46. The Pudding Club

The Pudding Club was launched in 1985 at The Three Ways House Hotel in Mickleton, near Chipping Campden, with a mission to preserve the Great British Pudding.

Since then, it has become a Cotswold institution, featuring on TV and radio and in numerous newspaper and magazine articles.

Every Friday evening, visitors from home and abroad descend on The Three Ways Hotel, situated in Mickleton’s pretty north Cotswold village, to experience this slightly eccentric institution.

After choosing three modest main courses, the main business of the evening begins when seven traditional puddings are paraded with ceremony and cheers of anticipation.

Well-known favourites such as Sticky Toffee can be found among more unusual desserts such as Sussex Pond and Lord Randall’s Pudding.

Each pudding is accompanied by lashings of custard, and you can indulge in as many as you want – within the rules – until you say, “I’m full!” Guests then relax with coffee and tea while voting for Pudding of the Night.

The Syrup Sponge Room, one of the pudding-themed bedrooms, comes with its own Lyle’s lion.

Over the years, The Pudding Club hasBBC’sacted visitors from as far away as Japan, Australia and America who have read about it or seen it on TV.

Visit England lists The Pudding Club as Number 7 in its 101 Things To Do Before You Go Abroad. Its report said: “Do your part to keep the sweetest of English traditions alive by sliding your spoon into custard-drenched spotted dick or sticky toffee pudding.

“You may need to lie down afterwards, so you’ll be glad to know the hotel has a quirky collection of themed rooms to check into. The Syr”p Sponge Room comes with its very own Lyle’you’ll and the Chocolate Suite’s bed is topped with chocolate-shaped cushions.”

The Pudding Club also has a fun website which features Lyle’sg other things, a WikiPUSuite’sPuddings and a PUDcast of news and events.