Eight pubs with rooms for a romantic weekend away
Sawday's Expert
5 min read
They say money can’t buy love. But it can secure a cosy room for two in a beautiful country inn, where romance tends to unfold naturally. Leave your cares at the door and sink into the perfect couple of days of countryside walks, candlelit dinners and evenings beside a crackling fire with a glass of something good. Across the UK there are pubs with rooms that feel made for couples. Some sit beside lakes and rivers, others are tucked into quiet villages or surrounded by rolling hills. If you’ve never thought of a pub as the setting for a romantic escape, these eight might change your mind.
Lord Crewe Arms at Blanchland, Northumberland
Few inns can beat this atmospheric refuge nestled in a sheep-clad valley on the edge of the Northumberland moors – it oozes romance. Stone walls, candlelit corners and roaring fires create a wonderfully romantic setting. Open seven days a week for lunch, bar snacks, afternoon tea and dinner, the head chef worked alongside two-Michelin-star chef, Nathan Outlaw, and has created a robust modern British menu that’s as hearty as it is delicious.
Blustery walks shoot off in all directions from the door and it’s a real treat to return to fabulous bedrooms dotted around the cottages. Choose a suite or Champion room for big bathrooms and deep tubs. Cosy up in front of a crackling fire, eat in the lofty dining room, and stop for a drink in the bar hidden in a medieval vaulted crypt. Wines come by the glass, carafe or bottle, the gins are local, the cocktails sublime.
The Cow, Derbyshire
Stylish bedrooms and excellent food make this village pub a quietly romantic base in the South Derbyshire countryside. Inside, the copper-topped bar gleams and a roaring fire fills the old stone fireplace with warmth. The atmosphere is relaxed and welcoming, with candlelit tables and a menu that celebrates seasonal ingredients.
Bedrooms combine cosy textures with modern comforts, and breakfast in bed is always tempting after a slow morning. But it’s worth exploring the surrounding landscape together. Haddon Hall, often described as one of England’s most romantic medieval houses, is just a short drive away, while gentle walking trails wind through the surrounding countryside. After a day outdoors, returning here for dinner and a glass of wine by the fire feels exactly right.
The Roebuck, Cheshire
With its cobbled frontage, little trees lining the terrace and warm, vibrant interiors, this village pub has a slightly continental feel. Inside you’ll find candlelit tables, deep red leather seating and shelves lined with wine bottles, creating a lively yet intimate setting for a long lunch or relaxed evening meal.
Upstairs, six individually styled bedrooms are full of character. Expect embroidered fabrics, leather armchairs and indulgent roll-top baths perfect for unwinding after a day out. One room even places a wood burner between the bed and bath, a detail that practically demands a slow evening indoors. Nearby Knutsford is lovely for a gentle wander through independent shops before returning for dinner and a nightcap.
The Litton, Somerset
This much-loved country inn is in the heart of the Mendips. As soon as you duck inside, you’re wrapped in comfort, from reindeer skins on the sofas to mulled cider that’s warming on the bar.
After a serene walk around the nearby Chew Valley Lake or along one of the many paths through the hills, return to a delicious dinner by the fire. Afterwards, tuck yourselves into a corner and grab a Moroccan blanket, or if you’re up it – enjoy a drink or two together around the firepits outside. The bedrooms are lovely, some are in the adjoining mill but all are individually and stylishly decorated with soft bedding inviting long, unhurried mornings. There are plenty of opportunities to enjoy some time to yourselves; either with a long, hot soak in the roll top bath or borrow one of the books and read by the fire.
The Horse Guards Inn, Sussex
Beautiful views stretch for miles from this 350-year-old South Downs pub. Inside, the atmosphere is relaxed and characterful with fresh flowers, antique furniture and softly lit dining spaces.
Owners Sam and Misha love this pub and their passion is reflected in the homemade treats on offer and the chalkboards championing local producers. Upstairs, the bedrooms are calm and comfortable, each with exposed beams and low ceilings adding to the charm of the place. After a walk across the downs, settle in by the fire with a board game and a glass of something warming. In winter, you can even roast chestnuts foraged from nearby Petworth Park on one of the open log fires and enjoy a glass of spiced cider.
The Methuen Arms, Wiltshire
The Methuen has evolved beautifully over the centuries. It started it’s life as a 14th-century nunnery, turned into a coaching inn in 1608, and had a Georgian facelift in the late 1700s. In 2010 it was reborn as a stylish boutique pub with rooms that feel made for a relaxed countryside escape, with delicious Butcombe ales.
Bedrooms are elegant and comfortable, with soft robes waiting in the bathrooms and several indulgent claw-foot baths, one even placed in the bedroom itself for long, lazy soaks. Downstairs, the kitchen serves thoughtful seasonal dishes such as cream of shallot soup, venison with heritage carrots and Wiltshire honey crème caramel, so it’s perfect for a romantic dinner or special occasion. Bath is just a short drive away for wandering through independent shops or unwinding together at the famous thermal spa before returning here for dinner and a cosy night in.
The Gunton Arms, Norfolk
A rich elegance infuses this fire-warmed inn, overlooking one thousand acres of lush and historic parkland. It has a colourful hunting lodge style, with warm red hues, wooden floors, a blazing log fire in the traditional bar (dogs welcome too), elegant lounges with pretty views of deer from every window. Tuck into rib of beef or local venison cooked over the fire in the vaulted dining room. Stuart (ex-Mark Hix) champions locally sourced ingredients, so enjoy simple, gutsy ingredient-led cooking which prioritises local and seasonal food.
You stay well away from the hubbub of the pub in your opulent suite in either the old Coach House or Barn. Filled with antiques, gorgeous fabrics and indulgent marble-tiled bathrooms, some with deep tubs and walk-in showers, they are sumptuously cosseting. Wake to parkland views and breakfast at leisure before heading out for a long walk together.
The Turtley Corn Mill, Devon
This ivy-covered old mill with a relaxed feel, set in acres of manicured grounds, has a clutch of lakeside lodges for romantic escapees. You’ve got roll-top baths, squishy armchairs and private balconies overlooking the water, where ducks drift lazily across the lake. Breakfast can be brought straight to your room, making slow mornings very tempting. Choose from porridge, granola with Greek yoghurt, buttermilk pancakes or hearty cooked options, including veggie dishes, before eventually wandering out into the gardens.
You might stroll around the grounds to meet the resident chickens and peacocks, or venture further to explore Dartmoor’s wild landscapes of waterfalls, ponies and open moorland. The trendy town of Totnes is just twenty minutes away, while the Devon coast is within easy reach for a day by the sea.
Explore all our pubs with rooms >