Food & Drink
Whether your idea of a great night out means peace and quiet by a roaring log fire or the latest music playing till the early hours, a warm welcome awaits you in the area’s many pubs, bars and restaurants. Wiltshire has a long tradition of brewing and most villages have good traditional inns with well-kept real ales, particularly fine examples being located at Kington St Michael, Biddestone and Grittleton. Chippenham’s Market Place is home to some great traditional watering holes, including the Bear and the Four Seasons.
In addition to our local ales, Wiltshire’s wines and ciders are well worth sampling.
The Rose and Crown is one of the town’s oldest buildings, with a courtyard for outdoor relaxation. Wiltshire’s village pubs reflect the meaning of the phrase ‘the pub is the hub’, with local groups meeting at them regularly. You might come across the pub with the music club that meets on the last Sunday of each month; the pub with the recorder club; or the pub which offers motorcycle enthusiasts a special bikers’ menu. Or simply discover which pubs are dog friendly at the end of a long country walk – many of our country ‘locals’ are strategically placed on walking and cycling routes.
The old ‘White Harte’ (now home to Iceland) was one of the great coaching inns of the Great Western Road – it is said that Oliver Cromwell dined here in 1649, followed by Sir Robert Peel 200 years later.
Whether you’re looking for a tea-room set in a medieval building or a Michelin star restaurant you will find them here. All tastes are catered for, from traditional fish and chips to fine dining, with many establishments serving home-cooked food enhanced by the use of fresh local produce. Chippenham itself offers an unusually good range of Indian and Bangladeshi restaurants. The Taj Mahal and the Akash have both won awards, while Café India serves mouth watering Bangladeshi specialities and allows you to bring in your own alcohol without charge.
Outside town, we recommend La Flambé in Sutton Benger and the Foxham Inn for their charming service and delicious cuisine. Or the Mermaid at Christian Malford, the New Inn at Seagry, and the Bell at Yatton Keynell.
For the best in Chinese fare, see Philip at the Good Food Cottage (but mind your head if you are tall!)
