The House of George W. Davies, Broadway
The latest venture by George W. Davies
Arriving in Broadway in the Cotswolds as the light fades is always a treat, whatever time of the year. The honeyed stone glows, the trees along the High Street turn copper and claret, and you feel that gentle Cotswolds charm before you’ve even parked (which can sometimes be tricky but House of George thankfully has its own car park). Step inside The House of George and it all warms up another notch. This hotel and restaurant in Broadway is the brand new passion project of George W. Davies — the iconic entrepreneur behind Next, George and Per Una — and it shows. He has been involved in every detail during the 3 years of renovation, from the layout and lighting to the fabrics, plateware and the way the rooms are laid out. The result is confident, stylish and welcoming. You can feel the hand of a brand builder who understands how people like to live, stay, eat and relax.
The building is a handsome Georgian, and inside the palette is rich and tactile. Think deep greens, polished woods, soft leather, good lighting and the sort of chairs you actually want to sit in through a long lunch. Nothing shouts, there’s no bling (unless you count the monogrammed napkins, coasters and pillowcases, which I love). Everything works. It feels like a modern British townhouse that just so happens to feed you very, very well.
Food is the heartbeat here at House of George W. Davies. Moda, led by James Wilson, keeps things seasonal and in autumn and winter, the menu leans into comfort with flavour. You might start with Cotswold beef carpaccio with a truffle lift, or a silky pumpkin soup brightened with herb oil. Handmade pasta often appears, unctuous and generous, with wild mushrooms or slow-cooked ragù. Mains could be local venison with beetroot and a slowly reduced jus, or day-boat fish with braised fennel. Puddings, in my book, are always worth saving room for, and when I get handed the menu I ask for the pudding menu too so I can work backwards! Here, a warm pear tart or a perfectly set panna cotta is the kind of pudding that makes you want to stay a while, perhaps with a digestivo, coffee, and petits fours. Charlie, the floor manager, is a gem, smiley, knowledgeable, with experience from The Newt in Somerset, where she worked with James. I hope, next time I go, the acoustics will have been sorted out. With the stone floors and glass doors that lead onto the terrace, there’s a slight clattering, which needs to be softened with pictures.
Moda, The House of George
The wine list is tight and thoughtful, with enough by-the-glass options to keep things interesting. The bar mixes a very good Negroni and delicious Hugo Spritz, and the team knows their gins. Service has that easy confidence you only get when everyone believes in the product and is passionate about what they do. It’s relaxed, human, charming and on it.
As the evenings draw in, House of George W. Davies comes into its own. Fire lit, candles flickering, the bar takes on a glow that encourages a second bottle. If you’re not eating, perch at the counter with a cocktail and small plates. It feels sociable without being too noisy.
Upstairs, the bedrooms are spacious and calm. Hypnos beds, which, I think, could be bigger, crisp sheets, and bathrooms stocked with 100 Acres bath and body products, which I love and which are made not far away. Though, unfortunately, no flannels!!!! Each room has its own slightly different styling: soft textures, proper blackout, good water pressure and Nespresso machine. It’s obvious that George has applied the same eye he once brought to the British high street to these rooms.
Bedroom at The House of George
Part of the charm at House of George is the setting. You’re at the heart of Broadway, so a morning stroll for coffee at Broadway Deli is an easy win. The Gordon Russell Design Museum is a short walk and worth it for anyone who loves British craft and joinery. If you want to stretch your legs, head up to Broadway Tower for those sweeping views across the Vale of Evesham. Come back for lunch and let Moda do the rest.
Design lovers will appreciate the way heritage bones meet contemporary styles and touches. You glide from bar to dining room to sitting room. Fabrics are plush where you want them and practical where you need them. The cutlery feels good in the hand and the glassware is sparkling, just as it should be. These are small things, but they add up, and they are exactly the sort of details a founder like George W. Davies obsesses over. As the name suggests, The House of George is his baby, and it shows in the finished product. However, where are the flannels?!
It was a pleasure meeting the man himself. I chatted to him for quite a while, after a spectacular four-hour dinner, and it’s evident that he puts people first. I asked him if he had any business tips ‘It’s all about the people’, he said, ‘they’re colleagues, not staff, ‘and should be treated as such. Business is still very much about relationships, and that is what matters and what has always mattered’. I asked him if he had stayed at House of George yet and suggested he needed to stay in each of the rooms to test them out, to which he had a rather cheeky reply, with a twinkle in his eye. Such a charmer!
For me, The House of George nails the balance: personality without ego, comfort without fuss, and dishes that taste of the land and the season. It’s the sort of place you book for a celebratory dinner and then return to for a midweek lunch because you can’t stop thinking about the pasta. In a Cotswold village already known for charm, this is a standout hotel and one of the best boutique hotel openings of 2025.
Good to know: book ahead for weekend dinners, especially once the Christmas lights are up in the village. If you’re staying, request a room with a bath and stock up on those 100 Acres bubbles.