The Loch & the Tyne

Based not far from the Thames in the large village of Old Windsor, just outside Windsor itself, The Loch & the Tyne is the latest offering from the talented and prolific British chef and restaurateur, Adam Handling. It's his contemporary take on a traditional British pub, serving food that's more than a notch above most of the typical pub fare you might find elsewhere, and also has two luxurious guest rooms for overnight stays. Their motto is 'sustainable British luxury', which is a nice strap-line, but these guys really mean it, with solar panels and their own kitchen garden out the back, making it not only a candidate for an easy break-out weekend from London, but one that you can feel quite smug about, too. Unsurprisingly, they were recently included in The Sunday Times ‘Best Places to Stay’ list and named ‘Best Pub for Food’ in the Great British Pub Awards 2023.

First, the pub's two guest rooms, one of which is really a suite, furnished with a comfy super-king-size bed, a free-standing bathtub in the living area and a beautiful en-suite bathroom; the other is much the same but everything is scaled down a bit, with a king-size bed and no living area. Each has a Smart TV, coffee- and tea-making facilities and the bathrooms include high-end toiletries, homemade bath salts and personal touches throughout. Rates also include a superb breakfast and the chance to take their 'Nespresso Velosophy' bike – made out of recycled Nespresso capsules – for a spin around the beautiful Berkshire countryside.

Meanwhile, the pub has the pleasing feel of a modern inn – a place to drink but mainly eat, from a seasonal menu that's deliberately British in tone and ingredients. They do a terrific selection of bar snacks – cheese doughnuts or hash browns with English caviar, anyone? –  while starters and main courses take in everything from ‘Beef tartare, pickled mushroom, crispbread’ and ‘Duck, turnip, mushroom, lingonberry’ to pub staples like ‘Fish & chips, mushy peas, curry & tartare sauce’, ‘Beef & lardo burger, bacon jam, Ogleshield cheese, fries’ and ‘Mac & cheese’. Puddings include hearty and traditional choices like ‘Gingerbread trifle’, ‘Treacle tart, lime cream’ and ‘Tarte tatin’ for the table, and on Sundays, they offer roasts – including beef Wellington, pork belly, half roast chicken, and a fish and veggie option served with all the trimmings – at the centre of a two- or three-course menu.

Old Windsor itself is a lovely place to stay, with the Great Park right on your doorstep, not to mention Windsor proper on its far side, and of course the river nearby – somewhere to escape to for a couple of days, with terrific food and a touch of luxury.