In the heart of the Cotswolds lies Thyme, the family-run “village within a village” where guests are welcomed to a pastoral idyll, rich in all the charm of rural life.
Our sister title, OX, features the regular Tray Chic page which includes a recipe provided by Charlie alongside a trayscape styled by sister Milly (Head of Brand and Retail Development) using linens designed by their mother, Thyme’s founder, Caryn Hibbert. Inspired by the beautiful surroundings, the Bertioli collection of linens are described as ‘shaped by nature to tell stories of the natural world evolving through the seasons’. Caryn explains, “I’ve always loved drawing and painting, but as I pursued a career in medicine, they became something I’d done when I was a little girl. It was only a few years ago that I started drawing again, picking up a pencil and rediscovering a passion that I had forgotten. Starting with little doodles of roses, dahlias and ferns, my son Charlie saw the drawings and asked for them to be on the back of his Ox Barn menus. This gave me the confidence to start spending more time creating what are now our Bertioli Patterns of Nature.”
More reflective of the shift in seasons, is the upcoming Autumn Leaves collection; Caryn’s paean to the breathtaking last burst of beauty which Nature provides before shedding her colours for the winter. Caryn adds, “As the sunlight begins to fade at the end of each summer, Autumn golden hues begin to shine. The spectacular yellow, oranges, browns and final flushes of red make autumn at Thyme an incredibly beautiful month and the perfect source of inspiration for this new collection.”
Further, as seen in these stunningly styled images, Autumn Leaves is accompanied by tableware from ceramicist and fashion stylist, Deborah Brett. Deborah works in both porcelain and oxides as well as glazed stoneware. Her practical and decorative bowls, platters and vase-like sculptural forms combine hand building, slab work and thrown pieces.
Thyme has truly embedded itself into its locale; the houses and grounds can be found via a meandering path leading out of Southrop, and this summer the family will be re-opening the much-missed village pub, The Swan: one of The Cotswolds’ most photographed and fashionable pubs. With a bright new look, crafted by Milly and incorporating some of the Patterns of Nature, locals can expect merry making, local beers, ales and wines, and in the dining room, Charlie’s seasonal menu of pub classics will be on offer alongside seasonal vegetarian and vegan favourites. For updates on the reopening, visit thyme.co.uk.