Hand & Flowers.......
Author
Discussion

iiyama

Original Poster:

2,205 posts

230 months

Wednesday 16th October 2013
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......anyone been? Worth it?

Ilikebeaver

3,210 posts

210 months

Wednesday 16th October 2013
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I havnt been, but family members have and absolutely loved it.

I tried to book a table but for a Saturday evening I'm looking at a 12 month wait and £75 per person deposit to hold it.

Still would like to go

SimNugget

580 posts

199 months

Wednesday 16th October 2013
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I went a few weeks ago for my anniversary, stayed in one of their rooms. It is nice and good value for money I felt.

Bullett

11,171 posts

213 months

Thursday 17th October 2013
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Several times, but not since they got their 2nd star. It was excellent then.


hungry_hog

2,892 posts

217 months

Thursday 17th October 2013
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Went last summer and loved it. Simple food but oh so tasty and excellent service

daveevans

33 posts

197 months

Thursday 17th October 2013
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It's very good, went just after he'd won great british menu for the pork dish.

Did find the food quite stodgy/rich to be honest, you certainly get your moneys worth for a 2 star place, quite good portion sizes!

Engineer1

10,486 posts

238 months

Thursday 17th October 2013
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lovely food lovely place and they treat you the same if you are having the set meal with water as they do if you are a la carte with wine.

5678

6,146 posts

256 months

Thursday 17th October 2013
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Thoroughly recommended. Excellent in all aspects.

iiyama

Original Poster:

2,205 posts

230 months

Thursday 17th October 2013
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Ta muchly fella's. I shall look into booking a table and maybe a room while I'm at it!

prand

6,244 posts

225 months

Thursday 17th October 2013
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Yes - not sure what happened to my earlier post, but I've been a few times, I love it, and since recent publicity and the second star it's a long wait for a booking and the prices have gone up a a fair bit (possibly inflation, but it seems much easier to spend a lot more per head than it used to a couple of years ago). Then again his dishes do seem more ambitious and labour intensive, so that does cost. You can still get a good value set lunch for under £20, adn you'll get complimentary bits and bobs, but add further extras and drinks and it soon adds up to a big number.

Not to say it's bad value though, it's all well worth 2 Michelin star quality, and there are some really ingenious and delicious dishes. Last trip was for a long lunch with friends where we eventually had to leave shortly before the evening service, but staff were brilliant, and most accommodating. We had a whole range of great dishes, the Lamb bun, the carrot, braised venison, etc etc

Just the sort of place you want to go and enjoy, have great food, while relaxing and being treated in an informal atmosphere. It may seems a bit cramped and "pubby" to start with, but once the food comes out you forget all that.

Friends have stayed in the guest rooms, with good reports - try and get one with a tub too.

One thing that really worries me is how long will Tom Kerridge actually survive to keep this place running. He's a big feller, not in a healthy way, and seeing on his TV show, all he seems to live on is lard, double cream and raw cane sugar, he needs to look after himself for our sakes!

Dr Murdoch

3,942 posts

164 months

Thursday 17th October 2013
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The rooms and food are nice, I stayed in one of the rooms last year. I made the mistake of having lunch and dinner there though, sounds good (and to be fair it was) but I spent the whole afternoon hoping I could digest lunch before we went dinner (that should go in the PH's first world problems thread).

prand

6,244 posts

225 months

Thursday 17th October 2013
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Dr Murdoch said:
The rooms and food are nice, I stayed in one of the rooms last year. I made the mistake of having lunch and dinner there though, sounds good (and to be fair it was) but I spent the whole afternoon hoping I could digest lunch before we went dinner (that should go in the PH's first world problems thread).
Blimey, I'd be feeling like Mr Cresote after that. Well done!

A similar, Michelin style Man v Food challenge would be to stay at the Waterside Inn in Bray, have dinner at the Fat Duck, then full breakfast at the Waterside, lunch at the Hinds Head, then dinner at the Waterside. All places within waddling distance, and 7 stars between them all. (and an easy £2500 for two...)

SimonMaidenhead

2,650 posts

232 months

Saturday 19th October 2013
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In Marlow I'd be looking at the Vanilla Pod instead, and in Bray I rate Caldesi very highly.

tvrforever

3,196 posts

294 months

Saturday 19th October 2013
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Eat at the H&F regularly, and the team there are greet - food superb service excellent, they make us and the kids feel very welcome! Isn't changed since no-start, 1-star to 2-star; but in a good way not in a snobby or daft way. How many other 2* places are positively proud to serve you a great pint with your meal??

Car park looks tad odd right now given the extension works, but don't be put off - inside great as usual.

Whilst you wait for slot at the H&F why not try The Royal Oak Paley Street (http://www.theroyaloakpaleystreet.com/); not too far away and it's superb and the place where plenty of top chefs go to eat...