Britwell Salome Restaurant Guide

2023 Review: Chef-patron Olivier Bouet, who had presented “excellent rustic French cuisine” at this Chilterns village gastropub for five years, recently moved on, and the new owners reopened in July 2022, announcing their plans for an ‘eclectic modern British menu with South African influence and popular grill favourites. Every item on the menu will be made on the premises’. It’s a big change of style, hence for the time being we’ve left it unrated.

“Does what it says on the tin”, say fans of this popular operation in the wooded countryside near Henley-on-Thames: “Cheese. In a shed. In the country. But made in the Nettlebed Creamery from top quality dairy products”. You eat here perched on hay bales, and it’s not always super-warm in winter.

“A great little place with a changing menu” that “consistently delivers imaginative, tasty dishes” along with “terrific cocktails, a good wine list” – “and the beer is pretty good too”. Chef and co-founder Aimee Collins “shows creative thinking about flavours and textures rather than curiosity for the sake of it”; she teamed up with Rob McGregor & Sam Smith of nearby micropub ‘The Keep’ to open this crowdfunded venue, which was named with a nod to past Wallingford resident Agatha Christie. The trio have also opened a country pub, The Bear at North Moreton.