• Afternoon Tea and Rococo in Painswick

    painswick-cotswolds-concierge (19)As part of our #SummerOf16 #Staycation in the Cotswolds we took a day trip to one of the most picturesque Cotswold towns, Painswick.

    I’ve always said this: There’s no other place in the Cotswolds that is quite as ‘Cotswolds’ as Painswick. Walking through this pretty town is like walking through a postcard from the Cotswolds. Almost every single house is built in Cotswold stone, everywhere is incredibly well kept and beautifully presented with flower pots- and baskets, lovely door knockers and well groomed gardens. This, I’m sure, is thanks to the great people of Painswick who all do a super job at keeping the place picture-perfect.

    painswick-cotswolds-concierge (3)Painswick is home to some wonderful attractions, eateries, shops and hotels. On this fine day in August we had coffee at The Falcon, we walked through the beautiful church yard famous for the well-groomed rows of Yew trees, visited Painswick Rococo Garden and the Art Couture Painswick Gallery, had drinks on the terrace and a wonderful Afternoon Tea on the balcony at The Painswick Hotel and we walked up and down the wonderful streets and lanes, taking in all the outstanding natural beauty of the valley surrounding the town and the beauty of the centre of the town itself. A truly wonderful day out in the Cotswolds.

    Afternoon Tea at The Painswick

    The sun was shining, not a cloud in the sky, and we went straight to the terrace at The Painswick Hotel. The view from here has to be among the best views in the Cotswolds.. in the country, really. It is breathtaking. After a drink on the terrace we went to the balcony in the hotel (where we still had the amazing views) for a lovely Afternoon Tea.

     

    The Afternoon Tea at The Painswick comes to you in two parts, on two boards. One for sweet, one for savoury. The common denominator is that every single thing on both boards is utterly delicious. The sweet board is lovely scones, a banana Battenberg (yes, you read it right, and it was as delicious as it sounds!), moist carrot cake, a croquette de bourbonnaise and a giant lemon scented madeleine that was the best madeleine any of us had ever tasted. The savoury selection was a Painswick take on the ham- and cheese toasty, a mouthwatering scotch egg, beer battered haddock, pork pies and pork scratchings. It was all wonderful and definitely an Afternoon Tea we will be back to try again another time.

    Painswick Rococo Garden

    We had a wonderful time at the Painswick Rococo Garden, located a 10-minute walk from the centre of the town. Here we were transformed back to the 1700’s, a time when gardens were like theatrical sets where guests could be entertained and romantic strolls could be had in every corner.

     

    Painswick Rococo Garden may be most famous for it’s out-of-this-world snowdrop displays in wintertime, but take our word for it, this garden is wonderful in summertime as well and any time of year. Alongside flowers, you will be able to enjoy wonderful vegetable gardens, Rococo style buildings and structures and, last but most definitely least, the amazing views of the surrounding countryside. And at the end of your visit, The Coach House restaurant serves home made and home grown food and drinks.

    Below is a selection of pictures from our fantastic day in Painswick… but don’t take our words or images for it, go visit Painswick yourself to get a real flavour of the Cotswolds and for a wonderful day out.