Unlike many traditional villages which are based around a green, the village of Lyddington is stretched out in a linear fashion over the course of a mile. Most of the buildings are built of lovely reddish limestone for which this area is known, giving the pretty cottages a real charm. Lyddington is frequently near the top of the list when it comes to best places to live in the Britain.
This relatively untouched corner of the Midlands has plenty to offer in terms of verdant nature to explore and space to unwind, and is a lesser-known alternative to well-trodden Somerset or the Cotswolds; now that The Marquess of Exeter has reopened its doors, there’s even more reason to favour this pocket of the country for your summer staycation.
A historic country inn
A Grade ll listed pub is on the site of a tavern that is thought to have existed since parish records began in 1563. The red limestone building is beautifully preserved. It has a series of interconnecting small rooms with low ceilings supported by old wooden beams, inglenook fireplaces and gleaming flagstone floors.
Cosy, clean and comforting, the accommodation at the hotel is instantly relaxing – found in a separate building from the pub. There are 17 rooms on offer, each with a different personality and décor and lots of natural fabrics tuned in a relaxed country style.
It’s a charming blend of old-meets-new. Suits are particularly spacious and comes with a chaise lounge which is a nice touch. Complimentary water, tea and coffees are included in each room.
Culinary mastery
The charming property is now under new ownership of Michelin-trained chef, Krishnapal Negi. Whilst Lyddington may not be on everyone’s radar, but Negi certainly is.
He first made his name when he launched Tangawizi in Richmond Upon Thames in 2004 and later achieved a Michelin award. The restaurant became a regular haunt for Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, and it was from here that George Clooney was famously turned away for lack of an available table. Until early 2022 Negi was executive chef at acclaimed London Fitzrovia restaurant 1947 London.
New lease of life
In 2022 Negi took over the 12th century thatched-roof property and returned to its youthful glory, while finding a way to marry rural respite with Indian character. As a result The Marquess of Exeter saw a new addition – restaurant Krishna’s.
Exposed wooden beams added to the charm, giving the space a warm, rustic feel, making it cosy and inviting. It’s also adorned with elegant but subtle artefacts which offered an ode to Chef Negi’s homeland, India.
Krishna's dining experience
The menus are inspired by his love of progressive Indian cuisine, brought to life by continuous research into ever-evolving regional recipes, and combined with a dedication to using only the finest British ingredients. There is a diverse selection of Indian classics and chef’s specialities to choose from which changes every three months.
We began our dinner with papadams accompanied by mango chutney and lamb chops from the classic menu, complemented by Keffir lime tandoori prawns from Krishna’s specials.
For the main course, we selected Laal Maas lamb, a chili-packed Rajasthani curry slow-cooked to tender perfection, and lamb rogan josh with Pulao rice.
For dessert, we enjoyed Kulfi, traditional Indian ice cream, delicately flavoured with saffron, cardamom, rosewater and topped with an assortment of crunchy nuts.
Pub classics
Interestingly, if you’re not in the mood for Indian cuisine there’s an alternative menu of traditional pub favourites (including a standout Marquess beef burger) as well as bar snacks like prawn & avocado bruschetta and crispy bacon & melted brie sandwich. You could also mix and match! Would love more pubs to do this.
Great pints and good glasses of wine are always on deck, as well as creative spritzes and cocktail if you just want to come for a drink, and outside you’ll find a lovely tranquil garden for sunny days.
In the morning, you can enjoy a full English breakfast or an omelette before walking around the beautiful village of Lyddington and the surrounding area of Rutland, England’s smallest and arguably prettiest county.
The Marquess of Exeter is the perfect place to switch off from everyday life and enjoy some well-earned downtime.
More information can be found here.
Image credits: © The Marquess of Exeter, Travel with Style
