A VERY fine eating and drinking establishment…read more
What really annoys me is that we've been here before for a drink - even had a meal here with a group of people but only on a subsequent visit much later did I realise what wonderful food it was serving. Talk about blind and insensitive!
Judi and I have been visiting gastro pubs lately - mainly in the south of England - as a means of ensuring reasonable food/drink quality. You can usually tell them by the makeover - the sage green sign and the trendy wood and metal furniture - and, yes, we have eaten well and there are a few Qype and Google Earth posts to record this experience. BUT........
The Griffin's Head doesn't claim to be a gastro pub - it just IS one but doesn't feel the need to jump on the makeover/label bandwaggon. It has too much taste for that!
The quality of the food and wine list is remarkable. There is no permanent menu - so if you go there one afternoon before it is written up on the board, as we did, you should just trust me and book a table. You will not be disappointed by the food itself or the presentation of the dishes. The wine list is extensive and contains some really good stuff.
To top the lot, the Griffin's Head is a very beautiful, half-timbered house of great antiquity set in a tiny, remote village with houses of similar vintage. There is even a tiny smock mill to the north of the village to complete the picture of the idyllic English pub.
The landlord has something of a reputation! He doesn't suffer fools gladly and if you behave in a crass fashion you will be told so in no uncertain terms and serve you right !
If you are NOT crass, love good food and fine wines and enjoy lovely surroundings, go to the Griffin's Head. Otherwise keep away and leave it to people of taste!
Well-behaved dogs allowed; children NOT allowed - bliss!
Superbly run by Jerry and Karen Copestake