The Howard Arms

From check in to check out a great experience

We stayed in Brompton as part of our route through Hadrian´s wall Howards Arms has an excellent quality/price ratio and a very friendly staff. They serve good breakfast We decided having dinner there and it showed to be a very good option, too. Nice food and wines

Quintessential English country pub in the lovely little village of Ilmington, lovely cosy interior, welcoming and friendly staff, we liked out bright & cheery tartan-dressed room aptly named “Village” (views over the village) which was spotlessly clean with a comfortable bed. On checking in we had spotted the two cosy armchairs in front of the fire but alas, these are the hottest tickets in the Cotswolds and you have to be quick off the mark to get pole position (we weren’t). Never mind, it encouraged us out for a walk (sheep to visit!) where we discovered the ‘real’ (locals) pub around the corner with TWO roaring log fires on the go and plenty of space to sit around them - just perfect for an early evening pint and a catch up with the locals if you’re so inclined. Back at The Howard where we had booked a table in the bar, we were shown to the (attached but less “cosy”) dining room instead, but a quick word with the helpful chap behind the bar and Pawel had it sorted immediately. The dinner menu was a bit difficult for us solely due to personal taste & dislikes, but the pub menu perfectly compensates with staples like fish & chips and a burger - additionally Pawel was extremely helpful in organising smaller portions for us. Later in the evening we were able to nab the fireside chairs for a nightcap which quite made my stay. Breakfast was perfectly cooked to order and served by two very entertaining and funny ladies who couldn’t do enough for everyone, offering extra tea/toast/whatever required before being asked and generally being all round efficient. If I had one little disappointment, it is the lack of comfortable ‘pub’ space around the open fire - the area is almost entirely given over to dining with tightly packed-in tables laid-up for dinner; some people did enjoy drinks there, but as non-locals it felt prohibitive to assume, and on this particular evening a group of five or six early guests were already dominating the limited space in any case. Personally I favour“pub with rooms” accommodation for the cosy log-fire / relaxed pub feels, so the Howard a bit compromised for me, but a really nice place to stay all the same.

My wife and I spent two nights here at the end of February - our fifth or sixth visit. We had one of the original rooms in the old part of the pub. It had a good size double bed with a thick quilt, a smart TV, radio, tea and coffee making facilities in the room, bottles of still and sparkling water each day, a wardrobe with plenty of hangars, a large chest of drawers and table and chairs. In the en-suite there was a bath and a shower with two shower heads, bath towels, hand towels and facecloths and plenty of toiletries (soap, shower gel, shampoo and conditioner). Breakfast was excellent, with a choice of three fruit juices, a choice of fruit salads, a choice of four cereals, a choice of a substantial full English breakfast, eggs or fish, pastries, toast and preserves, with tea or coffee. We dined at the pub on both nights. The evening meals can best be described as good value, good pub grub - none of this poncey, overpriced, poor value for money Michelin-star rubbish. Our first night was pie and a pint night - excellent value - with the pub packed with diners (but this deal ends at the end of March!). On our second night we chose off the main menu with a choice of five starters, six or seven mains, and half a dozen desserts. I would highly recommend the Howard Arms for a short stay. The staff are most welcoming, and it is in a convenient location for the famous north Cotswold towns and villages such as Broadway, Chipping Campden, Blockley, Stow-on-the-Wold and Bourton-on-the -Water. We hope to return.

A delightful two-night break in this beautiful cosy inn. We stayed in The Old Beams room, which is lovely. Breakfast was delicious and served in the beautiful dining room. The bar area is so atmospheric with the flagstone floor, beams, amazing fire and candlelight. The food was also fab, staff were very friendly. We couldn't have picked a better place to stay for a winter break.

The Howard was a superb find for us. We had a wonderful room and loved sitting by the fireplace in the pub. Breakfast and dinner were great. Everyone should stay here!

We both really enjoyed our selfs, the hotel was excellent and the staff couldn’t be more helpful, we had a lovely meal Friday night the food was excellent,

If you’re looking for an authentic Cotswold experience, this is your place! It’s set in the beautiful countryside, away from the crowded villages. The Inn is adorable, and tastefully furnished in period design. The dining room serves delicious, English dishes, and there’s a cozy pub, along with a back garden area for relaxation! The only negative was no air conditioning, but we had a floor fan that kept us comfortable.

We are very lucky to have the Howard Arms as our local, it is our favourite place to eat and drink. It is such a special place and we were lucky enough to have our Wedding reception here in May this year. We trusted Pawel and his team 100% and they did not disappoint. The decorations, flowers and personalised menus were arranged for us. The menu was specially chosen for the day and the food was incredible. We stayed over and the rooms were immaculate and luxurious. We honestly cannot fault anything at all. Thank you so much for making our Wedding day so perfect. We visit regularly for food and our favourite is the Sunday roast. We would never go anywhere else as nothing compares to the roast at the Howard Arms!