Chaîne des Rôtisseurs

Lunch: 12.30 for 1pm on Saturday 20th April 2024

Members £123 / Guests £135

Dress: Smart Casual with Chaîne regalia

Full details can be downloaded HERE.

The booking form can be downloaded HERE.

Built in 1642, the Crooked Billet retains the original features, flagstone floors, low timbered ceilings & inglenook fireplaces. Chef Paul Clerehugh acquired the Crooked Billet in 1989 using car bank loan cash to secure the lease (Barclays would not trust him lending cash to buy a pub). The phrase ‘gastropub’ first appeared in print 1989 when The Daily Mail christened the term when describing The Crooked Billet – making it Britain’s first gastropub. Clerehugh points out Jesus was born in a gastropub.

The Crooked Billet attracts a bohemian bunch of foodies, famous names often sitting with regular diners. Prince Harry, Kylie Minogue, Kenneth Branner, Theresa May, Jimmy Page, Joanna Lumley, Stella McCartney, Pierre Koffman, Paul Ainsworth, Mary Berry, Jason Atherton, Marco Pierre White, AWT, Jamie Oliver, Heston Blumenthal & James Martin have all dined at The Crooked Billet. The pub famously cooked Kate Winslet’s bangers & mash wedding reception.

Conde Nast recently listed the Crooked Billet in their top 10 places to lunch. Tatler list it as ‘must visit’. It was a winner of the Observer food Monthly’s ‘Best Sunday Lunch’, and Waitrose food monthly’s favourite foodie pub. Paul Clerehugh was the first pub sector chef awarded the Craft Guild of Chef Award. Andrew Pern, Michael Bedford, Dominic Chapman, Tom Kerridge were to follow. Clerehugh hosts BBC Radio Berkshire’s ‘Food on Friday’ lighthearted foodie chat & kitchen conundrums.

Paul’s cookery demonstrations are legendary. He won the TV series ‘British Food Hero’, and hosted BBC’s ‘Mind Your Own Business’ daytime TV programme helping struggling restaurants. Paul also held the world record for the tallest Yorkshire pudding rise (13 inches).

The Crooked Billet’s food reputation & philosophy is simple. Buy the very best seasonal produce, support local & British produce. Do not fuss around with ingredients. Simple cookery, let the produce speak. Please book ASAP so that you do not miss this momentous event.

We are repeating the formula we had on our last visit. As you will see below you have a choice for each course, and you can make your mind up on the day. However, we still need any dietary requests on the booking form.

  MENU

  ARRIVAL

  Very local champagne methode English sparkling wine
  Barbara Laithwaite’s award winery Stoke Row Wyfold Vineyard

  Arrival nibbles including:
  Seared Cornish diver scallops,  Pheasant egg haggis Scotch egg,
  Hazelnut crusted goat cheese bonbons – warm honey truffle to dip

  ~

  STARTERS

  Seared duck liver, Grand Marnier, curly endive,
  orange, lardons, vinaigrette
  OR
  Evesham asparagus, Hampshire Burrata,
  Isle of Wight tomato, sorrel dressing

  ~

  MAINS

  Brill, cockles, clams, samphire, asparagus, Noilly Prat butter sauce
  OR
  English veal chop, sweetbreads, spinach, lemon, anchovy, caper

  * Mains accompanied with table bowls of Jersey Royals.

  ~

  DESSERT

  Rhubarb, custard panna cotta, stem ginger
  OR
  Sticky toffee pudding, sticky toffee sauce, Devonshire clotted cream

  ~

  WINES

  Mâcon-Village Blanc Les Pierres Blanches 2021
  Chateau Couronneau Bordeaux Superior 2021
  Late Harvest Viognier Sauvignon. Chile. 2019

  ~

  Drinks and coffee available in the bars after (extra)

Address: The Crooked Billet Newlands Lane, Stoke Row, Henley-upon- Thames RG9 5PU Website: www.thecrookedbillet.co.uk Telephone: 01491 681048

Directions:

The restaurant has its own car park on site at RG9 5PU.

By road:

Follow Sat Nav to RG9 5PU

By rail:

There are regular services to Reading from London Paddington, Bristol, and Birmingham, as well as other major railway stations across the UK. There are two Taxi ranks at Reading station one on town side, one on Caversham side either will do, and it is c£30 journey. Reading Station is 8 Miles from Stoke Row. Henley Upon Thames station is a similar distance, and booking a taxi in advance is recommended from there. Please see www.nationalrail.co.uk for further details of rail services.

Hotels:

There are many local hotels in the area. Staying locally to the Crooked Billet or in Reading is recommended. Trip Advisor has good examples.