In an interminable winter serving up weekly storms, flooded towns and more wind than even the most talented kite enthusiast could handle, the thought of hunkering down and cocooning yourself away is so very inviting.

The weather gods had decided to send down an icy chill rather than stair-rod rainfall on the day of my visit to the The Feathered Nest in Nether Westcote, set in beautiful Cotswold countryside near the Oxfordshire/Gloucestershire border.

The name itself conjures up images of warm, cosy, luxurious conditions to snuggle up in and wait for spring to appear.

Unfortunately I didn’t have that long and had to make do with one night in the nest.

First impressions were excellent as my partner and I arrived, with our eyes immediately drawn to the views of the sweeping Evenlode Valley.

The new owner Adam said it was these stunning views that were part of the reason he wanted to take the pub on. This from a man who knows a thing or two about views, having worked in Vancouver and Cape Town.

Outside the door is an indication of the quality on offer inside with signs alerting you to its Michelin and AA Rosette credentials.

There is no reception so it’s straight to the flagstone-floored bar with its saddle stools to check-in.

We were shown upstairs to our beautiful, spacious attic room – the Cuckoo’s Den. A welcoming king size bed sits in front of large traveller’s chest with a television perched upon it.

Straight in front of you at the end of the room is a lovely large desk and window where any writer could happily sit for hours seeking inspiration from the Cotswold vista.

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It also housed a coffee machine, fresh fruit, a handful of books and a decanter of sherry. An ample bathroom was exquisitely decorated with an ornate mirror, claw foot bathtub, shower cubicle and pleasingly worn cabinets putting me in mind of a seductive Parisian attic room.

Daydream over and after a quick change it was time for dinner. We sat in a cosy snug off the main bar and dining room complete with huge fireplace – perfect for a cold February night.

We were treated to a complimentary lamb and aubergine amuse bouche served in a miniature ice cream cone, while we made our choices from the menu.

A six-course tasting menu is available but we plumped for the a la carte option. First we enjoyed some delightful Guinness sourdough and cheese brioche served with beef and Marmite dripping and salted butter.

Moving on to the main course, I enjoyed Orkney scallops, served with black pork cheek, caramelised apple, celeriac and crackling while my vegetarian girlfriend went for the roasted and pickled carrots with pumpkin granola and ewes curd.

Both were beautifully presented and offered a wonderful blend of flavours and textures to set the pulse racing.

My main course was Cotswold fallow venison, served medium rare as recommended. The meat was succulent and tender and complemented by a salt-baked parsnip and black pudding hash.

My partner’s gnocchi was her favourite course and was as tasty as it was well-presented, with wild mushrooms, winter truffle and pecorino making for a heady mix.

My most colourful course was dessert, with rhubarb, vanilla, blood orange and noisette crumb dancing off the plate.

She chose the Valrhona guanaja chocolate with gooey salted caramel and heavenly praline.

The courses were perfectly formed and although some appeared to be a little on the small side, we both felt contentedly full when we had finished.

The Feathered Nest has long had a reputation for fine food but Adam wants to make it more appealing to people from all walks of life.

His vision is shared by new head chef Matthew Weedon. The double Michelin-starred chef is no stranger to the Cotswolds, having worked at the Lords of the Manor in Upper Slaughter and this enthusiastic and talented duo are aiming to take The Feathered Nest to new heights.

And despite its cosy tendencies, this is not a place to only enjoy during winter.

The pub has a huge 45 acres to roam around complete with wildlife reserve. Although the garden just outside the door is perfectly lovely and has plenty of seating to enjoy those beautiful views when the sun returns.