Trencherman’s trio: wine and dine

Looking for smart restaurants where you can discover unusual and interesting wines while eating incredibly well? The Trencherman’s Guide is full of finds like this terrific trio

Puro, Clevedon dessert wine and dine

Puro, Clevedon

The chic decor of this family-run restaurant makes it a fantastic find for an intimate dinner with someone special or a sociable supper with friends. And the impressive display of bottles at the entrance signals to diners they’re in for an indulgent evening of wining and dining.

New head chef Hayden Botha delivers polished versions of Puro staples, but has also introduced his own out-of-the-park take on seasonal dishes. The experienced chef (formerly of The Pump House in Bristol) has a knack for pairing rich flavours, a taste for locally foraged ingredients, and a pleasingly unfussy style of presentation.

Ask owner Dom Lamy for a wine pairing to square up to the ambitious dishes, and don’t leave without paying a visit to sister business Vintage & Vine. The bottle shop and wine bar is located above the restaurant and the perfect spot for a pre/post dinner drop.

Take a virtual visit here.

The Peppermill Devizes, Wiltshire

The Peppermill Devizes, Wiltshire

This smart boutique hotel is also open to non residents who swing by for the laidback vibe, home-from-home hospitality, great food and stonking wine and drinks lists (it scooped Trencherman’s Best Bar List 2020).

People travel for miles to wine and dine in the à la carte restaurant where chefs Declan Mcardle and Benjamin Gale craft two-AA-rosette dishes in an open kitchen. Fish lovers will appreciate creations such as Gigha halibut with baked hispi and fish cake lavished with a chicken butter sauce, while carnivores can relish dishes such as Wiltshire pork tenderloin, lamb rump, and chicken supreme.

The fish, veggie, charcuterie and cheeseboards are a good shout and can be paired perfectly with delicious picks from a wine list that includes 14 by the glass and detailed tasting notes.

Lympstone Manor, Exmouth

Lympstone Manor, Exmouth

Michael Caines’ two-decade long Michelin-star run continued unbroken when his five-star country house hotel was awarded a Michelin star within six months of opening. The luxe Manor boasts an 11-acre vineyard, six luxury shepherd’s huts, tennis courts and a sculpture garden, yet the heart of the experience is the uber-chef’s exquisite cooking and intelligent wine pairings.

Three elegant dining rooms provide a choice of atmosphere and aesthetics, while a world-class wine cellar and sommelier makes finding the perfect match for each course a breeze.

Take a virtual visit here.


Discover more unique wine and dine experiences in the Trencherman’s Guide. The 30-year-old guide reveals a hundred exceptional restaurants, foodie hotels and dining pubs from Cornwall to the Cotswolds. Get your copy here.

Events

march, 2024

Reviews

Restaurant Hywel Jones, near Bath

Restaurant Hywel Jones

The thought of splashing £200 plus on dinner for two might make you wince, but every penny is well accounted for in the uber luxe Lucknam Park experience.

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