Upton Magna, British, Modern - Restaurant Guide

Nothing but praise for this “fabulous” and “consistent” all-day café run by the four Crouch brothers, and offering inventive brunches and beyond. Its globetrotting dishes come in small-plate versions or as (fancified) mains, and there are some “very tasty” dishes to enjoy. Every first Thursday of the month they offer a five-course ‘Mystery Menu World Tour’ that momentarily halts the globe and zones in on a specific country.

2024 Review: “In the centre of the gorgeous village of Upton Magna”, Martin Board & wife Mel’s “lovely country pub-with-rooms” won nothing but praise this year; despite the seventeenth-century setting, the “food is far from traditional and leans towards modern British – all absolutely delicious and expertly served” (with “particularly good fish dishes” a highlight); add in “sensible prices”, and it’s a “standout restaurant in Shropshire”.

Tudor-era Drapers Hall – dating from 1483 and still owned by its founders, the Shrewsbury Drapers Company (these days a charity) – makes a “beautiful location” for chef Adrian Badland’s “outstanding meals”, which are served in a candlelit dining room with heavy drapes and original dark wood-panelled walls (the six bedrooms are equally atmospheric). There’s a five-course tasting menu at £49.50 per person as well as a standard menu of, say fans, “unfailing” quality.

“Imaginative dishes with a modern twist” are on the menu at this “well-drilled” operation from chef couple Ben Hall & Carla Ernst, who met while cooking at the esteemed Gidleigh Park in Devon. Their tasting menu is “very good without being over-bearing”, while an à la carte option is also available at most times and lighter meals are served in the bar. The restaurant takes its name from the Beatles song famously covered by Oasis.