A SMALL village in the UK is the unlikely location of three of the country’s best restaurants.
Most villages will have a pub serving home-cooked Sunday dinners, but in Berkshire, there’s a riverside idyll where celebrity chefs have set up shop, creating a unique draw for tourists.
AlamyBray Marina sits on the Thames and is described as ‘tranquil’[/caption]
AlamyHeston Blumenthal has more than one restaurant in the village[/caption]
AlamyThe Fat Duck is one of Heston Blumenthal’s most famous eateries[/caption]
AlamyThe Waterside Inn has three Michelin stars and is owned by Alain Roux[/caption]
Bray in Berkshire is home to three Michelin star restaurants, with the likes of Heston Blumenthal and Alain Roux behind some of the food found in the village.
Arguably its most famous restaurant is The Fat Duck, one of Heston’s best-known establishments.
Its website promises customers a “world of pure culinary imagination” that will provide both “an adventure for the mouth and the mind” and “a feast for the senses”.
It states: “At our elegant, informal restaurant we serve beautifully executed and original dishes.
“But this is only the start. Through food we like to explore not just the tastebuds but also memories and emotions. And we’d like you to come with us.”
When eating at the Fat Duck, tickets are bought rather than ordering from the menu as one might in other restaurants.
But they don’t come cheap, with prices ranging from £275.00 to £350 per person.
For those who want to sample Heston’s cooking at a more conventional restaurant, the Hinds Head is also in the village and is the chef’s gastro pub, serving a three-course Sunday lunch for £70.
It also offers pub snacks like scotch egg, chips and sausage rolls at more affordable prices.
Heston isn’t the only well known chef in the area, with Alain Roux’s three Michelin star Waterside Inn also serving dishes to hungry visitors.
It’s for establishments like this that a report by Sally’s Cottages listed Bray among the top food destinations in the UK.
However, they also made a big deal of its views, with the Thames flowing right through the centre of the village.
Its marina is described as a “delightfully tranquil” spot to moor boats by MDL Marinas, adding: “There are many attractions nearby. Upstream is the National Trust property, Cliveden House, with its extensive gardens and woodlands.
“Cookham is home of the King’s Swan Keeper, who can sometimes be seen in his traditional costume. Further on still is Hambledon Mill – and from here, the river is navigable as far as Lechlade.”
Hidden gem restaurants in UK tourist traps
LONDON’S Leicester Square is a well-known magnet for tourists, but there are some restaurants there that are well worth a visit.
Cork And Bottle, Cranbourn St
This place was founded more than 50 years ago by the legendary Don Hewitson, who was credited with transforming the UK wine industry in the 1970s.
It sells 300 wines from across the world, many at very reasonable prices.
They also have a great food menu, featuring their signature cheese and ham pie and a fantastic cheeseboard.
Panton Yokocho, Panton Street
Despite its location, this noodle restaurant is not a particularly well-known spot, although it really ought to be.
It has managed to capture the atmosphere of an old Tokyo alleyway very well, decked out with red lanterns, retro music posters and Japanese toys.
Brasserie Zedel, Sherwood St
This unassuming eatery is found behind two small doors beneath a red sign, and offers a glimpse of 1930s Paris below the chaos of London’s West End.
It oozes glamour without feeling stuffy and offers fancy dining without a hefty price tag.
The set menu, written in Franglais in cursive-style font, is such a bargain for central London with three courses coming to less than 20 quid (£19.75, to be exact).
For Sally’s Cottages, the village’s aesthetic, along with its extensive choice of restaurants, is what make it a must-visit location.
They said: “Bray is known for its half-timbered houses and calming Thames views.
“The village is home to three Michelin-starred restaurants including The Fat Duck and The Waterside Inn.
“It also has plenty of options for vegans and coeliacs such as Pink Salt and Dockyard No 8.
“Lovers of Asian and Mediterranean cuisines can also find plenty of options like Koi Japanese and Caldesi in Campagna.”
A night in Bray can be booked from around £88 for two.
Meanwhile, this is the cheapest Michelin guide restaurant in the world, with meals that cost just £1.40.
And this garden shed hides one of the UK’s best restaurants.
Times Newspapers LtdThe King’s swan keepers can sometimes be seen counting swans on the Thames[/caption]
AlamyThe Hinds Head is another of Heston Blumenthal’s restaurants[/caption]
AlamyThe village is a riverside Idyll in Berkshire[/caption]“}]]