With TWO Michelin star restaurants in the county and an abundance of phenomenal fine dining restaurants offering a range of delectable dishes from creative chefs, foodies are spoiled for choice.
SoGlos rounds up 15 of the most fantastic fine dining restaurants in Gloucestershire, promising heavenly flavours, the very best seasonal produce and exceptional service.
Lumière in Cheltenham
Having been awarded the first brand-new Michelin Star in the county for more than a decade, as well as featuring in Harden's Top 100 Restaurant list for 2023, Lumière is one of Cheltenham's finest restaurants, offering an intimate and sophisticated environment, with a menu of artistically-presented modern British cuisine.
The venue invites foodies to sample its four, six and eight-course menus featuring dishes like Scottish line caught cod with nori, cauliflower and fennel; new season asparagus with morel, chicken, three-cornered leek and truffle; and 40-day aged Belted Galloway with beef fat potatoes, roscoff onion and oxtail - with vegetarian and other dietary-specific options also available.
The Fox at Oddington
Carole Bamford's newest Cotswold pub, The Fox at Oddington near Stow-on-the-Wold has recently undergone a huge refurbishment, transforming the 16th century inn into a stylish gastropub with an impressive garden.
It offers a variety of dining options from an à la carte menu to bar snacks and pizza, which impressed Michelin inspectors so much it made their list of favourite new restaurants in December 2022.
Jonas at GL50 in Cheltenham
GL50 is the passion project of chef director Jonas Lodge, who trained under Heston Blumenthal, offering ever-changing menus in an informal but luxurious setting, with a focus on reducing waste.
Some of GL50’s menu options include Huntsham Farm pork, leeks, red quinoa, roast onion and apple; pollock, salsify, broccoli, potato and goats cheese; and mushroom parfait, truffle, fermented celeriac, apple and celery – with desserts like dark chocolate, whisky, almond and cherry; and rhubarb and custard served with Cheshire saffron ice cream.
Prithvi in Cheltenham
Housed inside No.38 The Park, Prithvi is a fine dining Indian restaurant, which serves both modern and traditional cuisine in stylish surroundings.
Promising a relaxed but memorable dining experience, the menu blends exquisite techniques and presentation with authentic Indian flavours, creating brightly coloured dishes that are delightfully refined.
Wilder in Nailsworth
Located on Nailsworth's Market Street is modern fine dining restaurant, Wilder. With head chef Matthew Beardshall - who has worked with some of the UK's best chefs including Gordon Ramsay, Marcus Wareing, Angela Hartnett and more - at the helm, the venue offers a foodies an inspiring array of gastronomic delights.
The restaurant offers a surprise eight-course tasting menu every night, with the choice to enjoy it with an arrival drink, five alcohol-free drinks matches, tea or coffee and petit fours; or with expertly matched wines.
The Slaughters Manor House in Lower Slaughter
The Slaughters Manor House is one of the finest 17th century country houses in the south of England, serving fine dining cuisine in its three AA rosette restaurant.
Light and contemporary, its stunning orangery is home to a team of fantastic chefs and delicious menus made with the very best produce the Cotswolds has to offer. Guests can visit The Slaughters Manor House for snacks and lounge food, afternoon tea, or a full fine dining service in its restaurant.
The Wild Rabbit in Kingham
Sister pub to The Fox at Oddington, The Wild Rabbit is a stylish gastropub located in the Cotswold village of Kingham. Offering modern British menus created using local, seasonal ingredients from its sister farm Daylesford, the venue promises a relaxed atmosphere, a warm welcome and incredible food.
The constantly changing menu features organic fruit and vegetables alongside organic and free-range meats, with mains like miso pumpkin dumplings, rosemary broth, pickled trompette and maitake bun; and charcoal grilled monkfish, chicken roasting juices, cauliflower, caramelised whey and samphire.
The Nook on Five in Cheltenham
Cheltenham's first rooftop restaurant, not only does The Nook on Five boast incredible views across the regency town and beyond, it also specialises in European fine dining, with an afternoon tea lounge and cocktail bar, too.
The seasonally changing menu incorporates the best local ingredients to make dishes such as beef shin and treacle pie, pomme puree, parmesan crumble and seasonal vegetables; pan fried halibut, charred sweetcorn, clam and brown shrimp chowder, samphire and seaweed; and white chocolate and pistachio iced parfait, clementine gel and pistachio brittle.
Lords of the Manor near Bourton-on-the-Water
Located near Bourton-on-the-Water in the heart of the Cotswolds, Lords of the Manor Hotel is home to two indulgent dining spaces – The Atrium and The Dining Room.
The Atrium is where diners can sample the venue’s tasting menu, offering impeccable standards and boasting three AA Rosettes, alongside being listed in the Good Food Guide; while The Dining Room offers an à la carte menu and a more relaxed experience with a quintessentially Cotswold feel - and is also open for weekend lunches.
Purslane in Cheltenham
Offering relaxed fine dining with a focus on seafood, Purslane is an independent restaurant in the heart of Cheltenham run by chef patron Gareth Fulford.
Using fresh and sustainably-caught seafood from Cornwall, Purslane’s menu changes bi-monthly and incorporates the best possible locally sourced ingredients to create interesting and inventive dishes - such as Cornish cod with miso butter, stuffed morels, Jerusalem artichokes, chicken crackling and cavelo nero; Cornish monkfish with confit Devon duck, heritage pear, duck hearts and chestnut; and Cornish hake with celeriac lasagne, Welsh wagyu beef and king oyster mushroom.
5 North Street in Winchcombe
Described as the ‘acme of excellence’ Restaurant 5 North Street in Winchcombe is an independent, modern British restaurant offering both an à la carte and a tasting menu for its guests.
While the menus are ever-changing, some of the restaurant’s signature dishes include duck and cherry confit with orchard chutney on toasted brioche; loin of venison bolognese, lentils, grilled figs and juniper reduction; and apple parfait, vanilla rice, blackberry sorbet and spiced crumble.
Le Champignon Sauvage Restaurant in Cheltenham
Gloucestershire's first Michelin-starred restaurant is one of the finest places to dine in the entire country. Run by husband-and-wife team, David and Helen Everitt-Matthias, Le Champignon Sauvage in Cheltenham prides itself on being unpretentious while producing exceptional food.
The restaurant features brightly coloured walls, comfortable chairs and generously sized tables along with a refined menu of dishes like lightly poached hake, salsify and hazelnut bon bons; Highfield Farm poussin, roasted poussin cream and slow roasted onion; and roasted Cotswold lamb with romaine lettuce, peas and sheep's curd.
Roots + Seeds Kitchen Garden in Cirencester
Cirencester's newest restaurant and new venture from the team behind The Scenic Supper, Roots + Seeds Kitchen Garden opens at The Bathurst Estate this Easter 2023. Family- and dog-friendly, the restaurant offers coffee, brunch, lunch and afternoon tea by day, with a gorgeous alfresco dining space and plenty of room for children to play.
Then by night, it's offering what it describes as 'elevated' service and food, with all of its menus showcasing modern British cuisine made with homegrown and local produce, with touches inspired by French fine dining. If the menu at The Scenic Supper is anything to go by, it's set to be one of the Cotswolds' most exciting new experiences.
Ellenborough Park in Cheltenham
With a plethora of exceptional dining experiences, from laid-back lunches, elegant afternoon teas to its exceptional à la carte menu, Gloucestershire's only five-star hotel, Ellenborough Park, is a must-visit for foodies.
Dine in its opulent wood-panelled dining room, the refined but relaxed Horse Box Brasserie, or its unique outdoor dining carriages when the weather is good and enjoy a truly memorable experience. There's a dedicated vegan menu, with the restaurant also able to cater for most dietary requirements with advance notice, too.
The Lygon Arms in Broadway
Just over the Gloucestershire border, The Lygon Arms in Broadway has recently become home to two new restaurants headed up by none other than celebrity chef, James Martin.
Following in the footsteps of its Chewton Glen sister hotel, the menus - created by Martin and his team - feature dishes like Thai-spiced Cornish crab risotto; dry-aged Longhorn beef wellington; Cotswold lamb shank; and his 'legendary' white chocolate and whisky bread and butter pudding, which are sure to attract gastronomes from across the county and beyond!
