molly’s Travel Edit: The Double Red Duke
Molly Cooper, founder of Curated and host of the Curated Spaces podcast, shares her insider lens on the world’s most inspiring boutique stays — those rare places where design, nature, and culinary craft align in quiet, unforgettable harmony.
This week’s UK Staycation Selects?
The quietly elegant The Double Red Duke, a country pub reimagined — stylish, spirited, and brimming with warmth.
Places that stay with you, long after you’ve left.
The Double Red Duke: Fire-Cooked Feasting and Country Comfort in the Cotswolds
Tucked deep into the honey-hued heart of the Oxfordshire Cotswolds, The Double Red Duke is a country pub reimagined — stylish, spirited, and brimming with warmth. With its rich history, outstanding food, and bold interiors, this 17th-century coaching inn has become one of the UK’s most talked-about boutique staycation destinations.
More than just a cosy pub with rooms, The Double Red Duke is where heritage meets irreverent design, where open-fire feasting takes centre stage, and where you’re as welcome to sink into a velvet armchair with a negroni as you are to pull on wellies and explore the village.
Whether you're seeking a weekend of indulgent dining, countryside rambling, or simply a fireside reset, this is the kind of place that hits all the right notes — relaxed but refined, charming yet totally unpretentious.
Accommodation: Sleepy Luxury With a Touch of Theatre
Mollys Thoughts: I love a pub with rooms, so anywhere wood-panelled with an open fire immediately does it for me. There’s a lot of joy in this place, it doesn’t take itself too seriously. The rooms are warm and playful, with bold colours and XL bathtubs that make you want to spend all evening soaking with a book and a glass of wine.
Interiors: Modern Country With a Playful Edge
Designed by Cotswold power duo Sam and Georgie Pearman, the interiors at The Double Red Duke are a lesson in bold British charm. Rich fabrics, patterned wallpapers, deep heritage hues, and layers of texture create a look that feels both collected and contemporary.
Public spaces flow between snug lounges, a lively bar, and elegant dining rooms — all dressed in velvet, leather, antique rugs, and curated art. It’s maximalist in places, but balanced by the honest character of the building itself: low beams, flagstone floors, and the soft glow of candlelight.
Outside, there’s a garden terrace for sunnier days, and throughout the inn, you’ll find quiet corners for reading, sipping, or simply sinking in.
There are 19 individually designed rooms spread between the original inn and a characterful carriage house just across the courtyard. Each space feels intimate and indulgent, wrapped in heritage colours, tactile textures, and playful detailing.
Expect everything from four-poster beds dressed in crisp linens to freestanding tubs, moody lighting, and a curated mix of antique finds and modern comforts. Some rooms offer exposed beams and sloping floors that nod to the building’s history, while others lean into deep jewel tones and maximalist wallpapers that echo the inn’s signature personality.
Food & Drink: Fire-Led Feasting That’s Worth the Journey
While the vibe is luxurious, the tone is wonderfully informal. This is laid-back British hospitality at its best — rooms where you feel cocooned, not confined; where details are thoughtful, but never fussy.
At the heart of The Double Red Duke is its open-fire kitchen, led by chefs Richard Sandiford and Sam Pearman. The menu here is robust, rooted in British ingredients, and proudly unafraid to go big on flavour.
This is serious food without the starch. Think: blistered flatbreads pulled from the flames, rare-breed pork chops with smoked apple, whole Cornish turbot roasted over embers, and pillowy mash topped with bone marrow gravy. Sunday roasts are a local legend, and the kind of slow, satisfying affair that demands a long walk or a longer nap afterwards.
Seasonal, locally sourced produce is the foundation of the menu, but the execution is bold and globally inspired — a celebration of fire-led cooking at its most creative.
Drinks-wise, the pub's bar is equally well considered. There’s a brilliant range of craft beers and local ales, a focused cocktail list with seasonal flair, and a wine list that’s refreshingly un-snobby. Expect natural wines alongside robust Old World reds and English sparkling by the glass.
Whether you’re here for a lingering dinner, a celebratory lunch, or a nightcap beside the fire, the atmosphere is convivial, the service warm, and the mood delightfully unstuffy.
If you’re searching for a UK countryside retreat that delivers on both style and substance, The Double Red Duke is a standout. With its design-forward interiors, destination dining, and a vibe that’s both luxurious and low-key, it’s the kind of place that draws food lovers, design enthusiasts, and weary city-dwellers alike.
The Double Red Duke: Bourton Road, Bampton, OX18 2RB