Inside refurbished Cotswolds country pub with new menu

That means any place hoping to stand out needs more than pretty stone walls and a decent pint, which is where the Prince of Burford now makes its mark.

Set away from the main bustle of Burford’s sloping High Street, the watering hole occupies a position on the edge of town beside the roundabout.

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Inside The Prince of Burford pub. (Image: Newsquest)

The building itself has a long past, with the pub operating from a former 18th-century coaching inn, a heritage still reflected in its traditional layout and older features.

Over the years, the property has been reshaped for modern trade, but its age and history still do much of the heavy lifting, especially in a Cotswolds town where character counts for plenty.

Today, the Prince of Burford is owned by Butcombe Pubs and Inns, which reopened the venue after a major refurbishment in 2022.

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The smoked bacon and cheddar croquettes, chipotle chilli jam. (Image: Newsquest)

More recently, the venue has undergone changes with an extended kitchen and a refreshed menu introduced in the past few months.

The pub has 16 bedrooms, although on my recent visit, it was the food and drink that provided the main focus.

Speaking before the meal, South African general manager Rogerio Pedro explained how another notable addition has been live music.

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The Butcombe Gold beer-battered fish and chips, tartare sauce, minted peas or curry sauce. (Image: Newsquest)

This was something he said that the pub had introduced for the first time, and it is helping carve out a livelier identity beyond being a handsome roadside inn.

Moving on to the food, I had the smoked bacon and cheddar croquettes with chipotle chilli jam for starters.

It arrived as a rich and satisfying opener, setting the tone for a meal that felt rooted in familiar flavours.

For the main course, the Butcombe Gold beer-battered fish and chips, tartare sauce, minted peas or curry sauce delivered exactly what you would want from a pub that is part of a brewing group.

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The classic sticky toffee pudding with Two Drifters Rum and raisin ice cream. (Image: Newsquest)

Crisp batter with well-cooked chunky chips was a pub classic smashed out of the park, perfectly paired with a pint.

That pint for me was Monte Carlo Beer, a lager which I was previously unfamiliar with but can only recommend.

This washed the meal down nicely before another British pub classic, the sticky toffee pudding.

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Inside the pub’s dining area. (Image: Newsquest)

To my delight, this iteration of the popular pudding was served with Two Drifters Rum and raisin ice cream, my personal favourite, which rounded things off on an indulgent note.

Taken together, the recent investment appears to be giving the historic Prince of Burford a fresh lease of life.

With welcoming and polite staff, a smart new direction under Rogerio and a setting that feels pleasantly removed from the busiest stretch of Burford, it’s well worth a visit when enjoying a Cotswolds day out or staycation.