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 Chef Adam Handling MBE’s Michelin Bib Gourmand-awarded restaurant and pub, with guest bedrooms. 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 has two luxurious guest rooms for overnight stays. Their motto is 'sustainable British luxury', which is a nice strapline, but these guys really mean it, with their own kitchen garden out the back growing fruits, vegetables, herbs and edible flowers to incorporate in their dishes and cocktails, 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've been included in The Sunday Times ‘Best Places to Stay’ list, were named ‘Best Pub for Food’ in the Great British Pub Awards 2023, and have been featured in SquareMeal’s Top 100 Restaurant list and Estrella Damm’s Top 50 Gastropubs – currently sitting at no.23.

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.

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 caviar, anyone? –  while starters and main courses take in everything from ‘Beef tartare, egg yolk, garden herbs’ and 'Duck, aubergine, baby gem’ to pub staples like ‘Fish & chips, mushy peas’ and ‘Beef & lardo burger, bacon jam, Cheddar cheese, fries’. Puddings include hearty and traditional choices like ‘L&T trifle’, ‘Sticky date pudding, walnut, clotted cream’ and ‘Chocolate & hazelnut mousse. On Sundays, they offer roasts – including Beef Wellington, pork belly, half roast chicken, and a 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.