Harden's survey result
Summary
“Tucked away in a secluded Welsh borders valley”, Chris & Kirsty Harrod’s “former pub might seem like an unlikely venue for a high-end restaurant; and the quirkiness doesn’t end there, as chef Chris’s food is highly original with most dishes featuring some sort of foraged leaves or organic whatnot”. One or two reporters feel this leads to ups and downs in a meal (“not a great fan of eating weeds and root vegetables at these prices, although the halibut and venison were sublime to be fair…”; “the vegetables, presumably from their own garden, were not quite up to scratch and contributed to a few dishes that didn’t really work… still some were excellent”). Overall, though, it’s a thumbs up for one of Wales’s more renowned culinary destinations: “I was a little sceptical but I shouldn’t have worried. The food was sensationally good, packed with intriguing flavours, beautifully presented and very different”. There are cheaper options at lunch, but by night it’s nine courses for £130 per person.
Summary
“Set in fairy woods by a sparkling stream”, Chris & Kirsty Harrod’s restaurant with rooms sits peacefully in the beautiful Wye Valley and remains one of Wales’s foremost culinary destinations. “Known for their green credentials and sustainability”: “innovative foraged and locally sourced food is prepared by a chef who knows his onions and much else to create something unique and wonderful (if not for everyday)”. “Chris and his team always make you feel at home and are hugely knowledgeable”, while the “tasting menu and wine pairing are absolutely the best”. (“In a year of notable dinners at top restaurants – Gidleigh, Lympstone, Gravetye, Morston Hall & Kota – an overnight stay at Whitebrook proved to be the highlight. Chris Harrod’s imaginative and unusual menu was a joy from start to finish. Everything was well-balanced with confident cooking throughout. Service was informal, friendly and the atmosphere completely relaxing and unpretentious”).
Summary
“Hidden in the Wye valley”, Chris and Kirsty Harrod’s “charming” restaurant with rooms is often hailed as “the Welsh version of Noma” – “lots of foraging and sustainability is in evidence and Chris will spend time talking you through ingredients and cooking methods”. Most diners “really love the ethos of using local seasonal produce to produce such delicious food” and “the absence of silly combinations to deliver a seriously well put-together menu, with reasonable wine pairings”. Its ratings slipped a fraction this year, as it struck the wrong note on the odd occasion. The tenor of most reports though? – “unique and certainly worth seeking out”. Top Tip – lovely terrace for a summer’s day.
Summary
“Noma meets Wales” say fans of Chris & Kirsty Harrod’s “lovely” restaurant, “tucked away in a wood in the Wye valley”, whose “idiosyncratic tasting menus built around local and locally foraged ingredients” have made it one of Wales’ most renowned culinary destinations, founded on its “unique” style of cooking. “The dining tables are well spaced in the attractively decorated interior, making it a cosy and relaxing environment” and there are “stylish bedrooms for an overnight stay”. “There is nothing more romantic than sitting on the terrace on a warm day, sipping a sparkling wine and enjoying the solitude.”
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 Whitebrook, Restaurant with Rooms?
Whitebrook, NP25 4TX
Restaurant details
The Whitebrook, Restaurant with Rooms Restaurant Diner Reviews
"The setting and service at dinner were better than the food on our most recent visit. We visited in autumn and some of the vegetables they were using (presumably from their own garden) were not quite up to scratch and contributed to a few dishes that didn't really work. Still some excellent ones though. Breakfast was good and our stay was good value overall."
Prices
| Availability | 2 courses | 3 courses |  |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lunch | £64.00 |  |
|
|
| Cost | Availability | Courses | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Menu1 | 80.00 | Lunch only | 7 |
| Menu2 | 130.00 | Dinner only | 9 |
| Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £42.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £3.80 |
| Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Service | 10.00% |
Whitebrook, NP25 4TX
Opening hours
| Monday | CLOSED |
| Tuesday | CLOSED |
| Wednesday | CLOSED |
| Thursday | 7 pm‑8 pm |
| Friday | 12 pm‑1:30 pm, 7 pm‑8 pm |
| Saturday | 12 pm‑1:30 pm, 7 pm‑8 pm |
| Sunday | 12 pm‑1:30 pm, 7 pm‑8 pm |
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