The Greyhound. Gallowstree Common, Berkshire

The Greyhound Country Pub & Resturant.
After a long week at work, it was a real pleasure for us to arrive at The Greyhound in Rotherfield Peppard on a glorious Friday evening. Pretty as a picture, this charming English village pub with its ancient brick and timber exterior and red tiled roof, is set back off a peaceful country lane in the most pleasing of locations. Although it was already 9pm, the natives, and visitors alike are relaxing and chatting at attractive teak tables with cotton parasols in the well-kept gardens. Either side of the front door I was enchanted to spot the two elegant stone greyhounds welcoming us inside. The interior was equally delightful, a cosy beamed bar, chocolate-brown leather sofas, chic art deco lamps, antiquated books and vases of gorgeous long stemmed white lilies. Unsurprisingly this hospitable and well-run pub was positively bustling, but it took just a blink of an eye for the charismatic and efficient Jamie Tomlinson to welcome us, present the menus, and locate our table.
Kevin Whitehouse the chef/patron took over this establishment in July 2002 and converted the barn, creating a bewitching restaurant with high beamed ceilings and a stone-flagged floor, which tonight is aglow with an abundance of alluring twinkling candles. Around the room, there is an array of vast gilded mirrors, handsome Gainsbourgh’’esque paintings, and even a quirky boars head silently taking in the proceedings from the lofty walls above. Our table was stylish, simple, and refined with crisp white linen, shining glasses, interesting knotted cutlery, and butter pats in petite glass dishes! It is this attention to detail throughout that produced the feeling of escaping the bustle of the day-to day. As the ambience gently enfolded us, we found ourselves relaxing into the inviting and captivating surroundings. Now it feels like the weekend has really started! The wine list proffers great choices - we selected the Gavi di Gavi Lantana a delicious dry clean crisp Italian from Peimeonte. You can deliberate over white wines from a Pinot Grigio to a rather special Mersault Thierry Matrot 1999 or the reds that are equally varied from an Australian Shiraz, to a flavoursome red Burgundy Aloxe Corton 1996. In the restaurant the menu changes weekly and is decidedly modern and imaginative – to start I opted for the intriguing Field mushrooms stuffed with asparagus; tomato and spinach glazed goats cheese and sprinkled with pine kernels. Beautifully presented and utterly delectable - undoubtedly one of the most mouth watering and engaging dishes I have every tried. My fiancé decided on the Sardines filled with Kumquat butter on a braised baby fennel, he pronounced them absolutely delicious. The professional staff is friendly and attentive; our waitress, Sian Richards confidently contributed to our choices of food and wine, and was truly knowledgeable of the inventive dishes by Chef David Benney. She recommended the Wing of skate, which was served with a lemon chervil butter sauce and accompanied with herb flavoured cous cous. I loved it as it was flavoursome yet delicate, healthy and so simply presented. My fiancé opted for the Cornish Sea Bass stuffed with spinach and prawns and a timbale of basmati rice and a green herb dressing. He promptly looked as though he was the cat that ate the cream. The desserts were true comfort food, luscious strawberry cheesecake with light mouse and rich caramelised biscuit, and a heavenly white chocolate mouse tart - pure hedonistic pleasure.
Whether you, deserve a treat, or wish for pure escapism, relax and be spoilt by the team at The Greyhound. Set in unspoilt and peaceful countryside, you are assured an excellent fine-dining experience, with beautifully presented and delicious food served with style and flair. I for one could not imagine a more marvellous country retreat.

Home Sweet Home Inn. Roke, Oxfordshire

We arrived at Home Sweet Home Inn on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. This picture-box pretty pub, excudes country living. Still partly thatched, surrounded by excellent walking country, and set in beautiful countryside this pub was already bustling with contented visitors enjoying the sun, enjoying the outdoors and most of all enjoying the food. Whilst retaining the traditional much loved charm of the family village pub proprietor Andy Hearn, has certainly made his mark since purchasing the freehold. With years of local pub and fine dining experience, Andy is also the owner of The Horns at Crazies Hill, (Berkshire Dining Pub of the Year 2001) he has the charisma and genuine hosty part to play that ensures new and old customers alike come back time after time. Alongside him is Karin Peacock, the joint licencee, who manages the staff and ambience beautifully. The Home Sweet Home Inn has been given a gently and sympathetic face-lift and updated with Andy’s hallmark laid back style making this a great place to relax and enjoy being looked after. Gone are the pink chintzy pink carpets and walls, the dark black beams and the overcrowding of trinkets and copper. We now have softer, more ambient feel, retaining the original charm by re-exposing existing interior brickwork. Beams cleaned and stripped back to a glorious natural finish, gorgeous wooden floors, and softer terracotta tones. The large dining room has all the same charm plus added intimacy with its warm red walls for dining elegance.


We were seated at a charming table overlooking the front gardens. The table was pretty with a posy of fresh cut flowers and white linen napkins. The menu is certainly comprehensive, catering for vegetarians and fish lovers as well as offering the more traditionally loved favourites from Prawn Cocktail or cheese Ploughman’s, to the more modern Aubergine and Goat’s cheese bruschetta or Nachos with sour cream and guacamole. It was not easy to decided, but I finally chose the Chefs soup of the day, which was Carrot & Orange, it was hearty yet light, the fresh chives on top finished it off beautifully, my partner opted for Chicken liver, & Cointreau Pate, beautifully presented. He found it really smooth, and loved the accompanying picante sauce.


We chatted and relaxed whilst we had a pause for our main course, which were equally traditional and exciting with firm favourites such as Aberdeen Angus topside of beef with Yorkshire pudding or Pork and Leek sausages with Spring onion mash and onion gravy, as well the wonderful sounding Pan-fried Monkfish with a light green Thai cream sauce, or Seafood and dill pancakes served with salad. Tempted by all the fish on the menu I had delicious Tuna and chilli fishcakes, I found theses to be pleasingly consistency, and cooked on the outside leaving the inside soft, moist and flavoursome, the salad and sweet chilli sauce were perfect accompaniments.


My partner chose the Beef and Hoppit Ale pie with a puff pastry Lid, it was a hearty traditional Sunday kind of lunch, which he particularly enjoys, accompanied by an additional generous dish brimming full of sauté potatoes, we shared these, and they were perfect.


I had no intention to try the dessert, but with the choices scribed up onto a blackboard in my full view all afternoon, I knew exactly what I was going to have.. the Blackcurrant and almond cheesecake with cream. It was light, fruity and rounded off a lovely afternoons lunching. Why not pop in for a great value midweek lunch which offers a Ploughman’s platter or a selection of fresh filled baguettes,
(Brie and Mango, smoked salmon and cream cheese, ham and English mustard) from as little as £4.25


We found the whole team are professional and very attentive; the atmosphere is friendly and relaxed making it the perfect mid-week or weekend treat for families, couples, walkers, and ale drinkers alike. Easy travelling distance from Henley, Wattlington, Wallingford, and Ewelme, Home Sweet Home Inn is fast becoming an epicentre of good food, laid back dining style and an assured warm welcome. Another restaurant/pub with fine dining from Andy Hearn, you heard it here first. This is the perfect way to spend a few relaxed lazy hours away from the hustle and bustle. Country living at its best.

NCT (National Childbirth Trust) Book Review

Families & How To survive Them by Robin Skynner & John Cleese

A friend of mine was so adamant I should read book following the birth of first child Gabriel 8 months ago that she sent it as a gift to me via good ole Amazon – and, you know, I am so glad she did! I found it a serious yet amusing read. One I could pick up and put down between baby feeds (!) easily, or dip into as required. It is not a really a “baby book” as such, however it shadows a baby’s development throughout the content. The dialogue explores the changing relationships between mother and father, plus the role (important) that the father plays during baby 'development. It talks about changing dynamics in the parent relationship, and the importance of the roles being played out, and more interestingly……..why? The subjects raised include, Coping with change, Demands of the baby, Baby’s point of view, and Needs and responsibilities of the mother. It goes on to reveal “What makes a family happy?” “Why do some marriages succeed and other fail?” This exploration is played out in a straightforward readable, chatty style that will talk personally to each reader.

Luckily, for a book that tackles such potentially heavy subject matter I found it refreshingly light-hearted and humorous. Offering self-development plus a bit of an insight into relationships, babies, toddlers, and internal feelings. I feel it is a book that everyone will really be able to take something positive from. As a parent, I found it a well-written roadmap of a child’s development, and as an adult, it was another step within "The University of Life.”
This is a book I would confidently recommend and will certainly be buying it for a few close friends!