Harden's survey result
Summary
“What a gem of a gastropub” – “creativity and good value” (“the set lunch menu is a tremendous bargain”) are the hallmarks of the cooking from chef Ben Watson, who returned to his home district in 2022 after working for some of London’s top chefs (Gordon Ramsay, Jason Atherton, Clare Smyth) to take over this well-established foodie venue just outside Henley. His wife Priya (ex-Gymkhana) runs the front of house, and the occasional South Asian twist on the modern British menu reflects her heritage.
Summary
In November 2022, after 15 years at the helm, Stephen Luscombe dramatically handed over the reins of this pretty former pub with a foodie reputation to local boy Ben Watson (whose CV includes the acclaimed Core by Clare Smyth) and Priya Arora-Watson (a former FOH at London’s famed Gymkhana). By all accounts there is “little to suggest any adverse change” now it‘s running under an abridged name – and indeed, for fans, the local, seasonal food is “even better” now, with the “brilliant set menu” (£23 per person for two courses, £28 per person for three) representing very “good value given that prices everywhere have gone stratospheric”.
For 34 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 Golden Ball?
Lower Assendon, Henley-on-Thames, RG9 6AH
Restaurant details
The Golden Ball Restaurant Diner Reviews
"Their set lunch menu? It just gets better and better! And that mushroom soup! Wow!! "
"Crikey, that set lunch menu is worth a trip from London!! "
Prices
| Availability | 2 courses | 3 courses |  |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lunch | £24.00 | £29.00 |  |
|
 |
| Cost | Availability | Courses | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Menu1 | 78.00 | Always available | 6 |
Traditional European menu
| Starter | Main | Pudding |
|---|---|---|
| £18.00 | £33.00 | £11.00 |
| Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £0.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £0.00 |
| Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Bread | £0.00 |
| Service | 12.50% |
Lower Assendon, Henley-on-Thames, RG9 6AH
| Number of Diners: | |
| Required Time: | |
Opening hours
| Monday | CLOSED |
| Tuesday | CLOSED |
| Wednesday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 6 pm‑9:30 pm |
| Thursday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 6 pm‑9:30 pm |
| Friday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 6 pm‑9:30 pm |
| Saturday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 6 pm‑9:30 pm |
| Sunday | 12 pm‑4 pm |
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