Reviews in Malmesbury

Visited Whatley Manor again for Sunday lunch accompanied by live jazz. Although you can go down the traditional route with a Sunday Roast, it’s nice to have options for a change and our table went for the fondue in its various iterations and mussels and fries. Whatley is a beautiful place so make sure you take the time to see the public rooms and stroll round the grounds, weather permitting. A beautiful spa too!

Malmesbury does not appear to have much in the way of places to eat but the lady in Boots recommended the Smoking Dog and we were not disappointed. It’s a modern-styled pub with a nice beer garden at the back. We just had a gourmet sandwich and a pint at lunchtime but it was very nice too.

Just spent a wonderful two nights at Whatley Manor. It really is a dream destination right on the southern edge of the Cotswolds near Malmesbury and Tetbury. Swiss-owned and as you might imagine the attention to detail is really exemplary. They have a two-Michelin-star fine dining restaurant and a Swiss-style brasserie and we ate in both. The brasserie doesn’t just look Swiss but also includes some Swiss dishes like fondue and Emmenthal cheese soufflé which we had for starters. We then both had the cod as a main course was a little disappointing, to be honest – in a lobster bisque with a limp lettuce leaf as accompaniment. The food in the main dining room next night was prepared and presented to a very, very high standard as you would expect from a two-star venue. They stopped the a la carte a few months back so you now have a choice of three tasting menus to go at. Personally I would have preferred the alc but the food was excellent - the only slight off-note being the veal prepared three ways which lacked a little flavour. But these really are minor quibbles as Whatley Manor is a delight and if you can stretch the budget you MUST try it!

The Rattlebone Inn in Sherston is my idea of the perfect Cotswold country inn. We went last weekend and it did not disappoint with a welcoming roaring fire. The flamboyant landlord makes you feel welcome and there's always a tempting menu on offer. I went for the goat's cheese which came with a rhubarb jam - a strange combination, but it worked, followed by Gloucester Old Spot Belly of Pork, in a delicious Scrumpy and mustard sauce (comfort-food at its best)! For dessert, I chose an orange crème brulee - which came with melt-in-the-mouth shortbread. I was reliably informed by the landlord. that the free range meat is all locally sourced and the puddings are all homemade. I've also been in summer when there's been an curry evening held in the pub's garden followed by an African live band.

Wonderful place for that special occasion and worth every penny we spent. Food was excellent in both the brasserie and the main Michelin Starred restaurant.