Updated 10th July 2010
Cheltenham has an abundance of excellent restaurants, causal dining and bars, all within a short walk or taxi journey. We do recommend making a reservation as early as possible - especially at weekends!
From the famous Michelin starred to more modest choices - there is a cuisine and price to suit most.
Le Champignon Sauvage
David Everitt-Matthias and his wife Helen have been running the restaurant since 1987. In that time they have been quietly amassing a range of accolades including:-2 stars - Michelin Red Guide.
2 stars - Harden’s Guide.
4 AA rosettes.
Good Food Guide 2007, 8/10 rating.
(GFG County Restaurant of the Year 2005).
Catey Chef of the Year 2007.
National Chef of the Year.
Egon Ronay Dessert Chef of the Year.
Decanter Restaurant of the Year.
18/20 Matthew Fort, "The Guardian"
[book well in advance 01242 573449, or visit www.lechampignonsauvage.co.uk
Lumiere
NEWS FLASH - COTSWOLD LIFE RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR 2010. If you had set your heart on dining at Le Champignon Sauvage, and were unable to obtain a reservation, try Lumière and be impressed. For that special occasion, a small intimate restaurant offering an interesting menu, with dishes prepared to a very high standard. It is personally run by the new owners Jon and Helen [January 2009]. We have enjoyed dining at Lumière during the last few years and Jon and Helen have worked hard to significantly improve an already good restaurant to excellent standards. We personally recommend their tasting menu. Jon has been a professional chef for the past 12 years, with a background in Michelin Star hotels, Gastropubs and similarly highly rated restaurants, including Lords of the Manor, Lower Slaughter and The Castle House Hotel, Hereford. He has also worked at The Fat Duck. His focus is firmly on great ingredients and bold flavours with an interesting use of unusual ingredients and combinations. He excels in being able to put a new and interesting twist on traditional dishes and bring them into the twenty first century. [Tel: 01242 222200, or visit www.lumiere.cc
EQ
EQ [tel: 012424 250540], www.spif.co.uk/eqrestaurant a smart casual fine dining restaurant located in Winchcombe Street on the north side of Cheltenham. 35 minutes walk from Beaumont House or 10 minutes drive – but worth the short trip! EQ specializes in fish but certainly ensures that meat lovers are catered for as well. Sally Hadfield the Manager makes regular trips to the nearest large fish market to ensure that fresh top quality fish and shellfish are always on the menu. Her cousin owns the Restaurant and they have a talented young chef who is making a name for himself on the Cheltenham scene.
The Daffodil
The Daffodil [tel: 012424 700055], www.thedaffodil.com a smart casual fine dining restaurant located in an old cinema with an open kitchen positioned on the stage. 10 to 15 minutes walk from Beaumont House in the fashionable Suffolks area. Food standards are constant and we have noticed improvements on an already good standard during the last year, but service can be a little slow at busy times. We continue to receive positive comments back from guests. On Mondays visit if you like live jazz; always a sell out – so pre-book. The Daffodil is closed on Sundays.
The Langton
The Langton [tel: 01242 258941], www.thelangton.co.uk a gastro style pub located outside the town centre and 10 minutes drive from Beaumont House. Interesting varied menu offering appropriate value for money. We last visited in September 2009 and noticed a significant improvement to an already acceptable level of cuisine. Good off street parking.
The Royal Well Tavern
The Royal Well Tavern [tel: 01242 221212], or visit www.theroyalwelltavern a gastro style pub located in the town centre. A good menu offering an interesting selection of seafood. We enjoyed some of the best cooked fish that we have ever tasted – just cooked – just perfect! Good desserts and they promote a Sunday brunch – although we have not tried it ourselves.
Morans Eating House
Morans Eating House [tel: 01242 581411]. We always receive positive comments from guests about Morans. It is the nearest Western style restaurant within walking distance.
Exmouth Arms
A local pub for reasonable meal for the business traveler is the Exmouth Arms which is a 10 minutes walk from the Beaumont. The menu is limited, but the quality is appropriate for what is charged. You are not served with reconstituted indifferent quality frozen food.
The Beehive
The Beehive is the only pub in Cheltenham featured in the Michelin "Eating out in Pubs" guide and the Time Out magazine's "Eating out of London" guide. They describe themselves as: informal, vibrant, eclectic, great meeting place with a good atmosphere. Our view, an independent, traditional Cheltenham pub with local ales and great British food hidden in the heart of Montpellier in Cheltenham just 15 minutes walk from Beaumont House. www.thebeehivemontpellier.com
Après
Situated in the new Brewery complex adjacent to the multi screen cinema in the town centre. Bar and Eatery serving meals of a quality that exceeded our expectations when we visited in July 2008. We stopped by for a pizza and pasta before watching a film.
The Muffin Man
The best place for morning coffee, lunch or afternoon tea in town, hidden away in a lower ground floor location close to the bus station, is the Muffin Man one of Cheltenham's best kept secrets.
Thatchers
Another recommendation for an informal lunch, morning coffee etc. whilst shopping is Thatchers 101 Montpellier Street [behind the Ladies’ College]. Service is quick but not too professional. Food quality very good. Their fluffy omelettes are excellent! Open Monday – Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Ethnic:
Simpsons Fish and Chips
We are sometimes asked by overseas guests where they can enjoy English fish and chips. The first English fast food? Simpsons can probably claim to serve the best fish and chips in Cheltenham and it is part of a chain of three, with the benefit of dine in seating. Large cod at £4.90 and large chips at £2.05 is very good value considering the quality that we hope that you will enjoy! 10 minutes drive from Beaumont House with easy parking – 73 – 75 Priors Road GL52 5AL [tel: 01242 521694].
The Mayflower
probably the best Chinese restaurant in Cheltenham. However, on occasions service can be very slow, although the quality of food makes it worth the wait. [tel: 01242 522426].
Ruby
The owners of Ruby would probably say that they are the best Chinese restaurant in Cheltenham. They may well be right. Having worked and lived in Hong Kong and China for over 15 years, we find the Ruby’s food very authentic. They now have a new Chef who has made improvements to the already good standards. An added bonus, just 15 minutes walk from Beaumont House. Tel: 01242 250909 and web site www.rubycantonese.co.uk
Daphne Restaurant
They describe themselves as offering fine Turkish and Mediterranean cuisine. We have eaten there once and would return. Our impression is that they offer home cooked dishes of generous portion size. We enjoyed their kebabs and seafood risotto. It is run by the owners Ilhan who runs front of house whilst his wife Funda cooks. Visit their web site www.daphnerestaurant.com [tel: 01242 577299].
Indus
Indian [very close to Beaumont House tel: 01242 516676]. Indus maintains a consistent quality and remains a favourite of many of our return guests.
Thai Emerald
This is our favourite Thai restaurant situated in the town centre offering very authentic Thai food, and good service. Always popular and advisable to book. [01242 522004].
Curry Corner
Curry Corner [tel: 01242 528449], or visit www.thecurrycorner.com a family business serving authentic Bangladeshi food. Visited by the rich and famous: Michael Palin, Sir Richard Branson and Rick Stein have all dined here. We believe the secret to their great tasting food is the fact that they grind their own spice and only use quality sourced ingredients. On the down side we found prices a little too high and the portions a little too small for what was on offer. The one time that we visited service was very muddled.
Spice Lodge
Unusually located for such an ethnic restaurant in a smart Regency Villa at the foot of Eagle Tower and within 15 to 20 minutes walk of Beaumont House [01242 226300] offering an exotic blend of Thai and Indian dishes.
Indian Voojan
Situated in fashionable Montpellier, approximately 20 minutes walk from Beaumont House, a cut above other Indian Restaurants for food quality, décor and service. [Tel: 01242 228882]
Italian and Spanish Restaurants
Pane Vino
Opened in 2010 and conveniently located next to the Tourist Office on the Promenade is, in our opinion, the best Italian restaurant and Wine Bar in Cheltenham. It is not fine dining, but good rustic Italian food. Perhaps the only Italian restaurant in Cheltenham that makes their own pasta? The house wine by the glass is also of excellent quality. Paulo, one of the owners who works in the business, talks guests through the menu and wines with a depth of knowledge that is refreshing to find. Overall – great value for money. He has promised Beaumont House guests 10% discount off the a la carte menu. [Tel: 01242 257878], or visit www.pane-vino.co.uk
Gianni Ristorante and other Italian Restaurants
The next best of the independents is Gianni Ristorante, 1 Royal Well Place [Tel: 01242 221101]. The menu reminds us of the 1980’s. A lot of heavy sauces and cream. However, the food quality is good for the prices charged. Tends to be little noisy – so not the place for a quiet romantic meal for two.
We have recommended other independent Italian restaurants in the past, but on return visits they have disappointed and more importantly disappointed our guests. The chains such as Strada in Montpellier and Zizzi [tel: 01242 252493] located in a deconsecrated church, between Beaumont House and the town centre offer reasonable value and a more casual environment. Zizzi is child friendly.
La Tasca
A Spanish tapas restaurant and bar located in the town centre at 70 Regent Street [01242 220775]. Part of a small chain offering a wide inexpensive menu which represents good value for money. Best described as a fun family restaurant which features live music on some nights. If you crave authentic Spanish food, La Tasca is NOT the place to visit.
Hotels and Pubs within a 35 minute drive
Washbourne Court, Lower Slaughter
We first visited this von Essen Hotel for Sunday Lunch in April 2010. We were delighted with the food quality, service and value. In their main restaurant a 2 course Sunday lunch is £18 and £22 for 3 courses. If you are touring the Cotswolds, look no further for a great lunch. Tel: 01451 822143 and web site: www.washbournecourt.co.uk
Hollow Bottom, Guiting Power
Sadly we have not visited Hollow Bottom yet [we need more days off!], but have received positive comments from guests. Tel: 01451 850392 and web site: www.hollowbottom.com
The Colesbourne Inn Cheltenham, Gloucester, GL53 9NP
We have enjoyed three visits to the Colesbourne Inn. Their bar food menu delivers excellent value for money, whilst some guest may consider their a la carte menu expensive, considering the quality delivered, still good value.
Tel: 01242 870376 and web site: www.thecolesbourneinn.co.uk
LATEST - JUNE 2010 - NOW UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT, GOOD WRITE UP IN LOCAL PAPERS, NOT TRIED BY BEAUMONT HOUSE.
These are just a small selection. There are many other excellent restaurants in Cheltenham. We will be pleased to send you a dining out guide when you book accommodation. Please do ask!
