Northants, Leics &amp; Rutland


<p>Feeling peckish? With the timing perfection of an expertly cooked fillet steak, along comes&nbsp;<a href="https://www.top50gastropubs.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The&nbsp;Estrella Damm</a>&nbsp;list of the country’s finest gastropubs. It’s compiled by 350 of the UK’s top foodies and pub pros.</p>



<p>The top spot was again nabbed by The Unruly Pig in Woodbridge, Suffolk (yawn). But one Rutland entry has happily made the grade – coming in at number 64 &#8211; and it&#8217;s joined by a clutch of nearby hostelries so close you can smell the triple cooked truffle fries cooking. Race you to the table.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-olive-branch-clipsham-rutland-no-64"><a href="https://www.theolivebranchpub.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Olive Branch,</a> Clipsham, Rutland&nbsp;(No. 64)</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="652" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2025/01/The-Olive-Branch-Clipsham.jpeg" alt="The Olive Branch, Clipsham" class="wp-image-55307" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2025/01/The-Olive-Branch-Clipsham.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2025/01/The-Olive-Branch-Clipsham-300x196.jpeg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2025/01/The-Olive-Branch-Clipsham-768x501.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Great to see one of our favourite pubs back in place in this much-coveted list. I’ve been banging on about this place for as long as I can remember and for good reason. A previous Muddy winner, they&#8217;ve been on the list in previous years and continue to go from strength to strength. </p>



<p>There&#8217;s private dining in The Barn, which is perfect for special celebrations; you can stay in one of the gorgeous rooms and suites; there&#8217;s even a pub shop where you can stock up on local produce. But the main event is without doubt the incredible food, courtesy of Head Chef Ben Fisher, much of which is either grown on site in the paddock or locally sourced and which changes with the seasons. Think dry aged beef tartare, apple and caper jam, coal, bone marrow and brioche; or poached halibut, black and white bean cassoulet, chanterelle and oyster mushrooms, sea vegetables and vermouth sauce. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-over-the-border-and-worth-the-journey">Over the border (and worth the journey).</h2>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-royal-oak-whatcote-warks-no-65"><a href="https://www.theroyaloakwhatcote.co.uk/">The Royal Oak</a>, Whatcote, Warks (No. 65)</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/01/The-Royal-Oak-1000x667.jpg" alt="the Royal Oak whatnot" class="wp-image-59146" /></figure>



<p>This Michelin-starred pub dates back more than 800 years and is just 20 minutes out of historic Stratford-upon-Avon. Locally sourced produce, foraged foods and wild meats are a focus here.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-cross-kenilworth-no-78"><a href="https://www.thecrosskenilworth.co.uk/">The Cross</a>, Kenilworth (No. 78)</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/01/The-Cross-1000x667.jpg" alt="the cross Kenilworth" class="wp-image-59147" /></figure>



<p>This Grade II listed 19th century inn has kept its traditional heritage with a mix of contemporary. It&#8217;s held a Michelin star for the past nine years, along with 3 AA rosettes. Set menus are three courses and focus on local and seasonal produce, competitively priced from £50 to £85.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-four-penny-warwick-no-94"><a href="https://www.4pennyhotel.co.uk/">The Four Penny</a>, Warwick (No. 94)</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/01/Untitled-design-137-1000x667.jpg" alt="The Four Penny Warwick" class="wp-image-59149" /></figure>



<p>A new addition to the Estrella Damm best gastropub list, this pub in the centre of Warwick is a bit of a local institution. It’s small and family owned, and you’ll find six changing real ales, craft lagers, ciders and fine wines. Menus are affordable, seasonal, generously portioned and use locally sourced produce. There is a selection of traditional pub classics and old favourites, as well as daily specials.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-bull-charlbury-bucks-no-11"><a href="https://thebullcharlbury.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Bull</a>, Charlbury, Bucks (No. 11)</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/01/BULLPIE.jpg" alt="gastropubs" class="wp-image-182131" /></figure>



<p>A fixture on Sheep Street in Charlbury since the early 1500s, it’s about time this charming and characterful gastropub hit the top of the Estrella Damm hotlist. An established local serving good honest beer, The Bull has also come to be renowned for its menu – locally sourced, seasonal produce primarily cooked over an open flame. The verdict of&nbsp;<em>The Times</em>&nbsp;restaurant critic Giles Coren: ‘Best pie and a pint of your life.’ To that we’ll add: Sunday’s spit-roasted joints are a must, as are the weekly fish specials.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-wild-rabbit-kingham-no-46"><a href="https://thewildrabbit.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Wild Rabbit</a>, Kingham (No. 46)</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/01/WILDRABBIT.jpg" alt="GASTROPUBS" class="wp-image-182138" /></figure>



<p>It’s well worth hopping over to the Oxfordshire Cotswolds for The Wild Rabbit’s award-winning seasonal fare. This chic gastropub is part of the Daylesford Stays collection of boutique hotels (alongside The Fox at Oddington, The Bell at Charlbury and The Three Horseshoes at Asthall), so a beautifully appointed bedroom awaits too after your feast – perhaps pigeon salad followed by shoulder of Wootton estate venison for Madam?</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-double-red-duke-nr-bampton-no-50"><a href="https://www.countrycreatures.com/double-red-duke/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Double Red Duke</a>, nr Bampton (No. 50)</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/01/DOUBLEREDDUKE.jpg" alt="gastropubs" class="wp-image-182132" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Double Red Duke</figcaption></figure>



<p>The Double Red Duke is a beautiful 17th Century coaching inn nestled in the Cotswold village of Clanfield, close to Oxford. Part of the Country Creatures hospitality group founded Sam and Georgie Pearman, one of its equally pretty sister pubs in Country Creatures’ Cotswolds estate is the newly opened The Mason’s Arms just over the road. Come for the Insta-friendly red and white-striped umbrellas, stay for the top-notch cooking and superb wine list.</p>


UK’s top gastropubs have been revealed – here are the local ones that made the cut

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