Lying deep in the heart of the Cotswolds, The King’s Head Inn dates back to the 16th century when it was originally built as a cider house. Winners of the Good Pub Guide ‘Pub of the Year 2018’, ‘Inn of the Year 2020’, and ‘Inn of the Year 2021’ this idyllic 16th century Cotswolds pub is gloriously situated on the picturesque village green in Bledington.
We recently caught up with Nicola and Archie Orr-Ewing, the proud owners of The King’s Head Inn, to find out about how they came to own the Inn, life in the Cotswolds, and how it feels to be awarded ‘Inn of the Year’ two years running!
Where it all began…
We asked Nicola and Archie how they came to own this charming inn…
‘Having previously lived in London, we decided that in 2000, it was time for a change and we set our hearts on moving to the countryside. When searching for our dream pub to run, we found The King’s Head and we just knew we could make something of it.’
‘It was the idyllic location on the village green in Bledington, the brook running through it and the ducks and bantams wandering freely that really sealed the deal for us! In fact, the pub wasn’t for sale when we first saw it, but we loved it so much the owners sold it to us anyway.’
A winning streak…
Despite a challenging few years for us all, The King’s Head Inn has still come out on top, winning the prestigious accolade of ‘Inn of the Year’ two years in a row. The Good Pub Guide 2021 has hailed its winners as ‘the beating heart’ of their communities and somewhere special to spend a few days in the beautiful countryside.
Archie told us ‘We’re absolutely delighted to be recognised as ‘Inn of the Year’ and even more pleased that the award acknowledges the wonderful community who’ve welcomed us to life in Bledington.’
Nicola continues, ‘Our locals and guests from further afield are at the heart of what we do here at The King’s Head. When you stay with us, you can be assured that you’re in good hands as we’ll always go the extra mile to ensure our guests are well looked after.’
Congratulations to all of the team at The King’s Head on their brilliant win!
Top tips of visiting The King’s Head Inn…
‘We feel so fortunate to live in such a fantastic part of Britain, and from the comfort of The King’s Head Inn, you can explore this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The Cotswolds provides a rich choice of relaxation from undulating landscapes and picturesque villages to pretty market towns.’
‘If you love walking, there are plenty of circular walks from the Inn that explore ancient woodlands, gorgeous Cotswold villages and the watermeadows of the River Evenlode.’
For more inspiration on how to spend your time in the Cotswolds, read our King’s Head Inn Guidebook.
The King’s Head Inn is open for overnight stays and indoor dining, in line with the current Covid-19 guidelines.
