there’s no better start to the weekend than finding a sunny spot in the garden to enjoy one of Sam’s incredible seasonal cocktails
STORIES · 16.07.25
Craft | Food | Mindful Living
The Cotswolds has been my home for almost forty years. Aside from the beautiful rolling landscape and picture-perfect villages, what has kept me truly rooted here is the extraordinary community of local artisans and independent businesses. There’s a certain magic in wandering through a market town and discovering a new cheesemonger, a centuries-old pub, or a family-run antiques shop brimming with stories. There’s a spirit of creativity and enterprise in the air and you never quite know who or what you might stumble across next.
I was therefore delighted to be asked to share my Cotswolds Black Book with YOLO Journal (Yolanda Edwards’s travel-lifestyle magazine): a personal guide to the spots I return to again and again. Whether you’re planning a summer escape or simply dreaming of countryside charm, here are a few of my favourite haunts…
Penelope Chilvers, Stow-on-the-Wold
It’s been a joy for Bamford to collaborate with Penelope Chilvers over the years. We share a sustainable approach towards fashion; all of her shoes and boots are timeless and crafted using age-old techniques passed down through generations.
Borzoi Bookshop, Stow-on-the-Wold
I love The Borzoi Bookshop in Stow-on-the-Wold. They’ve been trading for over 40 years and are always happy to help me source unusual and specialist titles from small publishers. Jaffé & Neale in Chipping Norton is another great one. I recently picked up a great stack of hardbacks to keep me going on holiday which I shared on my Instagram page.
Station Mill Antiques, Chipping Norton
I am at my happiest when rooting around a market or an antiques shop, and Station Mill has a great curation from dozens of reputable dealers. The offering is constantly changing, so there are always plenty of new, unusual and eye-catching pieces to discover.
there’s a spirit of creativity and enterprise in the air and you never quite know who or what you might stumble across next
The Fox, Lower Oddington
I’m biased, of course, but I had to include our pub in Lower Oddington. There’s no better start to the weekend than finding a sunny spot in the garden to enjoy one of Sam’s incredible seasonal cocktails. Or, for a side of craft alongside your evening tipple, join one of our brilliant workshops at The Bell at Charlbury which I am proud has become a hub for local artisans.
The Oxford Brush Company, Stow on the Wold
I have always admired heritage craft and work of the hand – and these wonderful local artisans have been making brushes for over 75 years. To me, they’re as beautiful as they are functional.
