It’s gray and gloomy outside and therefore we decided to take you on a trip to a place that’s a bit magical… To the pudding kingdom in English Cotswolds region. Why is it magical? Because everything in Three Ways House Hotel  seems to have something to do with pudding, because the rooms look like taken from a fairy tale, because every Friday you can meet other pudding lovers on Pudding Club’s meetings lead by the Pudding Master. Doesn’t it sound like some kind of secret brotherhood? It does for me!

When I found out that our trip schedule said the second evening was going to be sweet and dessert-oriented I got really happy! There’s no life without desserts! We were a bit concerned about these puddings though. They rang a bell, but we weren’t completely sure what it was… For me, pudding meant something similar to custard but I guess this was about something else… Feeling intrigued, we got to our destination.

 

The little hotel in evenly little Mickleton looked very picturesque – perfect for some kind of movie scenery. It was warm, homespun and the owners – Jill and Simon Coombe – welcomed the guests with a smile. You instantly felt that you’re entering a place that has a soul, not a regular large hotel… It got magical when we got the keys to our rooms. It turned out that 7 out of 48 rooms in Three Ways House Hotel are pudding rooms! The room and bathroom design was inspired by one of the puddings: Sticky Toffee, Sponge Syrup, Chocolate… We got the least tasty (least culinary :), but very travel related room – Lord Randall’s, whose name is also the name of one of the most popular puddings…

Chocolate Room, Three Ways House Hotel, Cotswolds, The Pudding Club

Chocolate Room – check out the chocolate-pillows!

Syrup Sponge, pudding, Thre Ways House Hotel, The Pudding Club, Cotswolds

a room made to acknowledge one of the greatest – Syrup Sponge

Lord Randall's Room - that's where we stayed!

Lord Randall’s Room – that’s where we stayed!

After a short break after the trip, we went to have our dinner. The Pudding Club has one simple rule: eat a tiny and light dinner and enjoy lots of pudding afterwards. No starters, no bread, a light meal and then a pudding feast. We ordered fish, but my food wasn’t light at all – the French Fries they served with the dinner were so good that I couldn’t resist eating a few. I know, I have to practice strong will!

fish, sea perch, Three Ways hOuse Hotel, The Pudding Club

fried sea perch o potato and radish salad – amazingly good combination

Three Ways House Hotel, The Pudding Club, cod, fish

cod fillet with spinach and caper-parsley sauce

After eating our light dinner we waited for the puddings with feeling excited. What’s it all about? When I think about pudding, I see something similar to custard but a bit more creamy, more delicate, maybe more exquisite? I had an impression that I heard about something called British Pudding, but I still wasn’t sure what it was supposed to be. When I browse through Google images right now I see both our custard puddings and also those that we tried at The Pudding Club that look more like… cakes. Delicious, moist, melting in your mouth and served with delicious sauces – here with toffee, sweet cream or English sauce (custard). Puddings have different flavours, are made from different ingredients but things like butter, eggs, sugar and flour can be found in most of them. After preparation, puddings are baked or steamed. We tried three different types and most of them were amazing, however Sticky Toffee Pudding served with toffee sauce really blew me away. Very sweet, but so good! I also loved the rhubarb crumble with cream – heavenly taste! Lord Randall’s pudding wasn’t that good. It’s well known and our companions loved it but we got irritated with the flavour that was too orange for us.

There can only be one conclusion: a dinner at Three Ways House Hotel is absolutely tempting!!!

Lord Randall's pudding, Three Ways House Hotel, The Pudding Club

Lord Randall’s pudding

Syrup Sponge pudding, Three Ways House Hotel, The Pudding Club

Syrup Sponge pudding with some sauce to go with it

There are dozens or even hundreds of pudding flavours available at The Pudding Club. The Pudding Club itself, was established in 1985 and current owners run the club and the hotel since 1995. Club’s mission is to preserve British puddings tradition. The famous Pudding Club Friday meetings let you try 7 types of pudding – it’s called Parade of Seven Puddings. I have to say that I felt a bit weird when I heard that we’re only going to try three. On one hand I was already a bit full. On the other – “Only three??? I want to try as many as possible!” 🙂 Maybe we’ll manage to get back sometime in the future and attend a real meeting of The Pudding Club with The Pudding Master and the selection of pudding of the night? If you ever find yourselves around, be sure to visit the place. But remember about booking a table – pudding nights are very popular!

I guess I have to make pudding at home now! We must make use of the book we got before we left. It includes 140 recipes for different puddings!!! There’s only one problem… after eating such a delicious thing, it’s best to go to sleep in the pudding room! 🙂

Sticky Toffee Pudding, Three Ways House Hotel, The Pudding Club

Sticky Toffee is our favourite pudding – the room also looks tasty!

PS1. the pictures of rooms and puddings come from Jill and Simon Coombe, the hotel owners. We were too busy eating 🙂

PS2. We visited Three Ways House Hotel and The Pudding Club thanks to Visit Britain.

All practical information about the hotel and The Pudding Club can be found here:

The Pudding Club

e-mail: reception@puddingclub.com