House Hunting, Hookyand a Hidden Gem in Whichford

The pub changed hands last year and has been completely refurbished. Whoever led the project deserves a lot of credit because they've managed to strike that elusive balance between traditional and contemporary. It feels fresh, comfortable and stylish without losing any of its character.

Walk through the door and you'll find a proper locals' bar. The sort of place where people know each other, conversations flow loudly across the room, and nobody is staring at their phones. Honestly, that's exactly what I was hoping to find. Alongside the bar is a separate dining room seating perhaps forty people, giving it a quieter, more intimate atmosphere without losing the connection to the pub itself.

I was joined for the trip by Sara, an old family friend who was helping me with the property search. She chose one of the five barrel-shaped premium cabins in the garden while I opted for a traditional room in the main building.

Both were excellent, although if I was choosing again, I'd probably still pick the room in the main building. It felt more in keeping with the character of the inn.

The rooms were thoughtfully designed, the bathrooms were clean and spacious, the showers were excellent and, importantly, the beds were genuinely comfortable. There were also plenty of pillows, which frequent travellers quickly learn can make all the difference between a good night's sleep and a bad one.

What really stood out, though, was the staff.

Check-in wasn't simply a case of being handed a key and pointed in the right direction. In fact, the key itself was a lovely throwback, an old-fashioned brass key attached to one of those large brass ball keyrings with a pom-pom. One of the team then personally showed us to our rooms, which immediately made the experience feel more welcoming and personal.

The staff were young, local, bright and full of enthusiasm. Did they know every answer to every question? Not always. But they were warm, polite and genuinely eager to help.

As someone who has spent much of my career building and leading businesses, it reminded me of something I've always believed: hire for attitude and teach the process. It's far easier to coach knowledge than it is to teach warmth, energy and a natural desire to look after customers. The team at The Norman Knight were a great example of that philosophy in action.

Before booking, I had carried out one very important piece of due diligence.

I checked they served Hook Norton from the renowned brewery less than 5 miles away.

Thankfully they did.

After a long day driving around country lanes and viewing houses, a pint of Hooky sitting in a traditional village pub was pretty much exactly what I needed.

Dinner was another pleasant surprise. The prices felt very reasonable given the quality. Sara chose the pork fillet schnitzel with greens and katsu sauce, which looked both hearty and delicious. I went for the Cornish sole, perfectly cooked and topped with a fresh tomato and courgette salsa.

We also shared a generous portion of crispy roast potatoes.

I'll be honest. If you visit, order the potatoes.

The meal started with warm homemade soda bread and sourdough, both served fresh and both absolutely superb.

Yet what I'll remember most isn't the room, the food or even the beer.

It's the feeling that I'd discovered somewhere authentic.

House hunting tends to focus on properties, floor plans and garden sizes, but choosing where to live is really about something much bigger. It's about the villages, the people, the pubs, the atmosphere and all those small details that never make it into an estate agent's brochure.

Spending a night in Whichford taught me far more about this corner of the region than any number of property viewings could have done.

So if you're looking for a genuine village inn, excellent food, comfortable rooms, a proper local atmosphere and a pint of Hook Norton at the end of the day, I'd thoroughly recommend giving The Norman Knight a try.

It was one of the highlights of my house-hunting weekend and another memorable step on our journey to make the North Cotswolds home.

Matt

Confidential Cotswolds