Outside dining
If you're tired of home-cooking, then you are no doubt thrilled that restaurants in England can open for al fresco dining.
Here's our round-up of some AA Rosette-rated eateries that have created delicious menus to be served in beautiful, safe outdoor environments.
Lord Crewe Arms, Blanchland, Northumberland
This historic hostelry opened in 1165 as a guest house for Blanchland Abbey, so Covid 19 was hardly going to get in its way. Its Friday “fish and chippy” takeaway teas have been providing sustenance throughout lockdown. And now you can book outdoor tables for tasty-sounding Back Garden Bar Bait from Noon to 3pm, though alfresco pints and nibbles will be available until 8pm.
Homewood, Bath
Families and dogs are welcome at Homewood country house hotel, which is taking its Olio restaurant onto the terrace where there is an outdoor kitchen and pizza oven. Menu highlights include feasting platters for sharing, as well as British and Mediterranean favourites and a Somerset cheese board. Stay alert to book its Barbecue Dining Domes, launching in May.
Lygon Arms, Broadway, The Cotswolds
They aren’t taking bookings, so it’s first-come first-served when this iconic hostelry opens its courtyard for alfresco dining, complete with heaters and blankets. Arrive hungry as head chef Ales Maurer’s menu at the Lygon Bar & Grill tends to make delicious use of local seasonal goodies, ranging from venison to heritage beetroot.
Scott’s, Mayfair, London
Fish-lovers will be heading to the newly extended terrace of this famed chic-crowd haunt. Everything from oysters to caviar to lobster thermidor and blackened miso salmon is on the menu, alongside a range of veggie and meat options. Booking ahead is advised.
Feversham Arms Hotel, Helmsley, Yorkshire
Described as a luxury hideaway, this hotel’s laid-back Verbena Spa and poolside terrace will be open for alfresco dining from Thursdays to Sundays, kitted out with comfy cushions, cosy blankets, parasols and umbrellas. Choose from food and wine pairings on the menu, or simply enjoy the Champagne station.
The Vineyard, Newbury, Berkshire
Stay warm and dry whatever the weather in the beautiful tented pavilion OutSide where executive head chef Tom Scade has created a gourmet menu of small plates to be prepared in the firepit area. With a 30,000 bottle wine cellar, the Vineyard is a bolthole for wine-lovers and foodies alike.
The Dorchester, Park Lane, London
Tom Booton and Alain Ducasse are among the chefs overseeing the culinary pop-ups at the first-ever Dorchester Rooftop restaurant, but the food won’t be the only draw as a bird’s-eye view over Hyde Park will complete the dining experience. If you don’t like heights, the grand hotel’s lush, green Garden & Terrace will also be open for cocktails and Italian light bites.
West Park Hotel, Harrogate, Yorkshire
Possibly destined to be the hottest place in this spa town, West Park is extending its outdoor spaces and is creating an alfresco vibe with stretch tents and an open marquee for drizzly days. The hotel restaurant, which overlooks the 200-acre parkland Harrogate Stray, uses ingredients from farmers around the North, with everything from chateaubriand to Yorkshire wagyu burgers on the menu.
Yorebridge House, Bainbridge, Yorkshire
Last summer, the owners invested in outdoor furniture, including individual table heaters and garden fire-pits, so rest-assured you’ll be cosy as you gaze out the beautiful gardens of this boutique Dales hotel. Posh pizzas and antipasti boards will be served from noon until 6pm, with a full menu in May.
Bingham Riverhouse, Richmond, Surrey
This boutique hotel and restaurant is only a short skip from Richmond’s fashionable shops. Choose from the small plates menu as you stay cosy under the terrace canopy with heaters, wraps and lanterns. There’s a great view of the River Thames and on Fridays and Saturdays you can listen to the groovy sounds of the resident DJ’s vinyl collection.
