House of George: Inside George Davies’s boutique hotel and restaurant in the Cotswolds

Last summer, George Davies – the owner of fashion brands including Per Una at Marks and Spencer, Next, George at Asda and his own lable GWD – opened a quintessentially British boutique hotel and restaurant in the Cotswolds, called House of George. The property is located in Broadway, near Evesham, which has been dubbed The Jewel of the Cotswolds for its scenic beauty and historic charm.

Over the past 100 or so years, Broadway has become a hub for creatives, with scores of painters, writers and craftsmen settling in the area. At the turn of the last century, the Arts and Crafts movement brought an artistic collective called The Broadway Colony to the village, which helped shape its identity today. It remains a popular destination for those looking for history and cultural vibrancy in a rural setting.

Davies has long been a resident, having raised his sons in the area since the 90s. His project in the special location is part of a portfolio of ventures, whose notable success has enabled the businessman to maintain a generous charitable dossier in tandem. His philanthropic impact extends to wide-ranging initiatives from the Chitra Lane Children’s Resource Centre in Sri Lanka to funding research in aid of opening the The Vascular Limb Salvage Clinic (VaLS) at Glenfield Hospital in 2017.

House of George opened its doors last August, headed up by Davies as well as his wife Arlene Davies, who designed the interiors to fit the unique setting. The limestone building dates back to 1201, previously serving as a doctor’s surgery, and has been meticulously restored to retain its architectural heritage while incorporating touches of sophisticated contemporary design. This latest development follows a long history that spans three separate medieval phases in the 14^th to 16^th centuries, 17^th-century updates to the previously timber-framed structures, 18^th-century alterations including the creation of an agricultural area at the back, and the 19^th century extensions and conversion to a doctor’s surgery in the 1980s. 

It now houses ten bedrooms, a bar and snug, a private dining room, and a restaurant that’s already featured in the Michelin Guide. The overall feel is sensitively updated, but traditional, class and comfort, which Arlene describes as “somewhere that feels connected to the soul of Broadway”, adding that “every texture, tone and flavour has been chosen to celebrate this beautiful part of the Cotswolds”.

The restaurant, Moda, is led by head chef James Wilson, who brings with him an impressive pedigree, formerly cooking at The Newt in Somerset and an array of Michelin-starred kitchens in the UK and abroad. The focus is on showcasing local and seasonal ingredients, with locally foraged produce at the epicentre. Wilson’s menus offer an à la carte selection and weekday set lunch, as well as a nine-course seasonal tasting menu and traditional Sunday roast.

On a recent collaboration with English winemaker Gusbourne, Wilson demonstrated his approach through a carefully structured menu paired with the estate’s wines. The evening opened with a Mushroom Croustade with kohlrabi and goat’s cheese, accompanied by Gusbourne Blanc de Blancs 2020. It immediately showcased Wilson as a fine cook capable of balancing technique with flavour, allowing carefully sourced seasonal ingredients to take centre stage.

Subsequent courses continued the dialogue between kitchen and cellar: a delicate carrot terrine with roasted onion, lemon thyme and sorrel paired with Brut Reserve 2022, followed by trout confit with potato and roe alongside Guinevere Chardonnay 2023. A main course of venison with celeriac, bitter leaves and truffle was matched with Gusbourne Pinot Noir 2022, demonstrating Wilson’s assured handling of rich game balanced with earthy, late-winter produce. The Dinner ended on a high note with an apple tarte tatin served with meadowsweet ice cream, paired with Gusbourne Brut Reserve Late Disgorged 2015, before petit fours of pumpkin seed praline chocolate and cardamom pâte de fruit rounded off the meal.

Davies’s latest creation succeeds in offering their guests a truly British experience, with real architectural and aesthetic character, emphasised by the restaurant’s offering of local quality, in an atmosphere of easy, luxury charm set deep in the beautiful Cotswolds countryside.

Food Desk

For further information or to book accommodation at House of George or a table at Moda, 38–40 High Street, Broadway WR12 7DT, visit the hotel’s website here.