The Old Stocks Inn

About The Old Stocks Inn

The Old Stocks Inn faces the green on Stow-on-the-Wold's market square, opposite the medieval stocks the building takes its name from. It began as a 17th-century coaching inn and was substantially refurbished a decade or so ago, which turned a fairly traditional pub into a boutique hotel while keeping the stone frontage, beams and fireplaces intact.

Bedrooms are individually decorated and lean modern, with bold colours and contemporary furniture set against original features. Rooms at the front look over the square and the green; those at the back are quieter and overlook the garden. Facilities include walk-in showers, mini fridges, tea and coffee equipment and flat-screen televisions. Room sizes vary a good deal, as they do in most converted inns, so it is worth reading the descriptions before booking.

The restaurant holds two AA rosettes and serves modern British cooking, with a separate bar menu for lighter meals. Behind the inn there is a terraced patio garden used for outdoor dining in good weather, which is unusual for a property this central. Parking is available on site, a real advantage in Stow, where the square fills quickly. The inn was acquired by the Wiltshire brewer Arkell's in 2025.

Its position makes it one of the most convenient bases in the Cotswolds: Stow is roughly central, with Bourton-on-the-Water, the Slaughters, Bibury and Chipping Campden all within half an hour. The town's antiques shops, galleries and pubs are a two-minute walk. It suits couples on a short break and walkers, and works particularly well for people without a car who want to be able to step straight out into a village.