Within Warwickshire

Award winning Warwickshire watering-holes and eateries

Celebrate the best of Warwickshire's food and drink by sampling top cuisine in our top 12 award winning watering holes and eateries.

1). Mallory Court Hotel, Nr Leamington Spa

Michelin Starred Chef Simon Haigh heads up the team at Mallory Court, who have maintained their Michelin star now for 9 years and are at the forefront of culinary expertise in the West Midlands. (Good Food Guide 2012, Michelin Star 2011)

2). The Bluebell, Henley-in-Arden

Raise a glass to divine drinking where executive general manager Shack Wilson has tirelessly researched the ‘perfect serve’ of more than 130 tipples: from cask ales to cocktails, from the ideal head on a beer to the deftest swoop of lime around a glass. Try the signature ‘Bluebellini’ made from Prosecco and strawberry juice, just the twist on tradition you might expect from a 500-year-old inn suffused with modern chic. (Good Pub Guide 2012, AA Pub Guide 2012, Alastair Sawday’s Special Places 2012, Good Food Guide 2012, AA Restaurant Guide 2012)

3). Rooftop Restaurant, Royal Shakespeare Company, Stratford-upon-Avon

On the third floor of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s newly transformed theatres in Stratford-upon-Avon, the Rooftop restaurant & bar supports and promotes the very best of British cooking using produce from Warwickshire, the West Midlands and around the UK. The dining room boasts stunning panoramic views of Shakespeare’s home town, the River Avon and surrounding countryside. Original 1930s art deco features combine with elegant modern furniture to create an informal yet striking dining space unlike any other in the area. (Good Food Guide 2012) 

4). The Bell at Alderminster

The Bell at Alderminster scooped ‘Gastro Food Pub of the Year’ in The Publican Food & Drink Awards 2010 and 97% of fare it serves is sourced locally. Tuck into meltingly tender Alscot-reared lamb or Warwickshire beef, homemade ice creams or regional cheeses like Warwickshire Forest Blue Stilton. Seasonal ingredients bring new temptations whenever you visit this stylish 18th-century coaching inn. (Good Pub Guide 2012 and Gastro Food Pub of the Year, 2010 – The Publican Food & Drink Awards)

5). No 9 Church Street, Stratford-upon-Avon

Chef and proprietor Wayne Thomson has a simple philosophy about food “work with great, fresh produce and work in tandem with the seasons. Work with passionate and like minded producers and suppliers. Most of all make the most of the bounty of fantastic produce available in this Country and never be afraid to let the ingredients speak for themselves”. (Good Food Guide 2012 and Diners Choice 2011 – OpenTable.com)

6). Purity Brewing Company, Great Alne

Premium quality beer is made using environmentally friendly methods. Tour the state-of-the-art 20-barrel plant, view the wetland water treatment system, and discover which lucky farm animals get to feast on spent grain from the brewing process. Then sample easy-drinking Pure Gold or zesty Mad Goose – named after the geese that patrol the brewery.(International Beer Challenge 2010 – Silver winner)

7). Restaurant 23, Leamington Spa

Set in the beautiful regency town of Royal Leamington Spa, Restaurant 23 has become renowned for its exceptional quality dining experience in a relaxed atmosphere. Head chef and owner Peter Knibb creates unique menus showcasing the finest seasonal and local produce which consists of classic and innovative dishes. (Good Food Guide 2012)

8). Henley Ice Cream

Savour a cool treat in the 16th-century ice cream parlour and tea rooms at Henley-in-Arden, where Henley Ice Cream has been served since the 1930s. With more than 40 farm-made flavours on offer, you’ve some tricky decisions – vanilla or coffee, strawberry or clotted cream, raspberry swirl or ginger & lime? Take your time, after time, after time. (Best Ice-cream in the UK in 1937!!)

9). Ashley James Restaurant, The Old Mill Shipston

Ashley’s talent and enthusiasm for food is evident in his signature dishes such as braised ox cheek & roast fillet of beef, smoked mash, bourguignon garnish and purple mustard. The restaurant is located in The Old Mill in Shipston on Stour. There has been a mill on this site since the 11th century. (Good Food Guide 2012)

10). Hillers Farm Shop

Hillers Farm Shop was recently awarded Best Rural Retailer 2010 by the Countryside Alliance. The shop at Dunnington Heath Farm is packed with quality produce, including a cheese counter that displays over 100 cheeses, many of them English. Local specialities like Fowlers Warwickshire Arden Oak Smoked Truckle are showcased and there are regular cheese tastings. One nibble is never enough! (Best rural retailer 2010 – Countryside Alliance)

11). Church End Brewery, north Warwickshire

Church End Brewery is your best bet for ‘hands-on’ craft brewing and a wide range of excellent individual beers. Over 40 distinct products include fruit beers made with real fruit, herb beers made with fresh herbs, wheat beers made with a high proportion of malted wheat. Take a tour or simply drop into the Tap Room or Vestry for a refreshing, cask-conditioned pint.

12). Malt Kiln Farm Shop and Cafe

The Lea family’s farm shop specialises in their own and local produce. Beef, lamb and pork at the butcher’s counter are reared on the farm, cottage pie in the coffee shop is made with their own beef, award-winning breakfasts feature sausages made with their own pork, and tempting fruit smoothies are created from their own hand-picked fruit. (Best Breakfast in the 2008 Coventry and Warwickshire Food and Drink Awards)