Wilding is a sustainably-focused wine bar, shop and restaurant in the Jericho area of Oxford.
The project is the brainchild of founder Kent Barker, whose 30-year career has seen him hold senior positions at big name hospitality players like Bibendum, Oddbins and Enotria. He is joined by head chef Ben Wood, who's experience at Michelin-starred Barrafina in London shows in a flowing menu of small plates and larger sharing dishes, which rolls with the seasons to champion provenance and British produce.
Many of the dishes feature recognisable British produce, given a distinct Mediterranean accent, as visible in a dish of fideua made with British shiitake mushrooms and preserved lemon salsa verde, or beef shin and blue cheese croquetas. Wood's inventive style goes even further with red prawn ravioli with Thai red curry, and blackened octopus with pumpkin and nam jim dressing.
To complement the food, the drinks have been carefully chosen by Kent, and the list includes 50 wines available by the glass as well as ten vintages on tap for a fun and modern way to enjoy top quality wines without a hefty price tag.
The welcoming restaurant space can seat 80 covers in the main area, while guests can also make use of the 16-seater private dining space if they prefer, or plump for a seat at the Chef's Table. A large garden surrounded by wildflowers and aromatic herbs as well as vines from local vineyards extends the restaurant’s capacity in warmer weather, allowing for a further 60 guests.
There is also a retail space on site where you can buy from a selection of over 400 wines, and in the small shop there is room for up to ten guests to enjoy drinks and dishes.