is thought to have originated from the medieval word “Chepynge” that means “long market square” which is felicitous for this beautifully kept historic village dating back as early as the 14th century. The high street is lined with antique and souvenir shops, bars and restaurants which symbolises the affluence in this Cotswold town.
The Kings Hotel is part of the Eden Group and is a listed, 18th century boutique town house hotel fashioned using some of the original characteristics and stylish modern features. There is a comfortable bar area, the Jackrabbit restaurant and a separate conference / group dining room with a large centre table to host up-to 20. This boutique hotel has 13 individually designed rooms in the main building and 5 unique rooms beautifully styled in the cottage a few strides across the gardens.
Our deluxe cottage suite, a recently renovated addition to the hotel, featured a large first floor room with its time-worn oak beams and ceiling trusses being one of the main striking features, another fabulous attribute is the luxury en suite; a fully tiled wet room with large heated towel rail, fluffy towels and gowns, double square sinks and large walk in shower. ESPA toiletries were plentiful and a life-sized statue of what looked like Poseidon was guarding the entrance to the shower. A chic double ended roll top bath was located in the bedroom, raised on its own platform.
There was a flat screen TV, tea and coffee making facilities, free wifi, a luxurious chaise lounge, comfy king sized bed with the bed side cabinets having each an impressive ornate lamp on giving out dimmed lighting and complementing the classic charm of the room.
The Jackrabbit restaurant, with head chef Greg Newman, featured some delicious dishes including starters of slow cooked pork belly with scallop, apple, miso and turnip broth and also the marinated Cheltenham beetroot, with goats cheese mousse and honeycomb.
For main course, myself and my guest opted for the mouthwateringly good Ribeye of Oxford beef, tender medallions of beef with smoked garlic, leeks, burnt onion and shiitake mushroom. We paired these culinary delights with a fantastic bottle of 2010 Reserve Conde Valdemar; a full bodied Rioja.
The quaint market town of Chipping Camden is an absolute gem, and the Kings Hotel is the perfect place to while away a weekend.