Epney and Stonehouse

[smallhobbit]

As I said in my post yesterday, I have been on leave this past week and so we felt we should do some things to make up for not being away.

So on Tuesday afternoon I visited a friend and we spent all afternoon chatting in her garden.  In the evening SM and I went for Pie Night at a local independent pub.  It happens that at the moment in the UK in order to boost the restaurant/pub trade there is an offer on meals at the beginning of the week.  We wouldn't have deliberately gone out to take advantage of the offer, but since we were thinking of it anyway we weren't going to refuse.

Neither of us was impressed with the standards at the pub and we agreed we wouldn't go back.  We were seated by an open door, and didn't feel at risk, but it certainly didn't inspire confidence.  The view down the River Severn as the sun set was impressive though.



The following afternoon we went out for a cream tea at Stonehouse Court Hotel.  We had been planning to go for SM's birthday, but that was the middle of March, so we postponed it.  The standards were much higher.

The building originally dates from 1601:



We had tea in the marquee out the back - we could have sat outside, but it was quite windy and looked as if it was thinking about raining:



They had some impressive fish in their fish pond:



And tea was delicious:


 

Comments

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

Oh, wow. Love the first photo of the river and the building the tea! Yum!

[smallhobbit]

Thank you :) I took a number of the river, but that was the best. The tea was really good, a proper afternoon tea!

[luthienberen]

The river, fish pond and tea are superb! Also yum for the tea. <3

[smallhobbit]

Thank you - and the tea was excellent!

[rusty_armour]

I'm sorry that the pub was a disappointment, though that view down the Severn certainly is impressive. I'm also impressed by Stonehouse Court Hotel. It's a beautiful building and it looks like they do a very nice tea. I also approve of their fish pond. ;-)

[smallhobbit]

The hotel was lovely, the tea was delicious and the fish were impressive - as soon as I started to take photos the large fish arrived ready for me to take his!

[solosundance]

Lovely river view!

We were in the Cotswolds last week and, rather against our instincts, ate out to help out at an Indian restaurant. Couldn't believe that a whole side of the restaurant was unused and everyone was stuffed into the other. There were tables outside and they didn't use them. The waiters wore masks but mostly with their nose uncovered. It was just... disconcerting. We kind of wanted to walk away, but didn't. Great discount off the bill though...

[smallhobbit]

Thank you.

Yes, the way the guidance is being interpreted at times doesn't always give much confidence.

[adafrog]

:D

[smallhobbit]

Thank you.

[debriswoman]

Great pictures, and pleased you can make the most of your break:-)

[smallhobbit]

Thank you. Yes, I really didn't want to just sit around at home.

[corvidology]

One of my best mates lived in Stonehouse growing up so I spent a lot of time there and my mum and dad now live a ten minute walk from there.

[smallhobbit]

I can certainly recommend the afternoon tea to them!

Definitely close by then - I hadn't realised.

[margaret_r]

That first photo is very atmospheric, a lovely view of the river. Your afternoon tea looks delicious!

[smallhobbit]

Thank you. I took a number of river shots and this one turned out the best.

The tea was excellent.