33 of Britain’s best wine bars and restaurants for soaking up the sun 2023 | Where To Eat

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Acme Fire Cult

Dalston, London ££

Eco-conscious fire-fuelled eatery next to the 40FT Brewery

In a foodie courtyard behind Dalston Junction, the inviting smell of burning embers and charring now mingles with the aromas of hops and freshly baked loaves. Those embers are from Acme Fire Cult – a low-budget, eco-consciou… Read more

The Bootyard, Abbot Street, Dalston, London E8 3DP

Barge East

Hackney Wick, London ££

Ahoy there landlubbers! You don’t need to have your sea legs to enjoy the unique experience of dining at Barge East, a floating (but not moving) restaurant on the river Lee at Hackney Wick. The carefully preserved Dutch barge ha… Read more

River Lee, Sweetwater Mooring, White Post Lane, Hackney Wick, London E9 5EN

Burnt Orange

Brighton, East Sussex ££

The waiting staff would doubtless be rich if they had a pound for every customer who joked on seeing the menu: 'I'll have one of everything.' With it's compelling combinations and alluring flavours, choosing is a challenging task;… Read more

59 Middle Street, Brighton, East Sussex BN1 1AL

Cherwell Boathouse

Oxford, Oxfordshire ££

The prospect of chilling out on a hugely desirable decked terrace by the river Cherwell makes this enchanting Victorian boathouse one of Oxford’s great delights – and that’s before you factor in its glorious wine… Read more

50 Bardwell Road, Oxford, Oxfordshire OX2 6ST

Claude Bosi's Oyster Bar

South Kensington, London ££

More than three decades after the conversion of Michelin House, the building still looks fresh, plying its trade via a gorgeous first-floor dining room (Bibendum) and a ground-floor Oyster Bar – both now run by the chef… Read more

Michelin House, 81 Fulham Road, South Kensington, London SW3 6RD

Climat

Manchester, Greater Manchester ££

The younger sibling of Covino in Chester is altogether a larger, more aspirational affair. Its greatest USP is the location. Although not the first to fly high in the sky over Manchester's city centre, it keeps the urban panorama … Read more

The younger sibling of Covino in Chester is altogether a larger, more aspirational affair. Its greatest USP is the location. Although not the first to fly high in the sky over Manchester's city centre, it keeps the urban panorama centre stage with clean, modern lines and a clever use of the rooftop space. The wrap-around interior provides every frill-free table with a pigeon’s eye view; high chairs border the long counter of the open kitchen. The connecting garden area (note the beehives) provides ample seating to satisfy the Mancunian thirst for sunshine when it appears. Climat describes itself as a 'wine-led' restaurant, a reference to their impressively stocked cellar. Burgundy leads the pack but doesn’t dominate. A Xinomavro 2018 from Macedonia had big flavours that partnered well with a robust dish of lamb leg, roasted cauliflower and kale. Unfortunately, the wine descriptions are generic; a sommelier or more informed serving staff might have helped guide the choice. The sharing-plates menu is a good spread of classic and modern, with a broadly Gallic orientation, plus retro and international references: salt fish beignets with aïoli and herb salad; prawn cocktail with avocado mousse and baby gem vol-au-vents; Tamworth pork chop with flat beans and Pommery mustard. The kitchen shows a deft hand with vegetables and salads, which are often enlivened with bitter notes – a combo of beetroot, whipped tofu, charcoal vinaigrette and mustard cress, for example, contrasted its creamy, light and earthy elements well. But there are slips, too, from an excessively oily dressing on purple sprouting broccoli to a plum tarte fine that proved unremarkable. Luckily, the quartet of well-sourced cheeses (a sheep’s milk St Helena; Roquefort-like sheep’s milk Regalis; a lactic, soft goat’s milk Elrick Log; and raw milk Baron Bigod) proved a better finale. It may be unfair to compare Climat with older sibling Covino (both are relaxed and innovative, without being gimmicky), but at inspection we found the latter offered a much more happy-making experience.

8th Floor, Blackfriars House, Manchester, Greater Manchester M3 2JA

Corkage

Bath, Somerset £

Corkage has always felt like the kind of neighbourhood restaurant that can give a neighbourhood a good name. The original manifestation was in an engaging tiny space quite a way up Walcot Street and was so successful a larger bran… Read more

5 Chapel Row, Bath, Somerset BA1 1HN

Dory's of Margate

Margate, Kent ££

Margate is inundated with blow-ins from the London restaurant scene and beyond at the moment, but it was local talent that established the town as a serious food destination. And there are few better examples than Dory’s, th… Read more

24 High Street, Margate, Kent CT9 1DS

Flawd

Manchester, Greater Manchester ££

Seasonal small plates and on-trend natural wines

Swans in the middle of Manchester! Who would have thought? But Flawd is on the New Islington Marina, a network of canals and water basins now home to barges and wildfowl, new apartments, green spaces and walkways. The feel is Dutc… Read more

9 Keepers Quay, Manchester, Greater Manchester M4 6GL

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Fox Hampton Lane

Solihull, West Midlands ££

Situated a stone’s throw from the Grand Union Canal, the Fox has already become a valued neighbourhood asset in the little enclave of Catherine-de-Barnes. It may be on a busy road, but inside the bright restaurant is a … Read more

255 Hampton Lane, Catherine-de-Barnes, Solihull, West Midlands B91 2TJ

Gees

Oxford, Oxfordshire £££

Much-loved and long-serving Oxford institution

‘A celebratory and inspiring environment offering a little bit of escapism in the heart of Oxford,’ is one reader’s verdict on this long-standing beau monde favourite, which now boasts a heated garden terrace and… Read more

61a Banbury Road, Oxford, Oxfordshire OX2 6PE

Llewelyn's

Herne Hill, London £££

Independently run neighbourhood asset

‘A beacon of freshness and seasonality’ in the elegant environs of Herne Hill, independently owned Llewelyn’s has more than proved its worth as a neighbourhood asset with chef Lasse Petersen at the helm. Large wi… Read more

293-295 Railton Road, Herne Hill, London SE24 0JP

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Ombra

Hackney, London ££

A taste of Venetian bacaro cool in Hackney

When Ombra opened its doors by the banks of the Regent's Canal back in 2011, today’s gentrification was a long way off. Now this former retail site is custom-built for a taste of Venetian-style bacaro cool. Drop by on spec, … Read more

1 Vyner Street, Hackney, London E2 9DG

Pythouse Kitchen Garden

Tisbury, Wiltshire ££

‘This is how summer dining should be,’ thought one visitor. Indeed. Deep in the Wiltshire countryside, Pythouse's billowing flower gardens and warm walls embrace the old lean-to conservatory that acts as a dining room.… Read more

West Hatch, Tisbury, Wiltshire SP3 6PA

Rochelle Canteen

Shoreditch , London ££

Whether it’s your first time or your fiftieth time at Rochelle Canteen, you can’t fail to feel a frisson when pressing the buzzer to gain admission. Is this the place? Is it open? But once inside the old building (form… Read more

16 Playground Gardens, Shoreditch , London E2 7FA

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Root Bristol

Bristol ££

Co-owned by Josh Eggleton, this on-trend shipping-container eatery is bedded into Bristol’s waterfront Cargo development. Pared-down Scandi-style interiors give way to alfresco tables with views of the docks and the local sc… Read more

Cargo, Gaol Ferry Steps, Wapping Wharf, Bristol BS1 6WP

Sam's Riverside

Hammersmith, London ££

Sam Harrison’s ‘wow factor’ brasserie has quickly become a local institution, where friends are cherished and first timers are welcomed with arms open wide. It's joyous, buzzy, unpretentious and a godsend fo… Read more

1 Crisp Walk, Hammersmith, London W6 9DN

The Cider Barn

Pembridge, Herefordshire ££

London escapees Ivor and Susie Dunkerton started making organic cider and perry on their Herefordshire smallholding back in 1980 and their enterprise has reaped rich rewards ever since. The business is now run by their son and pro… Read more

Dunkertons Cider Mill, Pembridge, Herefordshire HR6 9ED

The Cotley Inn

Wambrook, Somerset ££

Found down narrow lanes a few miles from Chard, this remote but civilised hostelry of some character encapsulates many people’s idea of what a rural inn should be like. The Englishness of the setting – quietly hugging … Read more

Wambrook, Somerset TA20 3EN

New Review

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The Crown at Bray

Bray, Berkshire £££

Unpretentious pub offering good value for the area

* Simon Bonwick is taking over as chef-patron of the Crown at the end of March 2025, but will continue to run the Troublesome Lodger in Marlow as normal. * It’s easy to feel sorry for the villagers of Bray (no, really). The… Read more

High Street, Bray, Berkshire SL6 2AH

The Feathers Inn

Hedley on the Hill, Northumberland ££

A centuries-old village local atop a hill midway between Hadrian's Wall and the conurbations of Tyne & Wear, the Feathers continues to provide sustenance for locals and visitors alike. Inside, it looks the part with beams, log… Read more

Main Street, Hedley on the Hill, Northumberland NE43 7SW

The Garden at Corinthia London

Westminster, London £££

There are plenty of reasons to linger in this cosy all-year courtyard garden right at the heart of the Corinthia London hotel. Beautifully sheltered, shaded and planted, it cuts a real dash in summer but come winter a mix of sofas… Read more

Whitehall Place, Westminster, London SW1A 2BD

The Loch & the Tyne

Old Windsor, Berkshire £££

There are lots of hints that this semi-rural pub in the upmarket residential village of Old Windsor is part of Scottish-born chef Adam Handling’s mini empire. With its stylish tartan tub chairs and walls bedecked with d… Read more

10 Crimp Hill, Old Windsor, Berkshire SL4 2QY

The Punch Bowl Inn

Crosthwaite, Cumbria ££

A serene village in the verdant Lyth Valley, complete with a pretty church and rolling hills, is home to this upmarket hostelry. Originally a blacksmith's forge at the beginning of the 19th century, its old bones make for a m… Read more

Lyth Valley, Crosthwaite, Cumbria LA8 8HR

CLOSED

The Purefoy Arms

Preston Candover, Hampshire ££

* Chef-patron Gordon Scott has announced that the pub will be closing its doors for the last time on 27 January 2024.* The Purefoy, which sits discreetly on the highway through an unsullied village to the south of Basingsto… Read more

Alresford Road, Preston Candover, Hampshire RG25 2EJ

The Salt Room

Brighton, East Sussex ££

Seafood cooked over fire is a USP to grab the attention of any self-identifying foodie – and it gets even better, because the Salt Room occupies a spot overlooking the English Channel. It's a shame about the busy road o… Read more

106 King's Road , Brighton, East Sussex BN1 2FN

The Star Inn the City

York, North Yorkshire £££

Back in 2013, Andrew Pern (chef/patron of the Star Inn at Harome) turned a dilapidated old engine house beside the Ouse into a splendid riverside restaurant in one of the best locations in the city. Its outdoor terrace is perfect … Read more

Museum Street, York, North Yorkshire YO1 7DR

The Walrus & Corkscrew

Inverness, Highlands & Islands

'A bit of a departure for Inverness and a great addition,' reports our mole in the Highlands. First opened as a passion project in 2021, this relaxed wine bar is now in full swing and popular with locals. Inside is a sma… Read more

105 Church Street, Inverness, Highlands & Islands IV1 1EY

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Tillingham

Peasmarsh, East Sussex ££

Good wine and food in a verdant patch of Sussex countryside

Primarily a vineyard producing natural and biodynamic wines, Tillingham is recommended for those who are interested to see what's going on at the cutting edge of UK viticulture while enjoying something pleasant to eat. The locatio… Read more

Dew Farm, Dew Lane, Peasmarsh, East Sussex TN31 6XD

Toklas

Temple, London ££

Elegant Mediterranean-style cooking in an oasis of calm

Tucked into one side of the landmark brutalist building that is 180 Strand, Toklas is easy to miss. Just remember it has its own entrance on Surrey Street, opposite the old Strand tube station – if you find yourself outside … Read more

1 Surrey Street, Temple, London WC2R 2ND

Trivet

Bermondsey, London ££££

In the gentrified hinterland to the south of London Bridge, Trivet has the capacious, calming feel of somewhere on the American West Coast. A small outdoor terrace (with its own summertime menu), a glamorous bar and well-spaced ta… Read more

In the gentrified hinterland to the south of London Bridge, Trivet has the capacious, calming feel of somewhere on the American West Coast. A small outdoor terrace (with its own summertime menu), a glamorous bar and well-spaced tables set the scene for a smooth operation centred on an open kitchen, where Jonny Lake – formerly executive chef at the Fat Duck – is an authoritative gentle giant armed with tweezers. Staff are responsive to queries, the sommelier particularly good with recommendations, and the whole experience is restorative (assuming tootly-flutey jazz doesn't spoil your digestion). Nibble on olives, spiced cashews, or long broad vegetable crackers to get started. The food is all about sharply delineated flavours, with bite from pickled ingredients, salty savour from the likes of kombu and dashi, and combinations that spark the imagination. A braised spiky artichoke dressed in seaweed stock with cauliflower mushroom has plenty of piscine intensity, though it is actually a vegan dish, while dashi stock poured at the table turns a heap of saladings with kombu and gorse flowers into a sharp-dressed escort for panko-crumbed veal sweetbread. At main, a spin on duck with orange is composed of livid-pink fatless breast crusted in puffed rice and cracked peppercorns, with Tarocco blood-orange, orange-laced carrot purée, orange and endive salad, and bigarade sauce. An essentially fairly mainstream dish of turbot poached in citrus with herbed Chardonnay butter sauce was less than successfully partnered with chunks of confit Delica pumpkin that would have done better with the duck. A Turkish note is sounded in a small steamed yoghurt sponge coated in sesame seeds for dessert that comes with vanilla cream rippled with black olive caramel, or there may be a great wedge of griottine and almond tart with fantastic pastry, only let down by very pallidly flavoured pistachio ice cream. The wines are an adventurous modern collection, with stars from Turkey and Georgia alongside the skin content and 'funky' offerings. Seek the readily forthcoming advice. In a recent development, the owners have launched Labombe, a wine bar open every Monday evening in the restaurant's bar space. Alongside the rich depths of Trivet's full cellar, punters can look forward to a special by-the-glass selection from master sommelier Isa Bal, plus a blackboard menu of snacks and small plates.

36 Snowsfields, Bermondsey, London SE1 3SU

Wiveton Bell

Wiveton, Norfolk ££

A mile or so inland from the coast, Wiveton is a peaceful village, though it's been put firmly on the map by the popularity of this little country pub with rooms (now part of the East Anglian 'Chestnut Collection'). The interior b… Read more

Blakeney Road, Wiveton, Norfolk NR25 7TL

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