Hidden gems and favourite places – on your doorstep.
Looking for ideas for a weekend getaway, but can’t decide where to go? How about your own backyard? There are some great short breaks that don’t involve a long journey, and what is more, you’ll be doing your bit to support local businesses.
So ditch the Sat Nav and take a closer look at some close-to-home destinations you may previously have just driven through or visited for the day.
Our first suggestion in this new series is the delightful town of Henley-in-Arden in Warwickshire, located just 9 miles south of Solihull.
Dining out in Henley-in-Arden has fast become trendy with Cheal’s of Henley setting the standards and everyone’s fave Brummie chef opening The Mount at Henley, but there’s more to come. Just 20 minutes from Solihull, this famous high street is still destined for bigger things.
In case you’re wondering (or are new to the area) Henley-in-Arden is not to be confused with the other Henley, Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire, home of the annual regatta. Our Henley – the gateway to Shakespeare Country – is one of the prettiest towns in England: a mile-long High Street of medieval, Tudor, Georgian and Victorian architecture including 150 historic buildings, shops, pubs and restaurants, with a history dating back to the 12th century.
Eat
There’s plenty of choice, and leading the way is the namesake restaurant of super-talented chef Matt Cheal. Quite why Cheal’s doesn’t have a Michelin star yet is a mystery to many, but take full advantage as the prices reflect this: at entry level you’ll pay £40 for lunch and £50 for dinner for the 3-course set tasting menu, or up to £85 for the 6-course tasting menu. A cracking vegetarian selection is also on offer that goes way beyond the obvious choices of risotto and ‘something with mushroom,’ and instead strives to offer non-meat and fish eaters a genuine gastronomic experience. Seating just 30 in the listed building (yes, pretty much everything in Henley is listed!), Cheal’s also has two delightful private dining rooms which can seat up to 12, making it the perfect location for a special family celebration.
Focusing on seasonal British food with some inventive twists, Matt is really at the top of his game when it comes to flavour combinations and presentation. Technically brilliant dishes such as South Coast mackerel with cauliflower, golden sultana & caper purée, yeast, curry oil and coriander shine alongside sturdy mains of Blyborough pork belly & cheek with pomme purée, courgette, romesco purée and a tapenade sauce.
Desserts include favourite flavours of English raspberries with ginger biscuit, meringue and brown butter ice cream or walnut & olive oil cake with salted caramel and Jersey milk ice cream. And there’s a superb and sensibly-priced wine list. You leave highly satisfied feeling you have had excellent value for money, wrapped in a giant hug of excellent service from maître d’ Liam and his team.
Elsewhere on the High Street, you will find some of the usual suspects, including three curry houses, two Chinese restaurants and a fish & chip shop. But if you’re a little more adventurous you’ll discover a truly old-fashioned bakers, Henley Kitchen & Bakery: a great café during the day, with rock-solid breakfasts, tasty lunches and cakes of your childhood memories; eclairs, Victoria sponges, Eccles cakes, pineapple cakes and many more. All are homemade on-site every day, as of course is the fabulous fresh bread that uses Wessex Mill flour and a wide selection of pasties and pies. Constantly buzzing for daily coffees, snacks and lunches, they also occasionally open for deli platters in the evening. Find them on Facebook for any special events.
The Mount by Glynn Purnell has seen the Michelin-starred ‘Yummie Brummie’ chef take over one of the leading pubs on the High Street, bringing his own particular style to town, with a great bar serving cocktails and offering a sophisticated environment. Food is mainly served in the main restaurant, as expected, with limited snacks currently available in the bar. Still finding its feet having opened just after the pandemic, we are looking forward to longer opening hours and extended food service in the not-too-distant future.
Giving Glynn a run for his money could be Raymond Blanc. Another famous Michelin chef, ‘RB’ looks set to join the party: with an alcohol licence already applied for, the Black Swan is about to rise from the ashes to become part of his White Brasserie pub chain.
The Bluebell on the High Street meanwhile offers a safe haven for Italian-influenced food in a beautiful timber-framed building.
If you’re looking for a true drinking pub, The Three Tuns has just been named the best out of over 70 pubs in the area by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA). This tiny hostelry offers a great choice of beer (with rolls and snacks as its only food) and its outside benches normally throng with locals, whilst inside the small inter-connecting ‘snugs’ offer cosy old-fashioned drinking spaces with echoes of times gone by. Henley used to have over 18 pubs on the ‘mile’ and although many have now gone, there’s still a ‘something for everyone’ approach: The Nags Head is, without doubt, the town’s music pub, offering festivals and street food events throughout the year, with good food, a well-appointed bar and friendly service year-round.
Sleep
The conservation-protected High Street is a perfect blend of history, chocolate-box buildings, and nooks and crannies. Nestled in between there’s a small but select choice of places to stay. The White Swan pub, restaurant and hotel is the obvious choice for fully serviced and comfortable accommodation, a 16th-century inn that also offers good bar food, an excellent ‘steak on the stone’ restaurant and even pizzas for casual dining.
Exclusively Warwickshire offer a range of luxury apartments in and around the area, with the most central being The George and Dragon on the High Street, looking out over the Market Cross and offering a Grade ll listed experience with all mod-cons. Parking is onsite and it’s an ideal base for a weekend or a longer stay.
The Art Studio meanwhile is listed on Airbnb: a dinky overnight stay option in a sympathetic restoration of the listed building. With the High Street’s bars, restaurants and shops all in walking distance, this is a perfect destination for a no-drive short stay.
Things to do
Henley has some quirky shops to visit and beautiful churches to explore, and is perfectly positioned for short or long walks, with The Mount (the original one, not the pub) handily placed for a brisk stroll; take the dog, pack a picnic, or just enjoy an ice cream from the town’s famous parlour. The Mount is the site of the castle, long since gone, but TV’s Time Team came here a few years back and dug it up in search of historical relics. It’s a good story for the kids, as are the tales of the town’s rich history you can find in the Heritage Centre (when it’s open!) which – like just about everything in Henley-in-Arden – is also on the High Street.
So, for a mini-break, a joyful pub crawl, excellent food and exercise in spades, what more do you want from a destination that’s right on your doorstep?
Kate Rouse