2002

The First Daylesford Organic Farmshop Opens In The Cotswolds

‘We opened three weeks before Christmas on a frosty morning, selling homemade soups, sandwiches and tea, alongside our meat, cheese, a few vegetables and our bread. I didn’t think anybody would come.

Like any business, we’ve had our setbacks and challenges. Despite that we’ve managed to grow and we now have five farmshops. The shops are all set within old buildings – be that a barn or an eighteenth-century London townhouse – and I like to appreciate and respect the features of the buildings, but also bring something new and modern to them.’

– Carole Bamford, founder

2002

The First Daylesford Cheddar Is Made In The Farm’s Creamery

Cheddar was one of the first products to be made at Daylesford and was the first in Britain to be certified organic. The farm was founded with a small herd of dairy cows and today our pedigree, rare-breed herds are still at the heart of what we do. The flavour and consistency of grass-pastured organic milk changes with the seasons and being able to see and taste these variations in our Cheddar is what makes it so special. Made by hand on our farm with time-honoured artisan methods, the piquant, layered taste and well-balanced texture have won national and international awards.

2013

The Wild Rabbit Opens

The Wild Rabbit is a modern British inn set in the heart of the village of Kingham. The restaurant menu is inspired by the seasons and produce is sourced from growers, farms and producers in the local area who share its values of seasonality and sustainability. The bar serves a mix of artisan beers, alongside more familiar ales, while the wine list is a map of the most important wine regions in the world. Rooms and cottages have been individually designed to reflect local elements of raw, rural simplicity and are furnished with natural linens, wool blankets and antique pieces of furniture.

2022

The Fox Opens

The Fox is a nineteenth-century coaching inn nestled in the Gloucestershire countryside in the village of Oddington. It is a village pub at the heart of the community with crackling log fires, a seasonal restaurant, a garden terrace and six bedrooms, as well as a welcoming bar specialising in local beers and cocktails. A living roof above the restaurant has been planted with a mix of 36 native British wildflowers and four species of grass, providing a habitat for pollinators and aiding biodiversity while also acting as an absorbent rainwater buffer. A circular ethos is also reflected in the interior design. Hides from Daylesford’s organic beef cattle were used to make leather window seats, cushions and seat pads for the bar and rooms.

2022

Daylesford Village Opens

Our hamlet of Cotswold cottages is nestled in the 2,500 acre Daylesford Estate, surrounded by picturesque Gloucestershire countryside. The cottages, village hall, schoolhouse and church were rebuilt in 1868 by Harman Grisewood for his tenants. Constructed in local stone, the buildings are architecturally decorative, heavily influenced by the Tudor Gothic style. Just a stone’s throw away from Daylesford Organic Farm, the cottages overlook the rolling hills of the estate. Each self-contained cottage is individually furnished, retaining its own distinct character. Cottages range in size from one to four bedrooms.

2023

The Bell Opens

On the edge of the Wychwood Forest within the Evenlode Valley, The Bell is set in the picturesque Cotswold town of Charlbury. When restoring the fabric of the 17th century building, our in-house team of architects looked to the history of The Bell. Original features were sympathetically restored, and local and recycled materials were used for the construction to minimise impact on the environment. The interiors preserve the heritage of the inn, blending it seamlessly with all the modern comforts one would expect from the exceptional standards of a Daylesford Stays property. Our bar forms the heart of the pub, crafted using ash from the Daylesford Estate, while inviting inglenook fireplaces offer a welcome spot to enjoy a meal by the fire. Each bedroom combines comfort with exceptional attention to detail, drawing inspiration from the neighbouring ancient woodland.

2023

The Three Horseshoes Reopens

An eighteenth-century pub set in the heart of the Cotswolds’ beautiful Windrush valley. The Three Horseshoes is renowned for its warm welcome and generous community spirit. Serving local beers and ales, an eclectic wine list and comforting pub food made from seasonal ingredients, the pub has six rooms and a large garden with views across the rolling Cotswold hills. Since 1726, the pub’s innkeepers – farriers by trade, replaced the horseshoes of travellers passing through the village. In 1977 it was renamed The Maytime. Today the pub has returned to its roots, becoming The Three Horseshoes in honour of its history and heritage.