Harden's survey result
Summary
The “beautiful, charming setting” and “smart atmosphere” of this farmhouse hotel less than half an hour from London win general applause, and “in an area which is something of a desert in respect of ‘fine dining’, it provides cooking that’s a notch above the usual gastropub fare”. “On a warm summer’s day, a table in the garden is ideal for a long, relaxed lunch”.
Summary
“Great food” from “an imaginative menu” makes this “delightful traditional farmhouse hotel” a real “local favourite” – and a useful bolthole just 25 minutes from London. But service, particularly from junior staff, “can be hit and miss”, and some find the new conservatory (opened February 2022) to be “very noisy with sound bouncing off the hard surfaces”.
Summary
This “grand” fifteenth-century farmhouse-with-rooms is “just an hour from London” but profits from “extensive gardens leading to open countryside”. Add in an “imaginative” menu and “cosy corners to dine” (plus a newish dining conservatory), and it’s “most enjoyable, particularly if at a garden table when the sun is shining”.
Summary
Revamped in summer 2018, this fifteenth-century pub-with-rooms nowadays incorporates a stylish dining conservatory, which – notwithstanding the odd downbeat report – scored very highly last year with its earthy, high quality cooking.
For 33 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
Have you eaten at The Farmhouse at Redcoats?
Redcoats Green, Hitchin, SG4 7JR
Restaurant details
The Farmhouse at Redcoats Restaurant Diner Reviews
"This place just gets it right. Every time, the atmosphere is lively, vibrant, enjoyable, but never rowdy or off-putting. The service is polite and attentive, and staff are good at judging whether to opt for a slightly more formal manner or an acceptably informal approach. The Osso Buco was my dish of the year: a wonderfully generous piece of meat in a rich sticky sauce with plentiful amounts of marrow in the bone. A 10 out of 10 dish. Beef carpaccio was an elegant and pleasing starter, as was the Orkney scallop with an unusual tikka masala sauce. Warm chocolate mousse was a decadent and delightful pudding. Fantastic."
"What a beautiful building in a very special setting! My parents are regulars, but this was my first visit and it didn’t disappoint. A vibrant, happy atmosphere. The staff are mainly young, but they are attentive and polite. The food is very good and reasonably priced. Try the Pinney oysters and the dark chocolate marquise. Highly recommended."
Prices
 Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £24.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £2.00 |
 Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Bread | £0.00 |
| Service | 10.00% |
Redcoats Green, Hitchin, SG4 7JR
Opening hours
| Monday | 7:30 am‑2:30 pm, 6 pm‑9 pm |
| Tuesday | 7:30 am‑2:30 pm, 6 pm‑9 pm |
| Wednesday | 7:30 am‑2:30 pm, 6 pm‑9 pm |
| Thursday | 7:30 am‑2:30 pm, 6 pm‑9 pm |
| Friday | 7:30 am‑2:30 pm, 6 pm‑9 pm |
| Saturday | 7:30 am‑2:30 pm, 6 pm‑9 pm |
| Sunday | 12 pm‑4 pm |
Best British, Modern restaurants nearby
British, Modern restaurant in Welwyn
British, Modern restaurant in Harpenden
British, Modern restaurant in St Albans
Best similarly priced restaurants nearby
Pizza restaurant in Stevenage
Pizza restaurant in Hitchin
Pizza restaurant in Luton
