Out & About Autumn 2018

The Chequers Hotel, Newbury FOOD & DRINK - RESTAURANT REVIEW

HILARY SCOTT visits a very chic, refurbished Oxford Street Kitchen and Bar at the Chequers Hotel

I t’s not often in Newbury that you can imagine you are sitting in a cool Brooklyn hotel or New York brasserie. Not that I’m running the town down – it has plenty of gems of course – but the newly-refurbished Chequers

bistro food, also includes sandwiches and lunchtime fare as well as breakfast and afternoon tea. There’s a pretty garden at the back which is perfect for the afternoon tea. We both opt for fish to start from a menu that includes

Hotel and its Oxford Street Kitchen and Bar has a vibe that is unique in the town centre. It is light and airy with the dining areas painted dark sage green, with low pendant lights. Doors have been removed so you can spy the other eating areas, reception area and the bar, all of which makes it roomy yet cosy at the same time. Horse-racing paintings adorn the walls and in the reception area there’s a grand picture of Highclere, so it does still give a nod to local tradition.

a roasted vine tomato soup, a baked garlic Camembert, garlic and chive mushrooms and more. I have a crayfish and avocado salad (£7.95), a tumble of crayfish, sweet yellow tomatoes, salad leaves and slivers of cucumber. There’s a feast of crayfish in here and for once it’s the main ingredient rather than the salad leaves. A mustardy vinaigrette on the side is sweet and with a little kick.

My companion Dijana goes for the potted Cromer crab on toast (£7.95) – the crab is zingily fresh and quenelled on to crispy white toast. All it needs is the sweet pea shoots on top. The mains are divided into general mains, fish and steak. I have the fish and chips (£13.95) – beer battered fish with thin-cut chips and home-made mushy peas. Yannick Hugo

We’re served an aperitif at the smart bar by the charming Breton bar manager Yannick Hugo who looks after us very well all evening. An extensive dinner menu, which errs on the side of

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