Cosy Cotswold pubs with log fires, low beams and local ales, perfect for walkers, food lovers and weekend lingerers in storybook villages and countryside corners.

The Bell, Selsley

The Pub of the Year in the latest Cotswold Life Food & Drink Awards has a wood-burning stove to keep customers toasty and is ‘a country inn through and through’.

Set in a picturesque village and just a few steps away from Selsley Common, this 16th century, Grade II-listed pub with rooms prides itself on being dog-friendly.

It serves real ales, has an extensive gin menu and uses locally sourced ingredients and game in its lunch and dinner dishes, for which it’s earned two AA rosettes. Breakfasts can also be booked at the pub the evening before.

Bell Lane, Selsley

thebellinnselsley.com

The Bear, Bisley

This attractive Grade II-listed, 16th-century building served as the village’s assembly room and courthouse before becoming a hostelry, the first records for which date back to 1631. It has a priest hole over the main fireplace and various other historic features.

Its low ceilings with ancient wooden beams, log-burning stove and friendly locals ensure a cosy atmosphere when the weather is anything but outside.

This dog and family-friendly pub has a good selection of drinks and serves homemade pub food.

There are two letting rooms and check the website for fundraising quiz nights, which are held throughout the year.

George Street, Bisley

bearinnbisley.com

The Black Horse, Cranham

Tucked away on a lane opposite Cranham Common, the 17th-century Black Horse is well worth seeking out. This community-run pub has fires at either end of its main bar, with sheepskins on some of the chairs and blankets provided for extra cosiness. Its real ales change regularly, Rave coffee is served and the food menu includes small plates, bar snacks and more substantial meals.

Board games are available and there’s a ‘pop-up bakery’ on certain dates throughout the year. The pub usually opens Wednesday to Sunday. In 2023, the people of Cranham raised more than £263,000 towards the purchase price of The Black Horse, which reopened in 2024.

Cranham, Gloucester

@Black-Horse-Cranham

The Green Dragon Cockleford

Roaring log fires, beamed ceilings, flagstone floors and a scattering of tiny carvings by the Mouseman of Kilburn all contribute to the special atmosphere at The Green Dragon.

This inn, near Cheltenham, dates from the 17th century and is a popular choice for those looking for real ales, good food and comfortable surroundings.

Head for The Mouse Bar to see work by the furniture-maker Robert Thompson, who had a hand in making the mantelpiece over the inglenook fireplace, the bar and various other pieces – each of which features a small carved mouse.

Close to the pub is a well-stocked foodhall, with many local products on its shelves.

Cockleford, near Cowley

green-dragon-inn.co.uk

The Sherborne Arms, Northleach

The Sherborne Arms is a historic pub with rooms in Northleach that exudes old world charm, with exposed stone walls, old timbers and plenty of quirky details throughout. It’s housed in a centuries-old building that stands out with its half-timbered, single-gabled frontage.

The pub serves simple, seasonal food, with ingredients sourced from its butcher, fishmonger, local game dealers and farmers. There’s a great choice of wines and spirits and overall the pub has a warm, relaxed atmosphere. There are open fires, a cosy bar, a separate restaurant and an inviting courtyard. It’s the perfect spot for lunch or a laid-back evening meal.

Market Place, Northleach

thesherbornenorthleach.com

The Woolpack, Slad

Cosy and warm, The Woolpack was a regular haunt of the writer and poet Laurie Lee, who lived close by for many years.

Nowadays this 300-year-old pub, nestled within the picturesque slopes of the Slad Valley, is renowned for its selection of real ales and lagers, menu of dishes made from locally sourced ingredients, eye-catching artwork and candles on the tables.

Add friendly staff and locals to the mix and it adds up to a great spot to meet, drink and eat.

Last year The Woolpack was named one of Britain’s 30 Cosiest Pubs by the Financial Times.

Slad, Stroud

thewoolpackinn-slad.com

The Greyhound, Siddington

Open fires in the lounge and the bar and beamed ceilings contribute to the cosy atmosphere of The Greyhound. There’s also a function room for gatherings and social occasions.

This traditional village pub dates to the 17th century and is Grade II-listed. It serves award-winning Wadworth traditional ales together with Folly Road craft beers and an extensive range of drinks.

Its food menu has ever-changing seasonal dishes, with Sunday roasts being especially popular. Dogs are made welcome with a large selection of treats.

Siddington lies on the outskirts of Cirencester and is a great spot for quiet country walks.

Ashton Road, Siddington

thegreyhound-inn.co.uk

The Red Lion, Long Compton

The Red Lion is nestled in a village that’s steeped in history and surrounded by beautiful countryside close to the Warwickshire-Oxfordshire border.

This Grade II-listed inn dates back to 1748 and retains its stone walls and oak beams.

It is the perfect place to sip a pint of real ale by the fireside, a cosy spot for morning coffee and somewhere special for a romantic weekend.

The Red Lion has a well-earned reputation for good food, including a children’s menu, and friendly staff, and dogs are welcome too.

It was the Pub of the Year at the 2024 Cotswold Life Food & Drink Awards and a finalist in 2025..

Main Street, Long Compton

redlion-longcompton.co.uk

The Tivoli, Cheltenham

The Tivoli’s handsome Regency frontage belies a country-style pub in the heart of Cheltenham.

It’s the perfect spot for those looking for a relaxed atmosphere, craft drinks and food that celebrates simplicity and tradition, focusing on locally sourced, seasonal ingredients, with fresh daily specials and hearty favourites. The Tivoli also prides itself on serving one of the best Sunday roasts in Cheltenham.

There are two private dining rooms, one of which embraces The Tivoli’s Regency past with an elegant fire place, sash windows and dado rail.

Andover Road, Cheltenham

thetivolicheltenham.com