Chippenham Restaurant Guide

“Tucked away in a secluded Welsh borders valley”, Chris & Kirsty Harrod’s “former pub might seem like an unlikely venue for a high-end restaurant; and the quirkiness doesn’t end there, as chef Chris’s food is highly original with most dishes featuring some sort of foraged leaves or organic whatnot”. One or two reporters feel this leads to ups and downs in a meal (“not a great fan of eating weeds and root vegetables at these prices, although the halibut and venison were sublime to be fair…”; “the vegetables, presumably from their own garden, were not quite up to scratch and contributed to a few dishes that didn’t really work… still some were excellent”). Overall, though, it’s a thumbs up for one of Wales’s more renowned culinary destinations: “I was a little sceptical but I shouldn’t have worried. The food was sensationally good, packed with intriguing flavours, beautifully presented and very different”. There are cheaper options at lunch, but by night it’s nine courses for £130 per person.

“It’s always a pleasure to visit” this lovely Georgian former coaching inn, whose “ever-changing menu full of flavour and skilful cooking never disappoints” – and whose afternoon tea is a large part of the equation. Declared Britain’s ‘Best Foodie Hotel’ by the Sunday Times last year, it makes a good base for a gourmet break near the Welsh border, also taking in a meal at The Walnut Tree, its famous sibling two miles away.

It’s “easy to miss” Richard & Shirley Cook’s acclaimed smokery but “you get great seafood from this unusual establishment accommodating a ground floor cafe and deli, plus the upstairs restaurant which seems to be ever-popular in spite of its location”. It is “not cheap” and the odd “uneven” meal is reported, but fans say “it is such a treat to eat here thanks to the most delicious shellfish dishes in generous portions”. You have to think there’s a reason they are also suppliers to Fortnum’s and by appointment to His Majesty King Charles. Top Menu Tip – “the smoked platter showcases what they do” and “there is usually a hot soufflé among the dessert choices and it is NEVER disappointing!”

“Set in a 17th-century hunting lodge”, this “lovely place to stay and eat” is “beautifully placed in the heart of the Forest of Dean”. There are a range of spaces in which to dine: more formal “dinners are served in the old Verderer’s (Magistrates’) Court Room, with a blazing log fire for atmosphere and warmth”, and some “delicious” offerings on the “limited menu”; the more relaxed Orangery meanwhile turns out “hearty teas with local goodies and good views over the gardens”. They also have cosy Outdoor Dining Dens for small groups which can be booked by the hour. All in all, an “undiscovered gem”.

Josh & Hannah Byrne are the duo behind this “beautiful” and “outstanding gastropub in the back of the Welsh beyond”, where the “small” and “great-value” menu has “something for everyone”, including superb “deep-fried oysters to start” – but famously no Sunday lunch, which the duo banished after decamping from Bristol to run it in 2018. Alas, the owners put the pub up for sale in May 2025, but there was still no sign of a regime change as we went to press, and they anticipate the sale process to take at least a year, so there’s still time to get in fast (like Times critic Giles Coren, who visited in summer 2025 and, as part of a hugely glowing review, praised its fava bean panisses [£5] for their “Michelin-level control and precision”).

“A very good small plate style restaurant run with passion by a local team” overseen by owners Danielle Phillips and Dan Saunders and occupying three art-lined converted sheds in the town centre, complete with a large courtyard.

“A fantastic find!” – “local produce is used to create some stupendous flavours with just the right amount of spice” at this venue in the basement of an old 19th-century chapel (two minutes away you’ll find their art shop). Open for breakfast and lunch, there are “varied vegetarian options” on the menu (but not just), plus “great coffee” and herbal tea (“a standout for me, I could have bathed in it!”).

2024 Review: This “stylish café” – directly inspired by the coffee culture experienced by founder Jess Fletcher in New Zealand – is a “lovely spot for brunch and always the best coffee”. There’s a short menu of plant-based goodies, and on Friday and Saturday evenings wine and cocktails are served.

2022 Review: A newly refurbished hotel dining room offering pub lunch favourites by day and – courtesy of seasoned head chef Krishna Bhandari – by night a “very quirky” menu of “refined Nepalese cuisine” of “consistently excellent quality”.