Surrounded by four acres of picturesque Hertfordshire countryside just outside Hitchin, The Farmhouse at Redcoats is a family-owned British gastropub and boutique hotel that blends historic charm with outstanding farm-to-fork dining. Housed in a beautifully restored 15th-century farmhouse, this AA two-rosette restaurant and AA four-star silver-rated hotel is a top choice for everything from leisurely lunches and celebratory afternoon teas to Sunday roasts and romantic foodie staycations.
Inside, stylish interiors combine rustic character and contemporary flair. The elegant orangery offers a bright setting with soaring ceilings and hanging greenery, while secluded private dining rooms, complete with exposed timber beams and inglenook fireplaces, create inviting spaces for intimate gatherings.
Head Chef Sherwin Jacobs crafts seasonal menus rooted in sustainability. Produce from the estate’s own organic no-dig garden is paired with local ingredients to create dishes such as smokehouse salmon tartare rosti; farmhouse chicken liver parfait with pickles and brioche; free-range Norfolk chicken with baby leeks, girolle and tarragon sauce; and line-caught South Coast halibut with Dorset clams and herb vinaigrette. Vegetarian options include barbecue green goddess cauliflower steak with smoked almond ajo blanco, with sides like hand-cut chips and creamy leek gratin.
Sunday roasts are a signature, offering beef, lamb or pork, or a red lentil, courgette and nut roast for vegetarians, served with roast potatoes, seasonal greens and red-wine gravy. Other mains include porcini and spinach lasagne or grilled king prawns. Dessert brings delights such as organic cream cheese burnt Basque cheesecake with Yorkshire rhubarb and lemon curd blueberry fool.
Elsewhere, afternoon tea features all the classics, such as savoury finger sandwiches, honey and brown-butter madeleines and Madagascan vanilla tarts, served with a choice of fine teas or a glass of cuvee. Looking to bring the little ones? The children’s menu at The Farmhouse offers dishes like homemade cod goujons and Norfolk chicken breast, complemented by playful starters such as cheese doughnuts or garlic bread soldiers.