There’s something about Woodstock that doesn’t try too hard. It doesn’t need to. The streets carry the kind of patina only centuries can give, the sort of place where you can sip a coffee and imagine you’ve stepped into another era – right up until someone’s labradoodle noses your arm.
The Feathers, tucked neatly into Market Street, has always been part of that scene. Four-star polish, yes, but not the sort that makes you feel underdressed if you wander in from a ramble. Its bar and terrace, The Aviary, has just had a six-month glow-up, and the result is one of those spaces that make you think, “Why would I drink anywhere else?”
The Makeover
Local hands shaped the transformation. All Floors of Witney underfoot, Asnew Upholstery and Design bringing in the soft stuff. The palette’s all calming earth tones – hints of natural stone and the kind of greens you only get in the Cotswolds after rain. Striped parasols throw lazy shade over bistro tables, while olive trees stand in as permanent residents.
A new oak-clad extension links the inside and outside in one uninterrupted line, thanks to a sleek glass bifold wall. It’s not just for summer afternoons; this space is built for year-round lounging. Soon, the centrepiece – an industrial-grade pizza oven – will start turning out handmade sourdough pizzas from Mark’s Cotswold Bakery in Chipping Norton, a companion to small plates from Chef Luke Rawicki.
Laid-Back, Dog-Approved
The Aviary is now officially dog-friendly, and there’s room enough for both human and hound to stretch out without someone’s tail swiping your drink. It’s relaxed but not scruffy, elevated without being precious.
Part of the Bigger Picture
This facelift follows the hotel’s own multi-million-pound reinvention in late 2024. Every inch of The Feathers – its 23 rooms, The Nest restaurant, the bar, the lobby – was given fresh life by AGC BTR, with a design scheme pulled from Woodstock’s own palette: stone, green space, and the soft light of the Cotswolds.
And yet, none of it feels staged. The Feathers still has that rare quality where luxury is less about showing off and more about making you feel you belong. Whether you’re in for a night, a week, or just a glass of something cold on the terrace, The Aviary fits seamlessly into that ethos.
You may recall Travel Life featured The Feathers Hotel in its winter 2024 edition. Click here to browse.
Photographs courtesy and copyright: John Blackwell
The Feathers Hotel
Market Street
Woodstock
Oxfordshire
OX20 1SX
0207 871 6733
Love hotels? Love travel?
Check out www.travellifemag.co.uk
