The Fuzzy Duck was saved from
closure and reburbished in the latter half of 2013 by sibling owners Tania Fossey and Adrian Slater who set out to provide affordable luxury in the belief that comfort and style should not be the preserve of the rich.
Whether you are in walking boots
or a ballgown, this is not a place to stand on ceremony. The welcome is as warm as the roaring fires and nothing appears to be too much trouble for the staff. Steeped in history, the building
once housed the local blacksmith and in the 18th Century became a coaching inn. Today it retains many of its original features including exposed beams and flagstone floors. Head chef Richard Craven is
largely self-taught and has worked in kitchens since the age of 15 but gained a substantial amount of his knowledge working at The Plough at Kingham under Heston Blumenthal’s sous chef from the award-winning Fat Duck at Bray, Emily Lampson as well as in kitchens both in the UK and South Africa. The attention to detail at The
Fuzzy Duck is outstanding from the assortment of umbrellas to borrow on a wet day and the Hunter welly loan service, in every size, for exploring the numerous nearby
walks, all planned and trialled to suit all pace and personalities. A hamper of snugly blankets is
also available for guests to keep the chill off while enjoying a stretch on the steamer chairs around the landscaped gardens and courtyard. And four-legged visitors are given
a warm welcome with home-made dog biscuits and crispy pigs ears. Breakfast the next morning had a
hard act to follow but didn’t disappoint with a choice of kedgeree, full English, eggs Benedict or Loch Duart smoked salmon with scrambled eggs. Freshly squeezed orange juice was
in abundance as was copious amounts of information from the cheery waiting staff who all had helpful advice on places to visit nearby. The Fuzzy Duck is well-placed for
Stratford-upon-Avon with its eclectic mix of old and new from Anne Hathaway’s Cottage and the newly re-opened Royal Shakespeare Theatre to boating on the Avon as well as designer boutiques and horse-racing . The Fuzzy Duck is at Armscote,
near Stratford-upon-Avon. Tel 01608 682635.
www.fuzzyduckarmscote.com or email: info@fuzzyduckarmscote. com
62 COTSWOLDESSENCE
| March - 2014
www.cotswoldessence.co.uk
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