"Not" Cotswolds towns?

Winchcombe, Pershore, Shipston on Stour.

Contact The Pheasant Inn in Toddington.

https://www.boltholeretreats.co.uk/exciting-restaurants-in-the-cotswolds/

A personal favourite of mine is Sherborne, but the one in Dorset as there are multiple.

Lovely 8th century abbey with footways to the surrounding villages and hamlets. Lovely high street and makes for a peaceful day trip

If you look at Sherborne I would add Shaftesbury to the list whilst you’re looking. Lots of nice villages in that area too.

On our own trip earlier this year we stayed in a 17th century thatched cottage in the village of Alderton which we enjoyed very much . The location was handy for exploring the Cotswolds villages but it was frankly nice to leave the crowds behind in the afternoon when we returned "home". It's a cute little village and might be of interest to your SO. It is, however, about a 1+15 drive to Bath.

There's a fascinating article about thatching here.

Well, all I can say is that the reason I use "thatch" is that the person he's meeting is a "Master Thatcher" (there is apparently an association). Seems... thatchy?

Thanks for the suggestions... I had a couple of those places shortlisted and never heard of a couple others so it's super helpful to have input.

@Amanda, so cool you would mention it. He had Shaftesbury on his not-to-be-missed list so we are planning to lunch there on the way to accommodations our first day.

@Claudia (or anyone) Is it typical to make reservations at pubs or more casual or case-by-case?

I never make reservations at pubs….

Edit: the reality why I don’t make pub reservations is
1.) I dine solo
2.) I often dine around 3 or 4pm. Often only patron.
3.) I never go to “ foodie, “ pubs.

I'm late to this thread - and if there was a (quoted later) post saying there's no thatch in the Cotswolds - I just wanted to say I grew up under the eaves of a fully thatched 15th century pub smack dab in the Cotswolds, on the edge of Cleeve Hill.

Having had icicles hanging above me in the lower bunk bed as a result of the freezing wing swirling around (no central heating and no heating at all on the first floor) I can promise you that you can find plenty of thatch in the Cotswolds....

I completely agree with Nigel, there are a lot of thatch in the Cotswolds.

Interesting how Jennifer deleted her post saying that there wasn’t much thatch in the Cotswolds.

I don’t know which Jennifer deleted the thatch post but it wasn’t me! There is thatch in the Cotswolds - but a higher proportion in Norfolk though.

Less touristy places for me would include Winchcombe (an enjoyable day can be spent on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway), Pershore (for the Abbey), Minster Lovell (handy for Oxford) and Tetbury.

I will also suggest The Pheasant Inn at Toddington - which is by the Gloucester Warwickshire Steam Railway.

Hope you have transport if staying in Bricklehampton as I don't think it is on a bus route. If you got someone to take you to Pershore, you could go by train through lovely countryside to Hereford & back.

You should also take a trip to Stratford-upon-Avon.

Broadway is the nearest popular Cotswold village to Bricklehampton.

Not sure where the Cotswolds comes into this
Bricklehampton is at the base of Bredon Hill which is an isolated hill away from the Cotswolds
For some reason its included in the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty of the Cotswolds but is a very different scenery

About 50 years ago i used to go there to gather mistletoe for Christmas

A lot of pubs in the Cotswolds are foodie pubs and I would always recommend booking for dinner and weekend lunch. Anywhere with a good reputation for food is highly likely to be full.

I agree with Helen. If it is for drinks only you can wander in. If you want a meal you will be expected to reserve and if not you risk missing a meal. Especially if the pub is well known or does good food.

R S has begun his Celebration of Europe. One of the first episodes was England which included a little bit about the Cotswolds. I do not remember much but it was so beautiful and interesting that it made me want to go.

I watched the webinar but it is now available online. Maybe you tube or on this site.