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Winchcombe: Wesley House

High Street , Phone: 01242.602366
www.wesleyhouse.co.uk

Reviewed by: Pauline from NM, review #1953

When: 2006

Expensive but fabulous - great food and great service in a historic building in Winchcombe, in the Cotswolds.

Directions: On the main road through Winchcombe, beside the White Hart pub. Public parking on main street across from church or at north end of village where a road takes you up behind the village and you are just a couple of blocks from the high street.

Wesley House, Winchcombe, photo by Pauline

We had dinner here once in September 2004 when we stayed in Winchcombe and again on our May 2006 trip. On this last trip we had dinner with Jonathan (SlowTrav moderator) and his wife Philippa, who live nearby.

This is an expensive restaurant, but it is not formal or stuffy. They do the full "going out for dinner in England" thing, so dinner takes about 3 hours.

The restaurant is in a beautiful historic building right on the main street through Winchcombe; a very pretty Cotswolds village. The bar/lounge is in front. The dining room is at the back in a spacious room with lots of windows and a high ceiling.

You arrive and sit in the lounge/bar area to have an apperitivo. We had dry Sherry. This is served with bowls of almonds and olives. They bring the menu and you order here. (Note: If you are a vegetarian (like me), tell them when you book and you will get a choice of four dinners that are not on the regular menu.)

After you have ordered, they bring a small pre-appetizer (mine was a grilled tomato with cheese, the others had a deep fried fish thing and sauce). Then they take you to your table. Another pre-appetizer is served; this was goat’s cheese with an avocado puree. We had a lovely red Spanish wine that Jonathan picked out.

For appetizers, three of us had fresh asparagus with a poached egg. Philippa had a risotto. For the main course, I had a carrot and sweet potato tarte with mescalun; Steve and Philippa had halibut; Jonathan had beef. All were outstanding.

We each had a dessert and they were the perfect size - not too big, perfect for after a filling meal. I had strawberry shortcake – fresh strawberries, heavy whip cream and hazelnut biscuits. Steve had a chocolate fondant with ice cream. Philippa had grilled white peaches and passion fruit sorbet. Jonathan had crème brulee. We finished with coffee and petit fours – a small chocolate to have with your coffee.

A perfect meal, perfect service and perfect portions. I did not feel stuffed after. It was a very relaxed setting.

Prices: £35 per person for three courses, coffee, sherry, wine, bottled water is extra. Our bill came to just under £200 for the four of us.

This review is the opinion of a Slow Travel member and not of slowtrav.com.

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