The Norman Knight country pub and rooms to open at Whichford in the Cotswolds this January

The Norman Knight, a new country pub with rooms, is scheduled to open in mid-January 2026 in the village of Whichford, located in the Cotswolds. The launch comes from Katie and Matt Beamish, the team behind several other establishments in the area, among them The Kingham Plough, The Crown Inn in Enstone and The Hare in Milton-under-Wychwood. The new venue is set in a restored 17^th-century building overlooking the village green, and will offer pub dining, accommodation and a bar to serve both locals and visitors to the area, including families and their dogs.

Operating daily from 8am to midnight, The Norman Knight is part of the Potted Goose Group, and according to the owners, is their most ambitious project to date. The building has undergone a full restoration and will incorporate pub with seating for up to 80 guests, two private dining rooms and nine bedrooms – four located within the main building and five in newly built outdoor cabins. The interiors combine traditional Cotswolds features such as exposed stone walls and open fireplaces with modern touches, including custom-made furniture and vintage wallpaper. The building’s red-brick façade and reinstated bay windows aim to reflect its 17^th-century origins. Rates for accommodation with breakfast begin at £225 per night, with en-suite bathrooms, roll-top baths, walk-in showers and rural views. The outdoor cabins are also dog-friendly. 

Danny Augustine has been appointed as general manager, while the kitchen will be led by head chef Ray Pullen, formerly of The Bull in Charlbury. The menu will focus on traditional British pub fare with an emphasis on rotisserie cooking and seasonal ingredients. Options will foreground traditional dishes like chicken with hasselback potatoes, whole roasted wild seabass and slow-cooked beef cheek with boulangère potato pie. An all-day bar menu will also be available, featuring items such as a pork pie with piccalilli and grilled raclette cheese.

Matt Beamish explained, “Our vision has always been to create a contemporary, deeply rooted Cotswolds pub that feels woven into the fabric of the village – a place to unwind, enjoy delicious food and feel genuinely looked after. We want it to be somewhere people return to time and time again.”

Food Desk

The Norman Knight opens in mid-January 2026 at Ascott Road, Whichford CV36 5PE. For further information or to book, visit their website here.