The Woolpack Inn

When he wasn’t at home working on Cider with Rosie, author Laurie Lee was often to be found supping a pint or two in the Snug of his beloved Woolpack – a sturdy stone-built hostelry overlooking the verdant expanses of the Slad valley. Everyone comments on the pub’s stunning location, with ‘sheep bleating, buzzards soaring and vines hanging’ in the sought-after terrace, but venture inside and you'll discover the real heart of the place. The rustic bar has just two tables, while the compact dining room features a mural of the Slad valley on the ceiling and a cabinet displaying Lee's books for sale. The kitchen delivers ‘incredible simple flavours’, ranging from a fistful of hardy British perennials such as devilled kidneys, ‘the best mince on toast ever’ and treacle tart with Jersey cream to more elaborate European delights including raw salt cod with tomato and onion or onglet with beetroot, horseradish and watercress. To drink, local cider (the proper stuff) tips its hat to Mr Lee, alongside Gloucestershire ales and a short list of easy-drinking wines.