Hardens Guide to the Best Restaurants in Winterbourne
Hardens guides have spent 34 years compiling reviews of the best Winterbourne restaurants. On Hardens.com you'll find details and reviews of 5 restaurants in Winterbourne and our unique survey based approach to rating and reviewing Winterbourne restaurants gives you the best insight into the top restaurants in every area and of every type of cuisine.
Featured Winterbourne Restaurants
1. The Vineyard at Stockcross
British, Modern restaurant in Stockcross
Despite its sale by Sir Peter Michael and his family in late 2024 to Apex Hotel, this Californian-influenced, Relais & Châteaux property seems to sail on much as it did previously and ratings in our annual diners’ poll have barely budged. There is a cheaper posh-brasserie dining room, but the main event from a culinary point of view is the 28-cover ‘Tasting Room’ added in 2023, with Tom Scade providing a nine course menu for £115 per person, whose breezy fusion-esque style would not look out of place near some Pacific highway. The exceptional wine that was central to Sir Peter’s interest remains a focus, with a cellar capacity of a mind-boggling 30,000 bottles. “The food is beautifully crafted, the surroundings, artwork and wine related material, intriguing. Expensive? Yes, of course…” – something that’s always been an issue here. It can also appear “that they are struggling with trying to simplify a traditional five star offering in a more modern style” and not all reporters feel that balance is always struck. The dominant verdict, though, is that “if you avoid the sillier priced rare wines, you may come away feeling it was worth every penny for such a joyful experience!”. Top Tip – in summer they also run ‘Lobster on the Lawn’ – a sociable dining experience built around fresh Cornish lobster and heritage breed sirloin steak.
2. The Woodspeen
British, Modern restaurant in Newbury
Lambourn Rd - RG20
“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.
3. The Hare & Hounds
British, Modern restaurant in Newbury
Bath Road, Speen - RG14
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!
4. Goat on the Roof
restaurant in Newbury
1 Bridge Street - RG14
A menu of ‘British Tapas’ “changes regularly and the wine list has loads on it to love” at this popular venue, in a very scenic townhouse, next to the bridge and overlooking the River Kennet, in the centre of the town, also praised for staff who are “always welcoming, but never stuffy”.
5. The Great Shefford
British, Modern restaurant in Great Shefford
Newbury Road - RG17
2023 Review: Complete with a riverside terrace, this privately owned pub near Newbury receives a good rep in our annual diners’ poll for its 40-seat dining room overlooking the river Lambourn, where chef Sam Cary aims to deliver ‘refined modern British pub food’. In an April 2022 visit, Tatler’s Fay Maschler declared it “a rare jewel of a country pub” offering “everything you want a welcome to be”.
View full listings of 5 Winterbourne Restaurants
Popular Winterbourne Restaurant Searches
Winterbourne Restaurant News