Berkshire’s Michelin-Starred Pubs
No other county – except Oxfordshire -- can lay claim to as many Michelin-starred pubs as Berkshire. And it’s just got even better for Berkshire foodies with news that the 2018 Good Food Guide has picked The Crown at Burchett’s Green as its Pub Restaurant of the Year. Here’s a round-up of Berkshire’s three Michelin-starred hostelries.
The Royal Oak, Littlefield Green
Chat show legend Michael Parkinson and his son Nick own this 17th century pub near Maidenhead and prints of the great man himself adorn the walls. It was awarded a star in 2010 and has subsequently doubled the size of the restaurant to seat 80 and added a modern garden area complete with waterfall. Behind the classic black-and-white frontage you’ll find beamed ceilings, wooden floors and a warm welcome.
The Hind’s Head, Bray
There are only four restaurants in the whole of the UK that can boast the magical three Michelin stars and two of them are here in Bray (The Waterside Inn and The Fat Duck). So perhaps it’s no great surprise that the village pub has a Michelin star too; especially when you consider it’s owned by Heston Blumenthal. The Hind’s Head dates back to the 15th century when it started life as hunting lodge and menus offer classic - and historic - British dishes cooked with precision.
The Crown, Burchett’s Green
It’s been quite a year for The Crown – awarded its Michelin star in the 2017 guide and now named Pub Restaurant of the Year in the 2018 Good Food Guide. But perhaps the best praise for this unassuming gem comes from restaurant critic Andy Hayler: “It is the kind of restaurant that we all wish we had on our doorstep. Just go there.” Chef-owner Simon Bonwick produces self-proclaimed ‘French Bourgeouisie’ cooking and is ably assisted front-of-house by son Dean who counts Albert Roux and Tom Kerridge as previous employers.