Oare, British, Modern Restaurant Guide

“A charming venue in a picture-postcard village location” – this “excellent” pub-with-rooms has a “lovely bright restaurant serving superb food” with influences from around the world, and a “good range of private dining options”. Charles I is said to have dined here during the English Civil War.

“Just feeling right without making the appearance of a great effort” – this “busy upmarket restaurant” in a swishly converted former pub is “always worth the drive” for its large fanbase drawn from a wide swathe of Home Counties and London postcodes that extend far from its West Berkshire location. One of the top-40 most commented on restaurants outside London in our annual diners’ poll, it’s a “lovely new building” where the sum of the experience owes much to the all-round appeal of its “high quality cuisine” and “attentive service” all in a “classic and well-mannered” but modernified style.

2023 Review: After months of restoration, this 17th century Georgian building near Newbury re-opened in January 2022 and now boasts a traditional pub, very attractive pitched-roof dining room in contemporary style and 30-bed coaching inn, as well as a covered garden terrace. No feedback as yet in our annual diners’ poll – reports please!