Food fiend's review of The Hinds Head

We decided on the cheaper arm of Heston's empire because i am a fussy eater and thought the Fat Duck wouldnt work well for me. The setting is extremely pretty, a very lovely pub, and staff were very friendly. We had booked for Friday at half 6, other diners included newlyweds (complete in top and tails), families etc so a real mixed bunch.

Service was good, drinks were lovely and the bread was freshly made and warm. For our mains, we had crab pate and red onion tart, respectively. Both were delicious and scoffed up quickly. There was a wide array of mains to choose from (pies, various steaks), though the triple cooked chips which Heston was famed for were not on the menu as ‘wrong season’. I ended up with rump steak, and my partner had chicken and mushroom pie, both lovely though think we preferred the starters more. My partner was full by then but i had a simple strawberry trifle, which was greed on my part.

I think the Hind's Head is a lovely pub though i do feel it is on par with many other gastropubs ive been to – we have been to better places, mainly those a bit further out which have been recommended by locals – i just dont feel this place is outstanding, as i had kind of hoped. It's great for somewhere special ie the name and reasonably good food, it is in a lovely pretty area (very romantic) which isnt too far from London – a really nice way to end the week in style.