Good afternoon and a very happy Friday to you all. The weekend is here, forget the trials and tribulations of the week and take some time to enjoy yourself, you’ve earned it! (Don’t worry, if you’ve skived at work most of the week we won’t tell anyone). But, just what is worth your precious free time? Well, here’s a few suggestions of things going on around the Cotswolds as well as some pub news.

Our autumn menu has landed

It’s with a heavy heart that we have to say goodbye to summer, gone are the months of late night alfresco dinning following a spot of pétanque. Autumn has truly arrived, this season has its own charms. From those crisp morning walks to the glorious smell of turning leaves. To celebrate the season we’ve released a fantastic new menu full of food that is perfect to sit cosily by the wood burner with and enjoy with friends and family over the coming months.

We’ve won another award

You may have heard recently that The Times selected us as one of their 30 best pubs in the UK. Well, we’re delighted to also let you guys know we’ve been listed as one of the ‘best hotels in the United Kingdom by hotelscombined.com. Their market manager, Alberto Castellucchio, said: “We are thrilled to be working with the best hotels in the United Kingdom and The Maytime Inn is certainly among them”.

Cheltenham Literary Fest

Speaking of The Times, If you are looking for a bit of culture this weekend then the only place to be is The Times and The Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival, which starts today.

While every year always has a spectacular range of authors, comedians, celebrity chefs and politicians. This year is particularly phenomenal, with talks from Jaqueline Wilson, Eric Idle, Nadiya Hussein and the institution that is David Attenborough.

Giant Bionic Bugs

If you’re not a bookworm, maybe you’d prefer to observe a six-foot-long dragonfly or a 4-foot buzzing bee. For some, this is the stuff of nightmares. However, if you’re a bit of a bug lover then head to the Slimbridge Wetland Centre, who have erected a series of gigantic, animatronic bugs.