Charvil Restaurant Guide

“Beautiful, quintessential country pub” (the description has barely changed since Jerome K Jerome described it as “the veritable picture of an old country inn” in his 1889 classic ‘Three Men in a Boat’) with a “cosy, relaxed interior” and “reliably good food”. These days the pretty village has a reputation as an A-lister hotspot (George & Amal Clooney, Jimmy Page, Theresa May), but you’re still welcome in the Bull’s bar in a pair of shorts with a dog in tow for some “reliable” traditional fare.

“It would be damning with faint praise to say that this is one of Reading’s better restaurants, but it certainly is” – a “striking” and “carefully converted Lido” with spa, where you dine poolside and enjoy the “romantic” and “soothing” spectacle of “watching others swim whilst you eat”. “The dishes nod towards the Mediterranean and feature a wealth of flavours and textures”, as well as feeling “healthy and wholesome” (except, that is, the “naughty but nice” desserts). Some regulars here this year, though, said the food was “good, but not as good as on our last visit”.

This “Reading institution” occupying an 18th-century tollhouse in the town centre has “had a few ups and downs over the last 25 years, but this year is back on top form with a solid menu and excellent service”. Self-taught chef owner Paul Clerehugh, a former rock guitarist with Sweet, also runs the Crooked Billet music pub in Stoke Row (see also).

All-day outfit on the riverside highly commended for a “beautifully cooked and presented breakfast at very reasonable prices” – “the bonus is a great location if weather permits sitting outside”. It’s also a “solid venue for lunch” and later, with tacos, poke bowls, burgers as well as more substantial fare, including a “good vegan selection”. Founder Shaun Dickens was a hot-shot young chef at Le Manoir and Per Se in New York, but reined in his culinary ambitions to suit the venue.

“Traditional, family-run Italian restaurant” – known for its “tasty food and a pleasant interior” – a fixture on the Henley waterfront “for circa 30 years”. It does a roaring trade during the annual Henley Regatta.

2024 Review: This “very old pub in a great location next to Henley Bridge” has been a scenic boozer for yonks, but now comes in a “fabulous new incarnation”, having been taken over by seasoned restaurateurs Matt Dockray and Phil Renner, who relaunched in late 2022. The hugely stylish interior (not least in the vaulted dining room, strewn with trinkets) makes it a “great place for a first date”, and there are positive early reports on the elevated pub classics by head chefs Joshua Wilde and George O’Leary – both previously senior sous-chefs at Tom Kerridge’s Marlow joints The Coach, and The Hand and Flowers.

“So pleased we went… the food, service and table decor was excellent and we look forward to going again” – this traditional pub on the village green parted ways with Dominic Chapman in 2023 and its nowadays run as part of a growing genre of UK establishments as an Indian-in-a-pub, serving fish ’n’ chips with curry sauce, chicken tikka burger… and on Sunday it’s tandoori chicken roast.

2022 Review: The former Land’s End pub got a new lease of life (and name) in 2018 when it was taken over by Niki & Adam Fortes, and the best man at their wedding, Colin Savory (both Colin and Adam having a pedigree at top restaurants). The “great” countryside setting is enhanced by “superbly cooked” pub staples and finer fare and “you can tell there are real chefs in the kitchen”.

“A revelation and, given the mass of chains in Reading, a wonderful surprise” – Nandana and Sharat Syamala’s “full-on” subcontinental blends “decidedly different” dishes from Andhra and Hyderabad, the two South Indian regions from which they hail; its many fans claim it turns out the “best Indian food, period” (“rich, fragrant and mind-blowing”, “original” and “ultimately good value”, too). There’s also a roaring takeaway service (partly owing to the muted atmosphere), and even those who think it “a bit over the top to order Indian food from Reading (where the restaurant moved in 2024) rather than buy from the local Indian” report it’s “definitely worth it” if you do.

Owned by Henry Day, and with head chef Adam Hague — a tastefully decorated pub in this posh town launched in December 2024 with a flexible menu incorporating small and large plates and majoring in grills (various steaks, house blue-cheese burger, spatchcock poussin…). Some pleasing initial reports thus far, but not enough for a full rating – reports please!

Chef-patron Steve Luscombe “works wonders to create a medley of flavour and texture from the tiny kitchen” of his “intimate dining room” in the centre of Henley, where he has set up shop after establishing a strong local following in his 15 years at the Golden Ball – “Steve himself is on hand to meet and greet”, and treats regulars “like a long-lost friend”. “The fish is particularly good”, but “no visit is complete without tasting the divine cheese soufflé signature dish, which is as excellent as ever”. A couple of locals reported their best meal of the year here this year.

2024 Review: “What a return” – chef Simon Bonwick is back on home turf at this diminutive and “lovely” sixteenth-century village pub, not far from The Crown at Burchetts Green, where he established a stellar reputation for classic French cooking over the previous decade. His food is “fabulous” – “precisely cooked with all the flavour you expect and more” (not least the “renowned” pies), and front of house (including wife Deborah) are “delightful, warm and welcoming with a smile”. PS – the chef himself created the artwork lining the quirky venue’s walls.