Country Creatures opening The Double Red Duke in the Cotswolds

04 December 2020

Country Creatures has announced it will open The Double Red Duke in February 2021, a new addition for the family of pubs & inns run by husband and wife duo, Sam & Georgie Pearman.

The 17th century wisteria-clad, Cotswold-stone coaching inn is located West of Oxford and only minutes from William Morris's Kelmscott, the village where the famous designer and founding figure of the Arts & Crafts movement lived. The Double Red Duke will boast 19 bedrooms and a menu centred around an open-fire kitchen.

Country Creatures is midway through a considerable restoration project including a large refurbishment, and extension of the current building to accommodate further hotel bedrooms, a larger dining space and bar, and a garden room adorned with jasmine that will lead out to the English gardens and Oxfordshire countryside. The Double Red Duke, named after a character from local folklore, will ultimately comprise of 19 bedrooms, decorated individually, as well as a warren of snugs and sitting rooms, and a 12-seat feasting room. The Garden Room will be available to be hired exclusively for private parties of up to 40.

The menu will centre around cooking over fire, with an open grill at the heart of the kitchen. Richard Turner, renowned for his expertise in this cooking technique at the likes of Hawksmoor and Pitt Cue, has been brought on board to work with Sam Pearman, and Head Chef Richard Sandiford. Together, they have created a menu that will celebrate large grilled meats and vegetables as a centrepiece, with a host of flavoursome sides and small plates. Befitting the relaxed and homely setting, guests will be able to opt to order from the single menu and eat wherever they choose – be that fireside in the snug, with family and friends in the feasting room, or in the bar with a bottle of something good. There will also be a 14-seater kitchen counter where guests can enjoy extra theatre, watching the chefs cook directly over the fire.

As with Country Creatures’ other properties, Georgie will lead on the interiors, bringing what has now become her signature style, and working with local and British designers. Particularly with the ongoing circumstances of the global pandemic, supporting and celebrating British companies was a very important aspect to Georgie when choosing the suppliers. The Double Red Duke will showcase homegrown talent from the design world including baths and sinks handmade at the Albion Bath Company, and Kent based Catchpole & Rye. The taps will be made using age-old techniques dating back to the 1800’s from Samuel Heath in Birmingham; whilst wallpapers and fabrics will come from the likes of Lewis & Wood, Parker & Jules, and Ian Makin, amongst others.

Bespoke pieces created by British craftsmen will be mixed with antiques sourced by Georgie from the number of antiques markets and dealers she has built relations with over the years. In the bathrooms will be all-natural, botanical bath & body products from 100 Acres.

Leading front of house operations will be Sion Hamilton who joins as General Manager following previous roles working with some of the most respected names in hospitality, from Relais & Châteaux’s Ynshir Hall, to Gordon Ramsay. Most recently Sion was Group General Manager for the Adam Handling Restaurant Group.

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