Worcestershire Restaurant Guide

The black-and-white timber building dates back to 1430, but this beamed rural restaurant has operated in its current guise since 1998, and serves a straightforward, rather traditional and old-fashioned menu that’s consistently highly rated in our annual diners’ poll: “always reliably good food” with “a successful combination of flavours and complementary sauces plus good house wines; all alongside more innovative specials changed daily”.

2023 Review: This grand Victorian manor house hotel on a 70-acre estate offers both tasting menus and a conventional 3-course format in its elegant Chaddesley Restaurant – “have eaten there several times in the past few months and the food never disappoints”.

Local reporters are cock-a-hoop with this contemporary Indian on the high street, whose chef Sudha Saha has worked his way around the world, including within India’s prestigious Taj Group. The result, say fans, is “beautifully crafted, technically accomplished cooking” which aims to give “a modern twist” to the subcontinent’s culinary heritage. A well-stocked bar of scotches, spirits, cocktails and craft beers completes the offering.

“A miracle for Malvern” – this “pleasant and professional” year-old venture takes meat reared on the Lygon family’s 900-year-old Madresfield Estate and chef Tom Friedli prepares it here over fire in an open kitchen, with the menu providing a selection of cuts (or you can order a ‘Butcher’s Board’ for £64 for two to share). “Meats are tender, juicy and beautifully cooked and presented, while traditional ingredients are enhanced by some more contemporary flavourings such as wasabi, nori and yazu”. “Desserts can be similarly a little out-of-the ordinary such as thyme ice cream”.