I went in search of the Cotswolds’ best pub roasts – these are my seven favourites

With Rivals returning to our screens this month and Christmas around the corner, there’s no better time to visit the Cotswolds for a hearty Sunday roast and a roaring fire. Having lived on the edge of the Cotswolds for the past 15 years, this is my pick of the best local pubs for a comforting lunch. The Wild Duck, Ewen, Gloucestershire Beside the River Thames just outside Cirencester, the Wild Duck is the sister pub to the popular Double Red Duke in Clanfield, by husband and wife duo Sam and Georgie Pearman. It opened earlier this year and has rapidly become a Gloucestershire hotspot. The interiors – leather chairs, lavish wallpaper and cosy window seats, designed by Georgie – are worth a visit alone. The menu changes regularly but expect generous portions and some retro classics. Aside from a hearty roast spatchcock chicken and Herefordshire sirloin beef, I also recommend the cheese soufflé and prawn cocktail. Bring your four legged friends too and treat them to a Wild Duck doggy treat box. The Fox at Oddington, Moreton in Marsh, Gloucestershire The Tack Room at The Fox (Photo: Martin Morell) No Cotswolds list would be complete without a pub from the Daylesford group. The Fox at Oddington has all the style you would expect from the chi-chi Cotswold farm shop, which has become a byword for aspirational country living. The Fox has flagstone floors, open fires and elegant interiors, but it also comes with genuinely great pub food. Treat yourself to a fig Negroni at the bar then maybe a ‘nduja Scotch egg or a crispy belly of Wootton pork with duck fat and thyme roast potatoes.The Killingworth Castle, Wootton, Oxfordshire Killingworth Castle’s perfectly-cooked roast Get into the Christmas spirit early at “The Killy” which, alongside its roaring fires, snug nooks and well-stocked bar, offers a delicious roast turkey with pigs in blankets, stuffing and brioche bread sauce. Yum. The Killy, run by husband and wife Jim and Claire Alexander, has been listed as a Top 50 Gastropub and in the Good Food Guide. It’s also just up the road from beautiful Blenheim Palace, ideal if you’re visiting for the Christmas lights trail. If roast turkey doesn’t whet your appetite, there’s a 16oz Chateaubriand with Yorkshire pudding or Agnolotti (pasta) with organic squash, chanterelle mushrooms and sage butter. The Feathered Nest, Nether Westcote, Oxfordshire This pub which has, arguably, one of the best views in the Cotswolds, saddle style bar stools and a mouth-watering menu, is a favourite with locals and Cotswolds visitors alike (it’s just up the road from Chipping Norton). Sunday lunch might include a Cornish crab muffin, roasted garden beetroot or a smoked Somerset Saxon chicken. Enjoy a real ale and wild boar hot dog at the bar or grab yourself a spot on one of the leather sofas by the fire and settle in. In the summer months, it also hosts barbecues and outdoor events for locals, overlooking the glorious gardens and using the woodfired oven. The Swan, Ascott-under-Wychwood, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire The 16th-century Swan has been updated inside A visit to The Swan, with its low-slung beams, roaring fire and bustling bar, feels like stepping back in time. This 16th-century inn has been restored and updated and although it’s only 10 minutes from celebrity-studded Charlbury, it’s unpretentious and friendly. Enjoy local ales, free-range Tamworth pork shoulder or a slow-cooked Hereford Angus rump cap of beef, served with proper gravy and Yorkshire pudding followed by a home-made sticky toffee pudding. For vegetarians, there’s a ginger, garlic and coconut curry with steamed rice and tofu. Sister pub, The Chequers in Churchill, is also popular (we spotted Jeremy Clarkson last time we were there) and both have lovely private dining rooms. There are also lots of dog walks by The Swan if you’re bringing yours along. Ember at The Chandlers Arms, Epwell, Warwickshire There aren’t many pubs where you’ll find a pink flamingo at the door and a winter feast cooked on an open fire but Ember at The Chandlers Arms, tucked away in the hamlet of Epwell between Banbury and Chipping Norton, is something of a hidden gem. The newly reopened pub, which launched this summer when chefs Matty Cartwright (Ember) and Harry Flockhart (The Chandlers Arms) joined forces, showcases imaginative food with even more imaginative art – neon signs, Tracey Emin and velvet chairs. The menu features smoked Bibury trout, wood-fired fillet of beef and a warm pecan financier with Earl Grey ice cream, as well as cocktails from the Cotswolds Distillery, which is just up the road. If the small but perfectly formed pub gets too cramped, you can warm yourself on the fire outside. We spotted a major foot critic last time we were there so get in before it gets too busy! The Norman Knight, Whichford, Warwickshire The cosy bar at The Norman Knight (Photo: Saltwick) If you want a proper pub where locals (which happen to include celebrity chef, Prue Leith) flock, a warming fire and a thoughtful menu, look no further than The Norman Knight. Alongside a classic Sunday roast with all the trimmings and a delicious cauliflower cheese, you could try a Tamworth pork chop or roast Creedy Carver duck breast with artichoke and plum sauce. Chef Ray Pullen, who comes from the highly acclaimed Bull at Charlbury, changes the menu regularly and there’s a strong focus on seasonal, local produce. The charming manager, Danny, makes everyone feel at home.