Crab & Boar (Chieveley, Berkshire) Reviewed
There is something beautifully British, charming and heart-warming about a country pub with style and great food. Thankfully, the Crab & Boar in Chieveley (Berkshire) offers 2 AA rosette dining and fabulous 4-star accommodation for an idyllic take on the country pub concept. For us, this is one of favourite places of 2017 (so far) – warm, welcoming, delicious food, wonderful wines and an atmosphere other destinations can only wish for.
Dining
Whether you are on the hunt for fine-dining with a relaxed feel, or locally sourced seafood, or seasonal game dishes with real oomph or even stunning desserts, the Crab & Boar has it all. As a part of the Epicurean Collection, a selection of the UK’s best Inns with great dining, it came as no surprise to us that we were to experience more than your typical pub fayre. Bear with is if we dwell on the dining too much, it was just too good to miss anything out!
To start the meal, we were treated to a wood pigeon, with pan fried spring onions, lentil risotto, mushrooms and jus. The pigeon worked excellently with the earthy lentil risotto. Succulent, hearty and yet refined.
A highlight of the meal came in roasted lamb rump with Jerusalem artichoke, wilted kale and pomme puree. The lamb was tender and melted in the mouth. Beautiful! Similarly excellent was roast Lock Duart Salmon, asparagus, baby leaks and kale. Deliciously buttery, the dish sang of Spring and freshness.
To finish our meal, we were greeted with a plethora of mouth-watering treats from the dessert range. (See below!).
Our selection featured each of the menu’s desserts and they were all sublime. Ranging from a deconstructed lemon meringue complete, to a sensational passionfruit brulee and to a devilish chocolate and orange combination, any pudding lover would be in seventh heaven. Each one, and we can totally vouch for this, tastes as good as it looked. The highlight of the meal and a real surprise! We really hope the Crab & Boar look to add this selection to the menu, as it is currently only available on request.
Of course, there is also the option of a traditional Sunday roast and we expect this is excellent also!
Staying
The Crab & Boar offers a range of 14 luxurious, yet rustic and charming, country styled rooms. Some even boast their own hot tubs for an additional fee. Our accommodation featured a modern walk-in, waterfall shower and a spacious bathroom. All welcoming and contemporary. Our room didn’t quite hit the heights of the bathroom, as the close proximity to the bar area and the properties parking, meant that noise did filter through. A shame, as this was the only blemish on an otherwise faultless stay.
Rooms are dog friendly too, feel free to bring your pooch along for dinner or even a night’s stay. A lovely touch, especially in such a rural area.
The future
The future for the Crab & Boar also sounds very exciting indeed. According to the fabulous new team of management, led by Roger and Debbie, a new chef will be joining the already brilliant kitchen. With experience at the Four Seasons, big things are expected of this new arrival! Also, there are also rumblings of a garden to kitchen concept blossoming at this Chieveley location, thanks their ambition to get local food onto the menu.
Our visit showed just how much this countryside location had to offer. Fine dining, sublime rural surroundings and great service. With these cornerstones in place and with new developments on the horizon, we have high hopes the Crab & Boar can be permanently placed on the foodie map.
Find out more here.
