Holidays In Northamptonshire and Cambridgeshire

Places To Eat

Eating locally is almost always in pubs but the food is in many cases at the gastro pub level. Some of them have grown the food side to the extent that the 'wet trade' is almost vestigial.

We blush when mentioning the The Tap and Kitchen in Oundle as we have an interest in both it and the adjoining Nene Valley Brewery. It is open for lunch and dinner with last bookings at 9. Also there is a good selection of bar food all day. Chris and his team cook simple, honest British food with a menu that offers foods that we all love but seem to have become unfashionable as well as some more up to date dishes. The menu also aims to provide good options for vegetarians and the gluten intolerant. In the summer there is a waterfront terrace where you can enjoy the food and the wide selection of beers including up to eight from the adjoining brewery. The restaurant has a buzz but the acoustics are good so you can always hear what your fellow diners are saying; it's important to me as there are too many eateries nowadays where the desire to feel busy makes it impossible to converse. It is only 6 minutes away in the car and there is lots of parking. Bookings are advisable in the evening from Thursday to Saturday and for Sunday lunch. The staff will do all they can to accommodate those who have not booked but a very small number who are fixed on an eating time can be turned away on a busy evening. Telephone 01832 275069.

In addition, there is the Shop at the Brewery which is open from 4-7 on Fridays and 10-6 on Saturdays where you can sample the beers and buy either bottled or draft beer to take home. There are also brewery tours where you can hear how beer is made and taste for yourself how the different flavours are created. Telephone 01832 272776 to see when will be the next tour.

Nene Valley Brewery is one of the new wave of craft brewers where use of the best ingredients from all over the world is resulting in beers of a quality rarely seen before. You may shake your head and remain convinced that nothing can beat your Greene King IPA or Fuller's London Pride; come and try some of our beers and have your eyes opened. Our Porter won the second biggest beer festival in the land a few years ago, voted Champion out of over 400 entrants, so at least some beer drinkers agree.

We will provide up to date recommendations and contact details on the cottage notice boards.