Gloucestershire Restaurant Guide

“Consistently fabulous” “fine-dining food that happens to be Indian” scores consistently high marks for this “refined and stylish” outfit, where “top-quality ingredients” and “brilliant flavours” are “beautifully served”.

“I always visit 3-4 times a year. I’d go more often if it was not a 300 mile round trip!” – David & Helen Everitt Matthias inspire huge loyalty amongst their large fanbase, who appreciate “the hard work and support given by their teams in the kitchen and front of house” at a venture just outside the city centre where, famously, Le Patron is always at the stoves. The “unfailingly spectacular” food is “the traditional cuisine that dreams are made of”, and many diners note that “the prices here still represent wonderful value for the quality offered”. The cooking is complemented by “an extensive wine list (spanning a wide choice of countries, but with a particularly great variety of reasonably priced French vintages)”, presided over by “Helen, who discreetly runs front of house with her young team like clockwork”. When it comes to the room it’s… “pleasant”. Fans say: “to me, the calm space adds to the pleasure – I’m still surprised that some find it dull”. STOP PRESS – in October 2018, Michelin took away their second star as they launched the Michelin 2019 guide. There’s nothing in our diner survey to support this.

It’s all change at this well-known country inn, where owners the Winters, who held on to a Michelin star for seven years, made way for Grain Store chef Mark Block in January 2018. Despite promptly losing the accolade, early reports praise the “excellent, proper food” – and “to top it all, you can still get a decent pint”.

A “terrific modern boho inn” – this 18th-century village pub excels for its “perfect, good-value food, great ambience, good wines and the really lovely people running the place”. STOP PRESS: Change may be afoot: it was acquired in summer 2018 by a Cardiff-based business called the Barkby Group, with Sebastian Snow – who created the small ‘Turf to Table’ chain of which it was part – departing in October 2018.

“Contemporary Indian fare – not at all your usual bog standard offerings” – earns unanimous high ratings for this modern south Indian, whose “classy decor with subtly lit, dark walls creates an air of romance”. Top Tip: “try the house G&T, served with chilli and rosemary”.

Matthew Bearshall’s bistro with five rooms is “a wonderful place with interesting, skilled cooking and seasonal, locally sourced ingredients”. There remains the odd sceptic for whom it’s lost some impetus since the launch of nearby spin-off Wilder, with its surprise 8-course tasting menus, but that’s not reflected in its high overall marks.