It’s said that when William the Conqueror landed at Hastings in 1066 there was another William at his side, a Knight by the name of William de Mohun, who played such a crucial role in the Norman Conquest he was gifted some 20,000 acres of land as a result. It was actually his son, William II who came into ownership of the tiny village of Whichford in the Cotswolds, where, even now, ancient stone buildings encircle the village green. The local pub would, no doubt, have been a favourite haunt were he around today. The exposed beams and wooden furnishings give it an aged, homely warmth, while the chunky, stone fireplace wouldn’t look out of place in a Norman keep. Plus there are plenty of well-kept ales on tap. A favourite of any Knighty sort of chap.
While the pub is fronted by a pleasant beer garden, with a classic Cotswolds stone wall, a dotting of picnic tables and a single, mature pine tree, it’s at the rear of the pub that The Norman Knight’s best offerings can be found. A trio of high-spec glamping pods sit in a line, along with a couple of spaces for campervans. Fully insulated and heated, the pods are open year round and have a warm wooden finish inside that is accompanied by 21st-century convenience. Even though the pub is a few metres away, there’s a compact kitchen area with a fridge, hobs, kettle, toaster and so on, while each pod also has its own plush en suite shower room and toilet. There’s enough room inside for a family and dogs are also allowed at an extra charge – reflecting the ‘come one, come all’ welcome the pub itself provides.
The village is an amiable base from which to go exploring. There’s a playground for little ones on the green and the local potters – world-renowned for their flower pots – offer excellent tours of their extensive workshop. There’s also a great little café while you’re there. Whichford Wood is a delight to explore (particularly when carpeted with bluebells in spring) and a local Equestrian centre expands your exploration options from just the usual walking and cycling. Throw a car journey into the mix and a whole wealth of opportunities open up: Stratford-Upon-Avon, Stow-on-the-Wold, Bourton-on-the-Water… the list goes on. A good pint in the pub will probably help you decide.
