Tucked Away, Full of Stories

Tucked away in the heart of the Cotswolds, The Wheatsheaf has more stories tucked between its beams than we could ever fit on a menu – so we’ve made a home for them here.

This is where you’ll find the good stuff: a peek behind the scenes, the dishes our chefs are most proud of, the wines we can’t stop talking about, the seasonal moments that make life in the countryside feel a little magical, and the goings-on in our neighbouring villages.

Think of it as a fireside chat with the Wheatsheaf team – a place for musings, menus, local adventures and everything we love about this corner of the world.

Our first piece for our Game & Wine Tasting Evening, as seen through the eyes of The Cotswold Blogger, who joined us for the evening.

It Started Like This

Here’s how she saw it…

There are some evenings that just feel like the countryside showing off, and our Game & Wine Night at The Wheatsheaf was exactly that.

Picture it: a chilly autumn evening, golden light pouring from the windows, and a dining room filled with that cosy, candlelit buzz that makes the outside world melt away.

Before guests even arrived, the magic had already started. Chris from Sole Sporting rolled up with a van full of pheasant, partridge, pigeon, venison and, (casual as anything), a whole roe deer for the butchery demo. Watching him work was mesmerising. Calm, precise, full of stories from the field… the kind of behind-the-scenes moment you don’t normally get unless you’re much more outdoorsy than I am.

What Followed

While Chris talked through sustainable game and answered every curious question, our Head Chef Horacio was quietly working his own wizardry in the kitchen. He built a five-course menu that leaned into everything glorious about autumn – rich, earthy, comforting flavours, bringing the season to life on the plate.

And then there was Paul from Berkmann Wine Cellars, who paired each course with wines so spot-on it felt like they’d been sneaking around reading the chef’s mind. Every pour added something – a lift here, a contrast there, a little “ooooh, what IS that?” moment that rippled around the table. I swear at one point the whole group collectively sighed at the Sauternes pairing (pure joy in a glass).

With Thanks to All

The room itself did the rest. A long lived-in wooden table, soft, golden lighting (and those utterly dramatic candelabra centrepieces), shimmers of light bouncing from the sparkling tableware… everyone leaning in, comparing notes, sharing stories – the kind of atmosphere you can’t bottle on purpose (though I’d love to try). It was warm, welcoming, and honestly a perfect reminder of what The Wheatsheaf does best: proper hospitality with heart.

A huge thank you to our guests, to Chris, Paul, and to Horacio and the team for pulling off a night that felt special from Chris’s opening ta-dah of the butchery demo right through to that last, honeyed sip of dessert wine.

A special thank you to The Cotswold Blogger for bringing the evening to life through her words.

Already dreaming up the next one.