After a really disappointing dinner the night before at The Fat Duck, this was exactly what I needed. It's literally right down the street, but the vibe couldn't be more different. Forget the science-experiment food--this is just really good pub food that actually tastes like something you want to eat. It's not fancy in a stuffy way, just solid, well-done dishes across the board. Honestly, we didn't miss on a single thing. The drinks were a highlight too. I ordered the Hemingway and it came hidden inside a hollowed-out book, which sounds gimmicky but somehow totally worked and was actually fun. We almost skipped dessert, but ended up popping into the ice cream shop and I'm glad we did. Simple, high-quality, and exactly what hit the spot after a long meal. If you're in Bray and want a meal you'll genuinely enjoy eating, I'd skip the show across the road and come here instead. We also wandered upstairs to the lounge for a drink afterward--the old wood beams and leather chairs made it easy to stay longer than planned. read more

The whole experience of dining in a Michelin starred restaurant was incredible from start to finish, we were warmly welcomed, each dish on the menu was explained to us, the staff were friendly and knowledgeable, the food itself was on another level to anything I have experienced before, the atmosphere and the surroundings made this experience breathtaking for us read more

We arrived in Bray about two hours early to our dinner at the Fat Duck so we took a recommendation and came to the Hinds Head to have a drink or two to wait. We sat upstairs in a loungey area and ordered a couple of cocktails. Wow they were fantastic!! "Breakfast in Bray" in particular was one of my favorite cocktails, ever and it came in a fancy tea cup with a saucer. They definitely pay attention to presentation! We were only bummed we couldn't stay for dinner because the menu looked really good. It made us regret not staying over in Bray and visiting the next day! read more

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Wanted to go here ever since knowing of the Michelin star gastropub concept and I absolutely loved this place. No posh at all, just the best Scottish egg, ham and leek pie and all other sorts of pub grub prepared to perfection I would say. The details, the crusts, the pudding the flavours but also the staff and the wine list show why it is more than the average pub, much more! Highly recommended, even the pub part with some great beers, gins and whisky. read more

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I was anxiously awaiting my lunch at Heston's pub and upon arriving downstairs was surprised at how casual and traditional the pub appeared. It was well cared for but lacked any sort of fancy decor aside from the Christmas wreaths, thus jeans was a welcome dress for the occasion. Service was extremely off for the entire experience. It took staff awhile downstairs to acknowledge us and seat us upstairs with our booking. Then we waited a very long time for our drink orders and they forgot to bring water upon our initial request. The longest wait was for our mains, having arrived over 15 minutes after our first entrees. Clearly there was something wrong in the kitchen. The pub was busy but mostly cleared before our mains were due to arrive. It seemed like they got their B staff to work the holiday. Thankfully the food was completely on point. The scotch egg was perfectly cooked and the scallops were well seasoned atop a bed of blood sausage and cauliflower. It was a lovely start to the meal. The complimentary bread was good but could have been served warm, as it was difficult to get the cold butter across it. When our mains arrived, we were both happy with the generous selection - braised pork belly with potatoes, sausage, cracklings and a side of roasted vegetables; and a stone trout topped with crispy skin, mayo dressing with mushrooms, celeriac and a side of leafy greens. We were warned about the uniquely prepared Bloody Mary - yellow tomato juice which sounded intriguing was unfortunately masked by an abundance of Worcester sauce, enough to cover the bottom half of the glass. A little less would be preferred but it helped to curb my hunger whilst we waited for our dishes. Overall it's a quaint place that seems like a casual place to grab a beer downstairs or have a quiet meal upstairs. Their service needs work, especially with a reputation like Heston's, otherwise keep the creative dishes coming. read more

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While staying in Bray, we had a fantastic meal at the Hinds Head. The food was exceptional, the staff were helpful and friendly, and the atmosphere was perfect, nice but not overly formal as we find most Michelin Star restaurants. We greatly enjoyed our experience and highly recommend the Hinds Head to anyone in the Bray area. read more

Set in the beautiful village of Bray is this quaint little pub . Mind your head , duck ye nut the doors were made for hobbits . Have to say I was a little disappointed that they weren't offering the set menu as per the website . As was the table next to me and the table next to that . Started with the scotch egg of course, be rude not to and tastes just as good as it looks , great start . Home Made Spiced Goose Ham with Foie Gras, Port & Orange . Not sure why these 2 are paired together and not sure if they work . Raw Highland Estate Venison, Horseradish, Turnips and Shallot Dressing which was ok but nothing memorable . Oxtail and Kidney Pudding is a winner , especially on a cold day , bur be warned it will fill you up and leave little room for dessert . Over all service and dining experience was terrific but a couple of dishes were average . And what's going on with the prix fix lunch menu ? Come on Hinds Head is it on or off the menu ? read more

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If you're looking for the usual pizzazz of a Heston Blumenthal restaurant this is probably not for you. But if you're looking for good food at kind of reasonable prices then step right on in. I was surprised how easy it was to book a table on a Friday night. Arriving half an hour early we were told our table was already ready. We ordered a scotch egg and pork terrine to start, the duck and pie for mains and a hot chocolate wine for dessert. The portions are very stingy so it's not somewhere you can share a hearty plate of food or think about ordering just one course but the food we did get was good. The stand out dish for me was actually the milk and cookies cocktail I ordered which came with some pebble shaped chocolates and popping candy. I really wish it was a bigger portion though considering its £10 price tag. The Hinds Head is what I consider a real gastro pub with good food, delicious drinks, and a relaxed atmosphere. Will definitely be back for a fancy occasion. read more

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Items Selected: White Fizz - Chase Gin, Apple Liqueur, Lemon Juice, Egg White, Popping Candy Devil on Horseback / Scotch Quail Egg White and Wheat Bread with Salted English Farmhouse Butter Potted Shrimp with Cucumber Relish and Grilled Bread Smoked Guinea Fowl and Foie Gras Terrine with Apple Chutney and Brioche Hash of Snails Triple Cooked Fries Shepherd's Pie Banana and Custard Quaking Pudding Warm Chocolate Pudding with Orange Marmalade Ice Cream Having joked with my dining companion at The Fat Duck that we should head over to The Hinds Head afterward for some more of Chef Blumenthal's superlative cuisine I'd be lying if I said I ever figured I would actually visit the Michelin starred gastropub and yet with a bitter aftertaste lingering in my mouth after walking out of Waterside Inn it was immediately to the 15th Century pub that I turned, the lone walk-in table in a fully-reserved dining room serendipitously waiting just for me. Apparently once a residence and subsequently a pub before being renovated into a full-fledged restaurant under the direction of Heston and his team it was within moments of ducking my head to gain entry that I was greeted by a young woman and with menus in hand and a cushy seat beneath me I quickly felt at ease, the heft of a room laden with wood and history standing in stark opposition to the pleasantries offered at every turn by a staff so well trained that it could just as easily have served right across the street. Every bit a pub in its styling and offering nearly two-dozen English classics spruced up with techniques dating back to its Chef's earliest days of culinary intrigue it was admittedly with wide eyes and a surprising number of questions that I perused the food menu first and with a 3-course prix-fixe as tempting as the options a la carte a plan was devised - one set-menu and an a la carte section paired with each, plus a duo of meaty yet balanced bar snacks to compliment a clever cocktail amongst the best of my trip. Again chasing away comments from my young server that what I'd ordered would prove to be 'quite a lot,' it was with little delay that my meal began and doing my best to not overindulge on the same great bread from Dinner and The Fat Duck my first course arrived, a duo of spreadable meats paired simply with exemplary condiments plus even more irresistible bread in portions not at all dainty. At this point debating a second cocktail but mindful of what was to come it was perhaps good fortune that the packed house kept my server away and with water kept brimming by back-staff it was not after only a short delay that round two would arrive, the snail-hash tinged in a tantalizing herbal pesto atop yet more bread while Heston's famed chips proved absolutely irresistible next to a textbook Shepherd's Pie served so hot that it required at least five minutes to cool, the lamb inside somehow still a gamey perfect medium. At this point almost happy that my Waterside misadventure had led me to The Hind's Head it was finally in dessert that I partook and although neither may have struck me at first as particularly 'British' I'd be hard pressed to name a better version of either to ever pass my lips; the tired concept of 'lava cake' reinvented into something harkening brownie batter inside a chocolate cookie shell while the Quaking pudding somehow achieved the structure of panna cotta without an ounce of gelatin, the result far smoother and light like the base of a soufflé rather than that of a crème brulee, the later hinted at not in heft but rather by the boozy caramelized banana. read more

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We landed in London two days ago and are still trying to find our feet as the jet lag has taken a series toll on our ability to sleep well. Pushing through nonetheless - the first food destination on our itinerary was in a small village called Bray - probably best known as the sleepy little place that houses The Fat Duck - the number five restaurant in the world (it was number three in 2010 - Spain continues to reign supreme on the leader board). Bray has two pubs and two restaurants - the pubs are both owned by Heston Blumenthal as is The Fat Duck. The other restaurant is The Waterside Inn, which is run by the Roux brothers and is also one of the best restaurants in the UK. For such a fine dining destination it is interesting to note that Bray is literally one street surrounded by green rolling fields. To celebrate being back in the UK we invited WordMonkey's parents and my brother and his girlfriend to join us. And before I go on, WordMonkey said I shouldn't keep banging on about it, but all I will say is AU$40. I will explain more later. Pre-dinner we went for drinks at Heston's newest purchase - The Crown at Bray. The Hinds Head was built in the 15th century and although the building's original function is still the subject of speculation (some say it was a royal hunting lodge, others that it was a guest house for an abbot), we know that it was converted to a hostelry around 400 years ago. In more recent history, The Hinds Head has attracted both the famous and notorious, from King Hussain of Jordan to Errol Flynn and Walt Disney. It has also provided hospitality to the British royal family, entertaining Queen Elizabeth II in 1963. It is said that Prince Philip held his stag night at the Hinds Head before his marriage to the Queen in 1947. It has seen the likes of many a celebrity and hosted the wedding reception for Kate Winslett and (her now ex-husband) Sam Mendes, who is directing the next Bond film. Through the front doors you will find yourself at the bar, where Heston has been known to hang out as he also lives in town. Being winter, there are numerous fires roaring in different parts of the building. Should you have no booking it is possible to rock up and have the barman pull you a few pints while you gorge yourself on Heston's limited but excellent choices of bar food. We were escorted to the second floor I never knew they had and instantly I recognised the room from Heston's TV program Little Chef Big Chef. We were seated in Heston's boardroom in which he held meetings to be told he needed more 'blue-sky thinking'. The room is usually reserved for private parties and important meetings but otherwise the table is broken up and used as part of the dining area. Now comes the exciting part. To everyone I know, including myself, London has always been known to be a pricey-son-of-a-bitch. So my question to you is where in Australia can you go and have a three-course dinner to the standard of a dinner by Heston and it cost less than AU$40? Keep in mind this was offered during both the weekday and weekend over the Christmas break so there was no shortage of customers. I decided upon the set menu as two of the three dishes offered were going to be what I was going to order off the al a carte menu anyway. I was also amazed that two glasses of wine and two pints of local ale which would usually cost around $35 came in at only $15. And this wasn't exactly the local bowls club either. How the hell is Australia still able to trade with these crazy prices? But this is a conversation for another blog post. But what I will do is show the Australian equivalent price. We started with Heston's bar food, which we had previously had on a visit a few years ago and have since ben unable to match anywhere else in the world. Just good basic beer snacks of devils on horseback ($2.40), where prunes are wrapped in bacon and grilled. Not bad, but the real deal is his perfect scotch eggs ($4.60). It is funny how many Aussies are yet to have heard of this dish, but for those of you who do not know what it is - a soft-boiled egg is left to cool, then wrapped in sausage meat, then coated in breadcrumbs before being deep fried. The difficulty is ensuring the egg is still runny in the centre after two bouts of cooking. As you can see this was no problem for the maestro. Heston is one for offering what sounds like the most basic of dishes but then wowing people once the plate hits the table. The bog standard-sounding pea and ham soup ($10) was elevated to another level with the subtle ham flavour in a sea of bright fresh green soup. Perfectly balanced without being too thick and filling as a first course. I have heard much about The Hinds Head tea-smoked salmon with soda bread ($12) and was not disappointed. I received a good-sized serve of salmon, which had gentle tones of tea infused within it. This matched perfectly with the lemon butter, which was spread liberally on the dense - yet thinl read more

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Wonderful evening to celebrate our Son's birthday. So glad we chose the Hinds Head. Not stuffy, great service from knowledgeable staff and the food was on another level. Special mention to the 'Quavers', Scotch egg, pea and ham soup, heritage tomato salad and the strawberry tart. Thank you for making it so memorable. read more

This place is a good introduction to traditional English pub food. Tudor building and dark hardwood floors. Great food! Simple yet delicious. The Scotch Quail Eggs is the best that I had. Hinds Head specialty is the triple cooked chips (fries in American English) Crispy yet fluffy. One of the surprise is the Quaking pudding. It looks a very plain panna cotta. It's white in colour, spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg. It reminds me of custard,creme brulee and pudding all put together. Ambiance is casual, a bit noisy and smoky. Reservations is recommended. The same owner of Fat Duck owns this place. But the price is better at Hinds Head :) read more

Popped in for a drink the night before and enjoyed the feeling of the place and promptly booked for lunch the next day. We had an excellent bottle of wine and the food was amazing. read more

The Hinds Head - Upstairs bar area - Pubs Near Me - Bray, WNM

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We went for lunch to The Hinds Head Bray as we wanted to try Heston inspired dishes but in a relaxed gastro-pub atmosphere. Whilst we waited for lunch to arrive, we tucked into their famous Scotch eggs - bite through to a runny quails egg! We enjoyed a fab three course set lunch menu, with a great chicken stew and poached plaice. Unfortunately, the Shepherd's Pie was a bit over-salted for our taste; but a nice dish otherwise. Great desserts including creme brulee with shortbread and raspberry fool. They even created a special dessert for me out of strawberries. Thanks for an amazing lunch, with wonderful food and very attentive service. Also, thank you for catering to my gluten-free/low FODMAP diet request. We will be back again soon. read more

As a Londoner when I venture out of the city it has to be for something really worthwhile (obligatory family visits up north aside). Both my friend, her toddler and my sister went here after reading a few recommendation. Upon entering the establishment we were thoroughly disappointed with the welcome we received. There were no tables available so we decided to wait for one. After watching and overhearing other customers being seated without any booking we decided to address this matter with the manager who came across as rude and quite discriminating. As we did not want to ruin our weekend in the countryside any further we left, which is a a shame as both the food menu and drinks were really nice. read more

Dear Heston Blumenthal, You are my pub food god. Your scotch eggs are the stuff of dreams. Piping hot with that velvety, runny yolk. I could have just kept ordering those and skipped dinner all together. (Thought I'm glad I didn't.) And what kind of liquory goodness were those dates soaked in? They were so soft and plump. Truly little devils. I ordered the snail hash. I really wanted to try some of the dishes with dates on them. I love the fact that you took the time to resurrect and revamp those old dishes of England. The snails were perfect. Lovely, tender, unadulterated. The pickled walnuts, the fennel- a dining companion of mine said it best, "There are so many interesting flavors here." Exactly. So many different flavors coming together in such an interesting and wonderful dish. I loved it. The ham and pea soup is a thing of beauty. Not the kind of thick, grey-green pea soup I'm used to. Bright green and so absolutely pea flavored. Like spring in my mouth. Incredible. After that it was the chicken thigh with a side of champ. The humble chicken thigh. Made glamourous and rich. At first I thought it was garnished with parmesan chips- I can't tell you the gleeful noise that came from my throat when I realized it was super crispy, salty chicken skin instead. The chicken was perfect and tender. The sauce was tangy and thick. And the champ! Well the name says it all now, doesn't it? Perfect with the chicken. Highly recommend that combo. The fish pie with the "sea and sand" is such a beautiful and playful presentation. Two of my companions (both born and bred English boys) loved it, and both wiped their plates clean. For dessert I got the treacle tart- I know that the quaking pudding is the big thing at Hinds Head, but I'm simply not that big a fan of that panna cotta texture. And I AM a fan of treacle. Most surprising on that plate though was the milk ice cream. It was so clean and bright and refreshing. A perfect foil to the rich treacle tart. The service was impeccable. The environment was perfect. A lively Saturday night in a lively pub. I can't thank you enough, dear sir, for you culinary genius. Next year I'll be back- and I'll be at Fat Duck. See you then. Sincerely, EM read more

After popping in at Windsor to see the Queen we made our way to nearby Bray to visit the king. That would be Heston Blumenthal, proprietor of the Fat Duck and most revered of British Culinary Royalty. Fortunately we were able to sample his pub-style cuisine without the cost and complexity of FD. We were fortunate to visit on a Sunday when a traditional roast is on offer in addition to the usual menu. I opted for the powdered duck ham with heritage tomatoes and quail egg and the wild mushrooms on toast. The thinly sliced ham and soft boiled quail eggs were perfectly complemented by the heirloom tomatoes and truffle mayo. The mushrooms were rich and earthy on chewy toast, simple but just right. Daughter got the Sunday roast which started with ham and pea soup which turned out to be a bright green, frothy purée with chunks of ham.it was so fresh tasting that it seemed to have grown fully cooked on the vine. On top of the tureen of soup was a perfect scotch egg. Next course was tender roast beef slices with Yorkshire pudding and roast potato quarters. The potatoes were a thing of beauty, light brown with a thick crust and insides that practically melted in you mouth. I don't know what he did to those potatoes but, I still think about them two weeks later. There was also a nice side of veg and a quaking pudding for dessert. My wife got the roast plaice and said it was some of the best fish she has ever had. I tasted a bite and could not disagree. Really good house-made bread was also provided. Not cheap but the quality was up there with any top restaurant. Long live the king! read more

Sat in the middle of the picturesque village of Bray, the Hind's head is a first rate, very busy Gastro Pub. The place was (as usual) very busy, but despite the pressure the staff are friendly and helpful. There is very limited parking in Bray, but there are small car parks on the edge of town, so it isn't a problem. The Hinds Head is a 15th Century building now owned by Heston Blumenthal of the nearby 3 Michelin starred Fat Duck restaurant. This is a nice pub, and you could go there for a drink, but the place is dominated by people eating. Real ales are £3-4 a pint, the extensive wine list starts at around £4 per glass. Starters range from £6.50-12.50 and included: Pea & Ham Soup; Potted Shrimps with Watercress Salad; Dandelion Salad with Bacon and Quails Eggs; 6 Duchy Rock Oysters. The mains are generally from £13-£20 and included: Lancashire Hotpot; Whole Sea Bream with Fennel; Pork Sausages with Mash and Caramelized Onion Gravy; Skate Wing with Capers, Lemon and Parsley. Fillet Steak on the Bone at £29 but beware vegetables are extra at £3-5 each. I went for the Tea Smoked Salmon with Soda Bread (£8.75): this was very nice, only spoiled for me by the home made bread being cut so thin it broke up when you tried to pick it up. I followed this with Oxtail & Kidney Pudding (£14.95) with Triple Cooked Chips (£4.50), broccoli with anchovies and almonds (£2.75). The pudding was gorgeous: really rich gravy and full of flavour, the chips were excellent too, but for me the broccoli with anchovies and almonds didn't work. Highly recommended either for a special occasion, or on a warm summer evening when you can walk through the village and chill out... read more

I went to The Hinds Head this past weekend and wrote an entire post (with beautiful photos included) on my blog: http://thesouthernstump.blogspot.com/ I loved The Hinds Head because it didn't have the stuffy feel of a Michelin restaurant...more relaxed pub environment...but the service and food were as you would have in a Michelin locale. I had a Quail Scotch Egg, Cod and Cheeseplate and all were AMAZING!!!! If you are in Bray and debating where to eat...obviously, go for The Fat Duck if you a) have the money and b) can get in...but if not, Heston's gastro pub will give you your perfect foodie fix ;)!!! read more

Took my team of 6 there last night and the staff and food were great. I had the Scottish egg (x2), the ribeye, chips, and turnips. All spot on! The chips were the best I've ever had (but I'm a Yank...so who knows actually if they are just typical British chips). Another member of my team had the bass and raved about it. The desserts were unique and tasty. We were there for nearly 3 hours and couldn't have enjoyed the ambiance and evening more. read more

Am tempted to give four stars - only beacuse they ran out of the Eton Mess pudding. Lunch at Hind's Head was part of a weekend food orgy to celebrate my birthday. Dinner the previous evening was at Caldesi in Campagna (see separate entry) and breakfast that morning at Red Roofs (see separate entry). Lunch at Hind's Head (roast beef +++) rounded off the weekend perfectly. It's rare to find great food being served in such a relaxed setting. Thank you God. read more

This traditionally styled English pub is set in the small village of Bray, owned by Heston Blumenthal and somewhat overshadowed by the better known (and vastly more expensive) Fat Duck restaurant. We went for a long lunch with work colleagues on a warm and sunny spring day. We arrived one by one and found a nice quiet corner of the wood beamed bar for a couple of pre-lunch drinks. We were welcomed to our table by very friendly staff and seated quite comfortably in the back of the restaurant - it did get a little on the warm side toward the end of the meal, so I would expect that on really hot days this could become a bit of a problem, though for us it was fine. We had a number of nibbles to get us going, the devils on horseback being particularly popular - though at about £7 for two (yes 2) this was a bit over priced. Overall the menu had a nice selection of tasty sounding dishes, though felt a bit light on the fish side - there was only really 1 dish and it sounded uninspiring. Prices were on the higher end of your gastro-pub types, though were mostly appropriate for the quality of the food and the service. I say mostly, as the food was very good, but it wasn't great - hard to place exactly why, but (for example) I felt the nut oil used in the dressing for the salad of my starter resulted in a quite flat taste - it didn't cut through the other components of the dish enough, nor was it balanced by another strong flavour, so didn't quite make the dish pop - don't get me wrong, it was still nice, just left me wanting a little. Main course was a steak with a 'bone marrow' sauce, which was pretty good overall (and cooked properly 'rare' which was good), though was ultimately just a steak (again - I felt it could have been a bit better, though possibly this feeling was being driven from the presentation of the restaurant - it is promised under the guise of quality and fine dining in traditional pub atmosphere, though didn't quite fulfil these expectations - leaving me feel I was a bit oversold - I think mainly due to the menu choice). Did I enjoy it? definitely - tasted good. Did I want it to be better? Yes! The service was very good, mostly in the background, kept the table in flowing seamlessly, and helpful during food and wine selection; and pleasantly knowledgeable about the dishes and the wine and the correlation of the two. Overall I would say this is a nice solid good dining experience, though it seems to struggle a little with its menu and trying to fit into a pub-style menu whilst retaining that fine dining promise - not sure if they've really got it quite right yet, but I wouldn't be unhappy to go back and see how they're doing again in the future :-) I would suggest going here if you want to take a client for lunch, or possibly dinner, or want a good dining experience out for you and someone special - though probably not a 'special occasion' place if you're wanting that special treat - the menus just don't cut it in my opinion. read more

I called on the spur of the moment and they were able to accommodate me even though I was on my own. Gods must have been smiling on me, as I was able to get the table with only 30 minutes advance notice. When I arrived, it was busy in the Resturant yet I was immediately shown to my table. The server was truly fantastic, very helpful in making my selections for my main and pairing of wine with it. I had Salmon on bread as starter. Followed by the triple fired chips with chicken, ham and leek pie, accompanied with crispy green salad. To finish off as a treat I had Cherry Bakewell tart with yogurt ice cream. All in all a fantastic meal and surely giving the restaurants in Paris run for their money. Though it has some ways to go to match the experience of Prosper et Fortunee in Paris. Definitely will come here again. I came on a business trip, traveling from California, and have to say food here is far better then anything we get back home read more

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What a place to happen into! I was staying nearby during a business trip and we happened in here without knowing what to expect. We were still a bit jet lagged so were early for dinner. The formal dining room was fully booked, a fairly common occurrence per the wait staff, so we sat at a table next to an open fireplace near the bar, which was perfect on a damp night. The food was magnificent; the dishes my colleague and I ordered that evening combined traditional English cooking with a strong modern sensibility. I started with the Smoked Salmon and Soda Bread and was right away impressed. The salmon tasted very fresh and the portion size was more generous than I had expected. I decided to be a bit adventurous and had the Wild Boar Sausage. I was rewarded with another good sized portion of sausage that tasted like nothing I have ever had in the US. Somewhere between Mom's meatballs and the pork sausages more recognizable in the states. I finished with Sussex Pond Pudding on the recommendation of one of the waiters. When it first arrived I was expecting a flan type custard but was pleasantly surprised by the taste of lemon and the consistency similar to tapioca pudding, although not as soft. Finally, the wait staff at the Hinds Head was unbelievably good. We were not sitting in the formal dining area, but they were extremely attentive, very hospitable and the best among them spoke about the cuisine and the restaurant like an expert. If you are travelling West of London, stopping off here is definitely worth the visit. read more

Highly recommend by friend of mine . It was not very good experience at all . In fact during the meal no one come service at all expect taken the order and put food on the table . I had a pea ham soup . It was too salty . I only had four spoons .Then i wish the main meal will be better . I had salmon fish cake , it was funny look for fish cake ,it was very salty I could not swallowing it and it was too raw for cooked properly for me. Of course. I had a nice glass wine from Chill. I do wish the top chief give more time for the kitchen and staffs . I won't ever drive that far just for that kind service . read more

Easily the best meal I've had in the UK. Creative menu and correspondingly complimenting wines. It's a little hard to get to from London, but was worth the trip. read more

I would like to start by saying that we where trying to book the fat duck but could not get a booking but with the weekend already booked up the Hinds head was our destination. It is a lovely setting down in bray, from the beautiful houses to the stunning greenery As you walk into the pub the sign above the door says "duck or grouse"it just made me smile as we walked in ,It was very busy in the bar with the locals but managed to get a seat straight away as we were early for our booking . As we perused the drinks & cocktail menu i was thinking to myself im not going to remember leaving here! so when it was time to go the table our host took us through the back to the dining room and you have to duck down a bit to enter under the big wooden beam , i think it adds to the casualness of the restaurant , It has that sort of fine dining edge to it but it is so relaxed. At the table we where given our menus and approached by a very bubbly waitress , straight away i could see the difference in michellin star pub to a michellin star restaurant just by the service it isnt stuffy it isnt scripted and it was more natural than hearing the same waiter say the same thing to the table next to you and then the other table next to you.. So down to the food I dont usaully eat the bread you get at the start of a meal but oh my was the bread good it was very light and with the salted butter i could have ate that all night. To start my wife had the rabbit & ham haugh terrine and i had the hash of snails. The terrine was stunning, turning very humble ingredients to something wonderful is a skill in its own and the piccalili just turns it the on its head by offering something different to the dish. As for the snail hash to my delight as i looked down at my plate i could see a nice slice of bread underneath the snails but the snails and the fennel were the stars with the garlicky snails the fragrant fennel both not over powering each other. To the main event My wife had the free range chicken thighs,char baby gem, peas & bacon, i wasn`t going to ask for a taste of her dish but before i know there was a bit of the chicken thighs on the edge of my plate as she said "you need to try this" i duly did and i have never thought chicken thighs could taste so good, it was tender , moist and tasty (another humble ingredient made wonderfully). I had the veal sirlion ,it was so melt in the mouth it was hard to believe it was veal but it was nothing short of amazing. Now i love a good chip BUT the hinds head do make the best chip i have ever tasted , crispy outer and light and fluffy inside. I would walk from Glasgow to Bray just for the chips alone. Onto the the desserts i had the cherry bakewell, A classic dessert deep filled and with a crispy pastry could`nt asked for anything more on the other hand the chocolate wine slush and millionaire short bread justs plays with your mind cant say how it works together but it just does i just cant explain!! As for the cocktails thats a reveiw in its self , they where all amazing. So all in all we had a fantastic meal at the hinds head , I was disappointed we could`nt get a booking at the fat duck but it is a one time only restaurant ( to us normal folk) but the hinds heads is a place i would make time to visit when i could. read more

I do have to give any restaurant props for dealing with me when I'm drunk. Seriously. From me being loud to shouting "NO" at the waitress when she wanted to take away my wine glass (which wasn't even used), everything was taken with a smile. So that's a definite plus. The Hinds Head (no apostrophe) is located within spitting distance of its pretentious older brother: The Fat Duck. And even though The Hinds Head (no apostrophe) holds its own Michelin star, the two places are definitely as different as night and day. It's inside of an old timey pub, probably built before America even existed, and the door is the first sign of this. Duck. I had a drunken head smash into the top of the door. But it was all good. The service is pretty spectacular. A pub that takes your coat? Yes please! They also decanted our red wine (hence the empty glass that was attempted to be removed). They have an interesting cocktail list and a reasonably interesting wine list. Even if the first wine we wanted was sold out. Which we found out after the main course I wanted was also sold out. I was not a drunken happy camper. I had a half a scotch egg, a devil on horseback, the hash of snails, the rib eye with marrow gravy and triple-cooked chips, and the Christmas quaking pudding for dessert. The scotch egg is spectacular and served with a mustard sauce. I was slightly concerned about the pinkness of the sausage, but being drunk I just ate it. I think I survived. The devil on horseback was a mouth sensation. Lovely. The hash was tasty, but not as tasty as my dining companions' starters, so I lost on that round. The steak was nicely cooked, not the best in the UK, but tasty, and the gravy was pretty amazing. The chips steal the show and really if you go to The Hinds Head (no apostrophe) make sure you order them because you won't regret it. Dessert was awesome, like a warm panna cotta with all the flavors of Christmas. And it's jiggly. When you're drunk, a jiggly dessert is highly entertaining. I also had a bite of the mulled wine slush and it was super tasty. They also gave us a piece of paper with the history of the quaking pudding and the mulled wine, so that was a nice touch. The dessert wine we ordered with it was also absolutely amazing. But it's still a pub! After all that people were hanging out around the bar. Crisps were hanging from behind it. There were real British cask ales available. It's warm and welcoming and definitely worth a trip if you need something a bit more laid back while you're enjoying fine dining in Bray. And thanks to the lovely employees who dealt with us sitting there talking and enjoying our wine until almost midnight. They almost (but not quite) had to throw us out, but they were really cool about it. And our waiter even offered to drive us back to Maidenhead as our cab was taking too long, but we stuck it out for the cab (although with the £10 overhead, we should have taken the ride). Long live The Hinds Head (no apostrophe) and if I ever make it back to Bray, this place will be revisited. read more

Yum, yum, YUM! First and foremost, when entering the building... DUCK! As in crouch down a bit as you may be prone to hitting your head on the entrance if you're tall. Which I'm not, but I saw it happen! Right, so awesome old pub from the 16th century which may have been used as a hunting lodge for your favorite monarch and mine, Henry VIII, CHECK! Things I consumed: scotch egg, ham hock and foie gras terrine, ribeye with triple cooked chips and bone marrow gravy, treacle tart with milk ice cream. Oh, and a side of parsnips with chestnuts and bacon. Did I eat every last bit of this feast? Yes. Was I completely satisfied? YES. I was so glad to see the triple cooked chips on the menu as the potatoes weren't properly in season during my last Heston dining experience at Dinner. I kept "accidentally" losing my chips in the gravy to let them soak up the goodness while still remaining so incredibly crisp. The ribeye was one of the better steaks I've had in the UK, the terrine was fantastic and the piccalilli on the side really made it outstanding. And I could eat those Scotch eggs by the dozen. Be aware that when using the ladies' loos, you will be watched by the queen and possibly her corgis! And if you shut the place down and your taxi is late to arrive, your extremely nice waiter may offer you and your dining companions a ride back to the hotel (which we should have taken him up on in hindsight)! Would love to return. Loved it to bits. read more

Last night, my partner and I celebrated 6 months of being together. Yes. Six months. It's felt like it's been longer - in a good way. I digress. Back to the food review - though I wish I had a way to write a review about said partner. So, we got there about 10 minutes ahead of schedule, and were shuttled to the bar for a pint first. I think what most people lack in their reviews is a discussion about the types of lagers and ales that the Hinds Head has. We started out with a Cotswold Wheat Beer and a Rebellion Brewery High Seas - both local smaller time breweries with great tasting booze. Kudos to the Hinds Head for supporting micro-breweries in the UK. At 7pm, we were then whisked up to our table in the attic space. Decor is brilliant and the exposed beams make this Tudor style interior shine. Definitely cosy and romantic. For starters, we both shared a Chicken Liver Parfait. No, we didn't do the scotch eggs like what every one else here has had - too touristy for our taste :) When it arrived, it looked like a creme brulee. Caramel coated brownness on the out side - smooth pink fluffy liver pate on the inside. Absolute heaven! Yum. Next up, mains. We had the Cod with celeriac puree - and it was absolutely delicious. We were warned that it would be served warm - as cod should be to retain flavour. It was good. I had a chicken thigh with bacon in a red wine sauce. It's not on the regular menu, and now that I look back on the Hinds Head site, I'm glad I had it. They had removed the skin from the thigh and blow torched the sucker into oblivion - well, just till it was rigid and stiff for decorative sake. But it was really tasty and the chicken thigh was perfectly seasoned as well. The only thing is that it was also served warm - which I made a comment to the waitress about later. I understand the cod being served warm, but not the chicken. Bit disappointing. Anyway, they made up for it later - since I had to endure a cold piece of chicken by the time my dinner was complete - and gave me a glass of dessert wine on the house. Kudos for the great service Hinds Head. Truly remarkable. We had the mixed winter vegetables and the triple fried chips as sides and they also did not disappoint. Dessert was a Wassailing pie/tart circa 1400. With slivers of apples and a pomora on top. It was served with a cider sauce and was delectable. All in all, a great meal. Would I come back? Yes!! It is a little far from London, but certainly worth the trip. Great food, great service. Tip top! read more

The food was good, but the service was appalling. We asked them to decant an expensive bottle of Italian wine whilst we had cocktails upstairs, but they failed to do this, this not allowing the wine to show its full potential. The servers seemed to lose interest in us once the food was served. Unfortunately, they did not earn there compulsory 12.5% service charge read more

Heston is widely regarded as one of Britain's most innovative chefs, and it goes without saying that dining at one of his restaurants has always been on my London bucket list. I've had a few friends make the trek out to Bray for the Hinds Head, and I thought it was a brilliant way to experience Heston without the usual difficulty of getting a reservation months in advance and breaking the bank. Getting the train from London was relatively easy (a fast train gets you to Maidenhead in less than 25 minutes), and then it's a 5 minute / 8 pound cab ride to get to the restaurant. We walked on our way back, and it's half an hour on a fairly straightforward road, so that is a viable option too. The pub is quaint and styled as a very traditional English building, much like the type that you'd see in Stratford-upon-Avon. Inside, it was fairly dark and quiet, with generally very local English families sitting down for a nice calm meal. It wasn't exactly full of energy - maybe that's more of a London thing. We got a Scotch egg to start, which is a small bite size for £3.75. Then as a main, I ordered the beef roast and my friend got the pork roast, as they only had those two options for Sunday roast. Pork is a more unusual meat than the typical beef, lamb, and chicken, and it came with crackling and looked pretty good. I was only told that my beef would come pink, which I was totally ok with. The roasts were served with carrots, cabbage, and beans, which was also a twist on the more standard roast carrots and parsnips. I wasn't a big fan of that, to be honest, as they were quite bland in taste and nothing special. What was more interesting was the bottled beers they had on tap, as I had a good Belgium blonde and my friend got an Italian one that was 10% ABV. I didn't see a menu for the beers on tap, but for my second one, I wandered over to the bar area and went with a local Berkshire brew. The service staff were friendly and attentive, and the restaurant wasn't particularly busy on a Sunday afternoon. But overall, I was somewhat disappointed with the Hinds Head, as I just didn't think it was anything standout or particularly worth the trek. Perhaps the goodwill from the Michelin raters just naturally bestowed another Michelin star on Heston's work. But I think you have to go the fine dining route to get the true experience. read more

Great food, 2nd floor decor is very enjoyable. Staff was friendly and competent. Would be happy to return for a another visit. read more

We found this by chance and have been back several times. There's no problem getting a table any night. Downstairs you can avoid the idea that this is a restaurant and enjoy an exceptional meal in a warm atmosphere. Upstairs the atmosphere is a little more wine, a little less beer, and a good place for a slightly more formal dine. Don't expect standard pub grub - this is fancy - and do make demands on your wait service to talk you through everything - they are ready to and it's great to listen to. read more

Heston Blumenthal is a God in the food world, but I have been disappointed twice in his Bray gastropub. The dining room is typical English pub and attractive. The service is nice. But the menu is difficult and somewhat short, even for a gastropub. And it's not cheap. I recommend saving your money for The Fat Duck, or making a reservation at Caldesi in Campagna if you just happen to be in Bray around dinnertime. read more

Good food, but might have to go a little less frequently. The menu just doesn't update often enough

Best scotch egg I've ever tasted. Chicken liver pate was divine! Beautiful place, great service, nice history. Ale flight is a must.

The food is fantastic and the quality and thought that has gone into every dish is apparent. The prices are high but not for what you get. The menu consists of pub favorites with a Heston Blumenthal twist. My partner had several gin and tonics here and swears they were the best she has ever had! And she's had few... Great place for a birthday celebration or a special meal. The staff are very pleasant. the pub has a good selection of beer. read more

I think this pub was better before it was owned by Mr Blumenthal. I do agree it is a lovely traditional pub in a beautiful setting and a great find for tourists and townies getting out of London for the day. However the food is very over priced for pub food - because, let's face it ..it is still a pub! It does have a separate restaurant and they can charge what they like here - but the pub itself should remain as was! read more

This place is ran by Heston Blumenthal- owner of The Fat Duck, which has been awarded best restuarant in the world. The style of this place is classic english pub. All the recipies are from a recipie book he found which was written hundreds of years ago. The sort of food you can expect to find is steak in a bone marrow sauce, which is so so good. Shepards pie, sausage and mash etc. Its a little bit pricy, but not too bad- expect to pay about £65 for two people including drinks & tip. Its well worth a visit- espically if you cannot afford to eat at The Fat Duck. Staff are brilliant as well. Very helpful and can recommend wine to go with what you order. read more