UK Gastropub Reviews | Upmarket pub restaurants

The Dine Online very select list of approved pubs!

Good gastro-pubs in the country:

Annie Bailey's * Between Aylesbury and Oxford (See email below)
The Arundell Arms Lovely hotel dining room, but excellent bar food - Devon/Cornwall border
Bertie's Modern British * Romsey, Hampshire
The Drewe Arms Upmarket pub restaurant * Broadhembry, Devon
The Harrow Inn * Little Bedwyn near Marlborough, Wilts. Great seafood and local game
The Horse & Jockey Peter Lippit finds Gourmet pub grub in Shropshire
The Old Black Lion Down to earth but jolly good grub in Hereford
Priory Court Serious pub food * Pevensey, East Sussex
The Three Lions Modern British * Stuckton, Hampshire
The Wykeham Arms Imaginative, quality Pub meals * Winchester, Hampshire

In London

The Coat and Badge * New gastropub in Putney Dec 1998
The Crown SW3 Clifford Mould liked Chelsea's newest gastropub (Oct 98)
Porters of Covent Garden Great traditional British Pies and Puddings in a pub-like atmosphere

Readers Emails

Dear Dine Online,

Try The Red House Pub in Whitchurch, Hampshire on the London Road. Excellent
" non-pub" food. They never advertise and it's packed on a Saturday (Sunday
evening's good).
�
Taken over by Caroline & Shannon (the chef) a couple of years ago - and am I glad they did as I can now go out and eat excellent food and walk home.
�
Regards
Richard Belle

Hello my name is craig russell my wife and i run a public house called the QUEEN HEAD dunkirk hill devizes. we are a food lead public house with a non smoking dinning area. we have a wine list with 20 wines. and we have a good alround menu .with vegetiarian section. Over 90% of the menu is home made and we feel over pricing is good valve. we were hoping that you could help us in get reconised we would both appreciate any assisttance your sincerely craig russell

Well, they sound pretty genuine! -Ed.

Dear Clifford, re: Surrey Pubs

I read your recent review of Surrey pubs and was surprised
at your disappointment.
While there are still some ghastly pubs that adhere to the belief
that a tray of meat pies and stale sandwiches will
suffice, the overwhelming majority of pubs have become
a sure bet for a tasty, reasonably-priced meal.
Some go as far as being more adventuresome and more
successful than their restaurant counterparts.

Next time you're in Surrey, try visiting:

The Woolpack at Elstead - voted Surrey Dining
Pub of the Year several times

The Cricketers at Downside (near Cobham)

The Sun at Chobham

On second thoughts, just visit them, don't review them -
these pubs are crowded enough as it is!

Although I now live the States, I spent most of my
life in Surrey and return annually to visit friends and family.
I find it refreshing to read such honest reviews and have
enjoyed meals at some of your recommended establishments.
The most memorable was probably our visit to the
Drewe Arms in Broadhembury (see listing above) - one of the best fish meals
I've ever had in the UK!

Keep up the good work,

Anne Lukens

pssssst!!!

The Plough Inn in Cobham Surrey has kicked out all the bikers and louts,
and is now run by a Frenchman!! They still do excellent pub lunches,
but in the evening it's froggie grub all the way and very good too.

Try L'Auberge at the Plough, Downside, Cobham, tel: 01932 589790
booking is essential at the weekend.

Grouser Davies, July 1999

From: "Iain MacDonald" To: DineOnline

Subject: Annie Bailey's, Cuddington, Berkshire Date: Sun, 18 Apr 1999 23:32:42 +0100 Hi there, On your recommendation, went to visit this restaurant on Saturday for lunch - but they no longer open at lunchtime on a Saturday! Same people seem to own or be involved in The Crown pub about 50 yards away and we had a very tasty confit of duck plus a rolled bacon joint, served piping hot with very tasty accompanying vegetables. The pub decor/feel wasn't great, but the food was very good. More thoughts on pub food would be gratefully received. Best regards Iain

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