Sam and Georgie Pearman have taken over The Swan, a rustic inn in Ascott-under-Wychwood in the Cotswolds, which will reopen on 27 May.
Co-founders of The Lucky Onion Hotel Group, The Swan will form part of their new group of pubs, hotels and restaurants, Country Creatures, which currently comprises of The Chequers in the Cotswolds and The Talbot, a North Yorkshire coaching inn and restaurant.
The Swan is a 16th Century timbered inn, complete with inglenook fireplaces, reclaimed wooden floors and a large central bar. As well as the bar and restaurant, there are seven bedrooms and a family cottage, all of which will see a complete refurbishment in the signature Country Creatures style, focusing on comfort and luxury with antique and modern art pieces sourced from around the UK.
The design will be strongly influenced by the surrounding countryside, with each room featuring natural linens and velvets from Lewis & Wood, Parker & Jules and printed fabrics from Fermoie. The bathrooms will feature Georgie’s 100 Acre Apothecary products, using only natural botanicals from the Cotswolds.
An ideal location for a weekend away, The Swan is under two hours from London and only 20 minutes from Soho Farmhouse and Daylesford Organic.
In the 100-cover dining room, the exposed timber and Cotswold stone will create an intimate setting, while in the warmer months, guests will be able to enjoy sharing dishes outside in the garden or on the terrace.
The garden, thoughtfully designed by Rachel Murphy, will be made up of York stone, fire pits and painted wooden planters and will seat 100.
It will also feature a wisteria covered oak pergola and a Cotswold stone outdoor dining space. For larger parties, the oak beamed feasting room will seat 18 and will be the ideal space for shooting parties and family feasts.
Sam Pearman, alongside Head Chef Adam Abbott, previously of The Wild Rabbit and The Slaughters Manor House, have designed a new menu starring the best of British and European produce with a heavy focus on seasonality.
Menu highlights will include ‘Markham Asparagus, Peas, Cantabrian Anchovies, Coddled Duck Egg & Hazelnuts, and ‘White Truffle, Rollright, Wild Mushroom & Roasted Garlic Tarte Flambee.
The menu will focus on creating simple, clean dishes that demonstrate the UK’s best artisanal ingredients including rare breed meats from Huntsham Farm and English sparkling wines from Poulton Hill Estate. The dessert menu will feature fun and bold twists on classics such as Raspberry Gin Baba, Crème Fraiche Ice Cream, and Jaffa Cake Chocolate Pudding with Pistachio Ice Cream & Candied Pistachios for two to share.
As co-founders of The Lucky Onion Group, the couple have since founded Country Creatures in January 2019, a new group of restaurants, inns and hotels, with a focus on great British hospitality.
Georgie comments: ‘We’re thrilled to open another Cotswold Inn. It is such a beautiful part of the country and for us it is home, so to be working with all our favourite people again to create what we hope is a great village inn for Ascott-under-Wychwood and for people further afield is very exciting.’
