A Taste for all Seasons NEW EDITION Your guide to locally produced food and drink in South Northamptonshire 3 Welcome to the second edition of A Taste for all Seasons. Jay Rayner at the A Taste for all This popular guide was launched at Seasons launch. Towcester Racecourse three years ago by TV and newspaper food writer, Jay Rayner. Since then it has become the go-to guide Contents for residents and visitors looking for the best places to eat, drink and buy locally-grown INTRODUCTION 4 produce in South Northamptonshire. WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK 5 Restaurants 6 The new edition of A Taste for all Seasons Pubs and bars 10 includes fully updated information about the Cafés and tea rooms 24 district’s restaurants, cafés and pubs, farm Golf courses 28 shops, grocery stores, butchers and food BUYING LOCAL 29 producers. The events section (page 46) has Farmers’ markets 30 also been extended to include the new Food Farm shops 31 Village shops, delicatessens Festival taking place in June at Towcester and patisseries 34 Racecourse. We look forward to it becoming Mobile stores 36 one of the leading food events in the country. LOCAL FOOD AND DRINK PRODUCERS 37 South Northamptonshire offers an Beer, cider and wine 38 outstanding choice, whether you’re eating in, Fruit and vegetables 40 or eating out. From formal dining, to cosy tea Meat, poultry and game 41 rooms; lively wine bars to traditional pubs, Chocolate 43 South Northamptonshire has it all. Other produce 44 COOKERY SCHOOLS 45 FOOD AND DRINK EVENTS 46 Dermot Bambridge Portfolio Holder for Economic Development, MAP 48 Regeneration and Housing VISITING SOUTH NORTHAMPTONSHIRE 50 4 5 Increasingly, we are concerned to know more about where and how our food and drink is produced. We want to know that animals are raised in free range conditions, that the processes used to create the end product are natural and sustainable; and that the lowest number of ‘food miles’ possible are involved in the transportation of these products by road or air before they reach our plate. This desire to know more about our food over recent years has resulted in the rise of the ‘slow food’ movement, which champions seasonal food that is locally produced using traditional, sustainable methods and free range, organic ingredients. Promoting these values across South Northamptonshire is an army of entrepreneurial people who are passionate about the food and drink they produce and sell. You will meet them at farmers’ markets and farm shops, in village butchers, delicatessens and community shops and in our restaurants, pubs and tea rooms. From them you will be able to purchase a vast range of delicious meats, fruits, vegetables, deli products, breads, preserves and Where to Eat and Drink chocolate, not to mention fine wines, traditional ales and cider. Whether you’re dining in or out, we hope you find this guide a useful From fine dining in formal surroundings to a relaxed brasserie, tool as you explore all that is delicious in South Northamptonshire. from a traditional country pub to a cosy tea room, you’ll find it all When visiting these businesses please mention that you first heard in South Northamptonshire. about them in this guide. The area has a good mix of eating and drinking venues, most of which serve freshly prepared meals made from locally sourced, seasonal ingredients, including meat, game, vegetables, fruit, herbs and desserts. If you’re having a party, or getting married, a number of excellent establishments also offer private dining and larger-scale catering. 6 7 DEANSHANGER RESTAURANTS The Milton Keynes Hotel A purpose built, modern hotel with 46 bedrooms and a restaurant. Buckingham Road, Deanshanger, Northamptonshire MK19 6JU 01908 262 925 RESTAURANTS www.miltonkeyneshotel.com The Laughing Onion Situated in a Grade II listed building, this friendly Fine Dining at its best brasserie overlooks the Town Hall and market square. It serves a regularly changing, fixed PAULERSPURY price and à la carte menu. Dishes are made to The Vine House Hotel order using fresh, seasonal and locally sourced & Restaurant produce. It also caters for special dietary This multi-award winning, 300-year- requirements and offers a good selection old country property is situated in the of wines. tranquil village of Paulerspury. Using local 23 The Market Place, Brackley, produce, the menu fuses modern and Northamptonshire NN13 7AB traditional English cuisine. Refreshments 01280 709 961 are also served to diners and residents www.thelaughingonion.co.uk by the fireside in the lounge. There are six individually designed, ensuite bedrooms. Restaurants Rossetti The Vine House is one of four restaurants in Northamptonshire to have achieved Many of South Northamptonshire’s restaurants are listed in leading food and An authentic Italian restaurant with a rustic ambience. The extensive menu reflects its a listing in The Good Food Guide 2014. drink guides and a number are winners of the Northamptonshire Food and modern interpretation of Italian food and includes 100 High Street, Paulerspury, Towcester, meat, fish, pasta, risotto and vegetarian dishes. Drink Awards. Whatever your mood, you will find every style of food here, Northamptonshire NN12 7NA Ingredients are locally sourced where possible. 01327 811 267 including English, French, Italian and Spanish, as well as a range of authentic 25 Draymans Walk, Brackley, www.vinehousehotel.com Northamptonshire NN13 6DF ethnic restaurants, including Bangladeshi, Chinese and Indian. 01280 706 697 www.rossettirestaurant.co.uk AYNHO BRACKLEY Cartwright Hotel Clayson’s Café, Wine Bar and Bistro COGENHOE & Restaurant This restaurant offers a modern menu with dishes Franks Hamburger House Located in the pretty ‘Apricot Village’ of Aynho, made from locally sourced produce. It also serves Serves homemade food using locally sourced this former coaching inn dates back to the 16th speciality teas and opens as a wine bar and bistro produce. Outside BBQs during the summer. century. It has an extensive à la carte and ‘market’ on Friday and Saturday evenings. Station Road, Cogenhoe, selection set menu featuring local produce, plus a 2 Market House Courtyard, Market Place, Northamptonshire NN7 1NH good choice of real ales. As well as 21 individually Brackley, Northamptonshire NN13 7AB 01604 281 964 designed ensuite bedrooms, there is a function 01280 700 797 www.tomhewer.com room for up to 60 people. For larger events, the www.brackleywines.co.uk Cartwright works closely with The Great Barn at COSGROVE A Day in the Country, which is located nearby in a The Crown Hotel The Cosgrove Lodge Hotel 250 acre estate. The 18th century barn caters for The restaurant serves English dishes made from Built in the 19th century, the hotel has five over 200 guests. locally sourced produce. Light refreshments are bedrooms. Food is served in the bar and 1-5 Croughton Road, Aynho, available in the Tavern Bar. restaurant. Northamptonshire OX17 3BE 20 Market Place, Brackley, Cosgrove, Milton Keynes, 01869 811 885 Northamptonshire NN13 7DP Northamptonshire MK19 7JP www.oxfordshire-hotels.co.uk 01280 702 210 01908 567 249 www.thecrownhotelbrackley.co.uk www.cosgrovelodge.co.uk 8 9 RESTAURANTS GRANGE PARK OLD STRATFORD Campanile Hotel and Restaurant Buddies USA An 87 room hotel and restaurant that serves A family friendly American-style diner that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. The menu includes freshly made burgers and steaks. seasonal dishes and daily specials. A5 Old Stratford Roundabout, Old Stratford, Junction 15, M1, Loake Close, Grange Park, Milton Keynes MK19 6AQ Northamptonshire NN4 5EZ 01908 568511 RESTAURANTS 01604 662 599 www.buddiesrestaurants.com www.campanile-northampton.co.uk STONY STRATFORD/DEANSHANGER Fine Dining at its best Harvester Grange Park Kingfisher Country Club ROADE A family friendly restaurant that is part A 28 room hotel, wedding and conference venue, of the Harvester group. The Roade House Restaurant with lakeside conservatory restaurant that serves & Hotel Loake Close, Grange Park, freshly prepared meals from locally sourced Northamptonshire NN4 5EZ produce. Nine hole golf course and gym facilities The wide and constantly changing menu 01604 675 300 are also open to the public. reflects culinary influences from France and www.harvester.co.uk Off Buckingham Road (A422), between Stony elsewhere around the world. The Roade House Stratford and Buckingham, Milton Keynes, has ten individually designed, ensuite double Holiday Inn Express Northamptonshire MK19 6JY rooms. It offers exclusive use as a wedding or Northampton party venue and has a private dining room that 01908 562 332 A 126 room hotel that serves continental and www.kingfishercountryclub.co.uk will accommodate up to 16 guests. cooked breakfasts and simple evening meals. The Roade House is one of four restaurants in Junction 15, M1, Loake Close, Grange Park, TOWCESTER Northamptonshire to have achieved a listing Northamptonshire NN4 5EZ Buddies USA La Strada in The Good Food Guide 2014, in which it has 01604 432 800 A family friendly American-style diner that serves Situated in White Horse Yard in the centre of been listed continuously since 1985. www.expressnorthampton.co.uk freshly made burgers and steaks. town, this restaurant is under new ownership. 16 High Street, Roade, HARPOLE A43 Brackley Road, Towcester, The conservatory-style dining room serves Northamptonshire NN7 2NW The Turnpike Northamptonshire NN12 6TQ 01327 354 953 modern and authentic Italian food, using locally 01604 863 372 www.buddiesrestaurants.com sourced produce. It offers a set lunch menu, A Beefeater Grill with www.roadehousehotel.co.uk fresh fish and daily specials. an adjacent Premier Inn. Highcroft House 11 White Horse Yard, Watling Street West, Harpole Turn, Weedon Road, Harpole, WHITTLEBURY Located in the centre of Towcester, Towcester, Northamptonshire NN12 6BX Northamptonshire NN7 4DD Whittlebury Hall Hotel this Grade II* listed Georgian town house retains 01327 354 350 01604 832 340 A hotel and spa set in beautiful parkland many of its original features.