Newbury Restaurant Guide

“A wonderful find in the centre of Newbury”: local lads Henry and Joe’s “small but perfectly formed gem” (22 covers) has been open a couple of years now and is winning renown for its “incredible value and great food”. “Passionately run” by this “former head chef and head waiter from the Woodspeen” they “started it as a pop-up and it grew from there”: “the open kitchen runs like clockwork”, service from Joe is “very personalised” and results – either from the à la carte or (if you push the boat out) the seven-course taster menu for £75 – are “truly stunning: every element of each dish is well thought out and blissful flavours dance around in the mouth”.

“Set in rural Berkshire with stunning views”, John Campbell’s accoladed venue “sounds like it should be a pub, but is in reality a skilled and soignée restaurant”: “thoughtfully designed”, with an “airy”, “modern” interior that “opens onto a large terrace”. “The cooking is very good” from an “interesting and changing menu” of “original yet reassuring dishes”, “beautifully presented, and skilfully and charmingly served”. Top Tip – “good for a sophisticated supper before the theatre at the nearby Watermill”.

“An absolutely stand-out meal in what initially looked like a bland country pub” – Dom Robinson’s CV is a glittering one and his “top-level cuisine” at this cosy pub “in a charming village location” has won it a big culinary reputation. There is a ‘Dégustation’ menu, but – as with the à la carte and menu du jour – the cuisine is very grounded and un-poncy: “I dream about the butternut squash soup, which sounds so ordinary but is SO much more!”

“Exciting and modern Japanese cooking, exemplified by the house special tempura sushi roll”, and turned out by an ex-Nobu chef, wins stellar feedback for this operation in a Grade II-listed Georgian former bank by the river; new innovations include kids’ and vegan menus, and a first-floor ‘Music Room’ for casual izakaya dining, sushi masterclasses and karaoke.

Its clear that the driving force behind the independently owned gastro-pub The Newbury is a passion for quality, choice and ambience. A complete overhaul of the premises in 2012 has transformed what used to be a town centre drinking pub into a classy establishment with so much to...