The Cider Barn
Herefordshire, Pembridge - Modern British - Restaurant - ££
London escapees Ivor and Susie Dunkerton started making organic cider and perry on their Herefordshire smallholding back in 1980 and their enterprise has reaped rich rewards ever since. The business is now run by their son and production has moved to Cheltenham, but inquisitive travellers can still visit the original cider mill – and its adjoining restaurant, housed in a beautiful Grade II-listed 400-year-old barn nearby. Run by local chef Sophie Bowen, it eschews folksy, homespun fodder in favour of stylish contemporary food inspired by ingredients from the surrounding countryside. At lunchtime, you can graze from the café menu (shallot fishcakes, teriyaki beef with pickled cabbage, seafood chowder), but it pays to book in for the full works in the evening – especially if you’re intrigued by the prospect of baked hake with creamy polenta, sautéed wild mushrooms and kale dressed with shrimps and capers or soy-marinated pork loin accompanied by a black pu...
London escapees Ivor and Susie Dunkerton started making organic cider and perry on their Herefordshire smallholding back in 1980 and their enterprise has reaped rich rewards ever since. The business is now run by their son and production has moved to Cheltenham, but inquisitive travellers can still visit the original cider mill – and its adjoining restaurant, housed in a beautiful Grade II-listed 400-year-old barn nearby. Run by local chef Sophie Bowen, it eschews folksy, homespun fodder in favour of stylish contemporary food inspired by ingredients from the surrounding countryside. At lunchtime, you can graze from the café menu (shallot fishcakes, teriyaki beef with pickled cabbage, seafood chowder), but it pays to book in for the full works in the evening – especially if you’re intrigued by the prospect of baked hake with creamy polenta, sautéed wild mushrooms and kale dressed with shrimps and capers or soy-marinated pork loin accompanied by a black pudding croquette, caraway-spiked spring greens and horseradish mayo. To finish, freshly fried doughnuts with citrus curd sound unmissable, but also consider the caramelised white chocolate, tarragon and rhubarb millefeuille. Sunday lunch is a showcase for slow-cooked Herefordshire beef with all the trimmings. To drink, one of Dunkertons fruity brews is the natural choice, but there’s also a short list of well-chosen wines from £21.
VENUE DETAILS
Dunkertons Cider Mill
Pembridge
Herefordshire
HR6 9ED
01544 388161
OTHER INFORMATION
Separate bar, Outdoor dining, Wheelchair access, Parking, Family friendly, Dog friendly
Latest articles
Best Pubs in the North West
PUBLISHED ON 12 Dec, 2024
The North West might be home to the largest natural lake in England, but it is also home to many brilliant pubs. From the Lake District to the red bricks of Manchester, these pubs offer more than just a place ...
Read full article
Stirring the pot: memories of a seasoned guide writer
PUBLISHED ON 12 Dec, 2024
David Mabey recalls his time working for The Good Food Guide during the trailblazing 1980s, when ‘Real Food’ and ‘Modern British’ were the buzzwords of the day, and the talk was all about culinary revolution.
Read full article
A chef's guide: where to eat in and around Norwich
PUBLISHED ON 12 Dec, 2024
Norfolk’s county town makes for a perfect winter weekend escape. The handsome cathedral city is packed with cultural and historic riches and its cobbled lanes are full of independent charm. It’s made for exploring on foot, and that requires fuel. ...
Read full article
A first look at Row on 5: reimagining fine dining
PUBLISHED ON 06 Dec, 2024
The grand, formal style of dining has been in retreat for years and no chef understands this better than Jason Atherton. Row on 5 is his reimagining of the genre, an entirely new approach to fine dining.
Read full article
A chef's guide: where to eat in and around Oxford
PUBLISHED ON 05 Dec, 2024
Nobody knows an area’s food better than the chefs and restaurateurs who work there and shape the local culinary scene daily. We asked some to share tips for delicious eating out in and around Oxford.
Read full article
