The Feathers in Woodstock

I’ve had the pleasure of visiting The Feathers in Woodstock during my travels through The Cotswolds. The Costwolds are located in the south central and south westerns part of England. In short, it’s an area that comprises of stunning hills, meadows and rural landscapes. All-in-all, it was a charming weekend getaway from the manic hubbub called life. 

The Feathers in Woodstock

 In sum, The Feathers in Woodstock is a 17th century town house, bursting with Cotswold charm. It is situated in the heart of Woodstock, which is famous for its historical market.  The region itself enjoys tonnes of activity, where you can explore the Cotswold hills and attractions. Nearby villages are quaint as well and there is plenty to do in the area. Don’t forget it’s close to the famous Blenheim Palace, which by itself is a fantastic day out.

history

The Feather in Woodstock dates back to the 17th century.  In the front wall of the hotel, you will find a statue of the Virgin Mary, which was built during the English Civil War times. The reason for this is that during the war, religious items were targeted and destroyed; so the only way of keeping them safe was if they were a part of the building.

The reception area played a huge role in the 18th century. It was a Sanitorium for people recovering from tuberculosis.

Historically speaking, the restaurant was a line of cottages. You can still see traces of doorways in some parts of the wall. To learn about the history of The Feathers is Woodstock, click here.

Feathers hotel Woodstock reviews

The Feathers in Woodstock is a quaint hotel where multiple buildings are moulded into one establishment, which explains the funny twists and turns in the place. Some rooms are not accessible to the disabled because of the narrow, winding stairs, such as Suite 4 that we stayed in.

The foyer has a wood burning fireplace which adds a warmingly welcoming touch. Above it, doggy treats are available, which makes it a dog-friendly place. Above all the staff were friendly.

At the  Feathers in Woodstock, there is restaurant, and a coffee house that’s open all day. If you plan your visit well, you can even listen to cheerful live music.

The bar boasts a collection of over 450 different types of gin. I got to try a blood orange gin cocktail. As someone who is averse to gin and its bitter taste, I found this version quite approachable and a great introduction to gin for the uninitiated.

The suite itself was surprisingly spacious, comprising a dining room, sitting room with sofas and TV, and a real super king-sized bed. There was a separate toilet and ensuite bathroom. We had a great time hanging out in the room watching TV and playing cards.

However, I found some niggles though, which made The Feathers in Woodstock not as luxurious as it potentially could be. We found a hairpin, which indicates dubious cleaning.. The window frames were heavily weathered on the outside, in contrast to the well maintained ones at the bottom of the building.

Lastly, the leak-damaged ceiling, chip in the bath and a broken plug system robbed it from being a 5-star experience. If these matters are addressed, The Feathers in Woodstock will be a stellar destination.

Feathers Woodstock menu 

The Feather’s Restaurant‘s dining room itself doesn’t seem up to much but the food was a great surprise nonetheless. It was lovely to find out that the Feathers in Woodstock does not serve the run-of-the-mill gastropub stuff. Instead, we came across food with much more finesse than what was expected. Unlike the accommodation, great attention was paid to detail.

One example was the mussel starter. If you’ve prepared mussels before, you will know that it’s rare for all mussels to open during the cooking process, which usually indicates that they’re off. All mussels were positively blooming in the bowl and we ended up wishing that there was more sauce because it was so good.

Menu review

Steamed Cornish Mussels, Shallots, Leeks, Smoked Bacon & Cider Sauce (£10.50)

We were also very happy with salmon starter, which was small and ideal for low-carb followers. The slices were thick and beautifully presented. The surprisingly sharp tang of avocado balanced the rich fish well.

Citrus Cured Salmon, Avocado and Caviar Dressing (£12.50)

The main courses proved just as good. The lamb melted in our mouths and the pea and fregola combination worked well with the feta. The broccoli was slightly undercooked though.

Chump of Wootton Basset lamb, pea & mint fregola, chargrilled baby gem, marinate feta (£22)

The locally shot duck was served with amazing sweet red cabbage.

Special of the day: Confit Duck & Duck Breast with Red Cabbage and Mash (£21)

We observed that the Feathers in Woodstock doesn’t skimp on dessert either and this was a treat as well. Who knew that fresh blackberries could act as a sponge and soak up the flavours of star anise and cloves so well?

Blackberry Frangipane tart, spiced blackberries, blackberry ripple ice cream (£8)

The chocolate pave elicited dessert envy and the passion fruit balanced the dessert. It’s not often that you come across passion fruit curd. It was fabulous!

White Chocolate Pave, passion fruit curd & sorbet, chocolate crisp (£8.50)

With food like this, it’s best to book in advance because The Feathers in Woodstock is fully booked on weekends, which should come as no surprise. The clientele on this occasion were families, but mostly older couples. What was also appreciated is the staff’s diligence when it came to dietary requirements, ensuring diners’ safety and well-being.

Breakfast Buffet

We loved the newspapery-designed breakfast menu, which is well laid out and easy to understand. 

Considering that you can access a buffet spread and receive a warm plate of food, £12 is great value for a breakfast. 

The Egg Benedict and Egg Royale were as good as they looked and what I especially appreciated was the kitchen’s flexibility in terms of providing me with hash browns instead of muffins, to keep my gluten consumption to a minimum. 

Afternoon tea at the Feathers Woodstock

If you are keen on tea and fanciful bakes, then definitely book this place to indulge in afternoon tea. The Feathers in Woodstock are known for being the top three places for afternoon tea, as stated by the Oxford Mail. 

parking at the Feathers Hotel

Unfortunately, there is no onsite parking at the Feathers in Woodstock. Therefore, street parking is the only option.

Tip: Seek out the parking areas with 2 or 3 hour limited parking that run between 8am to 6pm. This will allow you to sleep late and not worry about getting a parking ticket. In either case, there is a nearby car park as well. 

We stayed at the Feathers Hotel for a weekend, which let us explore the south eastern part of the Cotswolds. In sum, we thoroughly enjoyed our stay and would whole heartedly recommend it.

Address:

The Feather in Woodstock Hotel
16-20 Market St,
Woodstock OX20 1SX,
United Kingdom

Website

P.S. I was a guest of The Feathers in Woodstock Hotel.