As nights draw in and temperatures descend, expect cosy ambience, comfort food and special seasonal events at these local eateries
Pint Shop
At Pint Shop on Cambridge’s Peas Hill, there’ll be festive feasting and boozy treats aplenty over the coming season, from autumn comfort food to Christmas knees-ups.
Pint Shop
A brand-new menu, launched for autumn, features kebab salad bowls and the substantial Mrs Bones mixed grill – a sharing feast for two or three that features Dingley Dell pork belly, Shelford sausage, lamb leg steak, bacon chop, Scotch egg and flat iron steak atop garlic flatbreads with sides and sauces.
The Christmas party menu kicks off on 20 November, running all the way until Christmas Eve. This offers pork scratchings and pretzels on arrival, while starters are a sharing affair, with platters including the famous Pint Shop Scotch egg, local smoked salmon and British charcuterie. For mains, expect stuffed and rolled turkey, thick-cut sirloin of beef and hake, haddock and prawn pie, all served with bowls of fluffy roast potatoes and greens. For those with a sweet tooth, sticky toffee pudding, Christmas pudding and winter berry crumble follow, plus local cheeses from Rennet & Rind. Options for a warming tipple are fan-favourite mulled sloe gin, snowballs, cranberry bellinis and white Russians. Eat, drink and be merry! pintshop.co.uk
Ancient Shepherds
Adam Smith of Coworth Park, best known for his precise, elegant cooking and background as a Roux Scholar, will be joining Mark Poynton on 8 October for a one-off collaborative dinner at the Ancient Shepherds in Fen Ditton.
The evening will feature an eight-course menu, with four dishes created by each chef, designed to show off their individual styles while also coming together as a single experience.
Together, Mark and Adam will create a menu that celebrates the very best of the season, including such dishes as barbecued scallop with smoked roe, citrus and golden oscietra caviar; poached cod with Mark’s signature curry sauce; Wyndford Farm wagyu with shallot, parsley and mustard; as well as apricot and almond ice cream sandwiches.
The Ancient Shepherds makes the perfect backdrop for the meal, with its cosy and characterful dining room. ancientshepherds.com
Provenance Kitchen
As the colder months set in, Provenance Kitchen is embracing the season with warmth, flavour and a host of thoughtful touches.
Provenance Kitchen
The hanging fireplace space has been refreshed in a dusty green with soft lighting – the perfect retreat for private dining, corporate lunches or intimate celebrations of up to 40 guests. Across the main restaurant, new drapes soften sound and add comfort, while the curtained entrance ensures Provenance feels welcoming, inviting and toasty all winter long. The chefs here are showcasing the very best of the season, with menus centred around hearty produce, rich flavours and that signature smokiness from the hearth.
Don’t miss Provenance Kitchen’s upcoming seasonal events. The Whole Beast Feast (deer series) on 13 November will be a bold nose-to-tail menu including wood-fired venison steaks finished with a glossy blackberry and red shiso sauce. Plus, the Après Ski Party on 4 December promises a night of alpine fun with boozy hot chocolate, fire pits under the winter sky and live DJs bringing party vibes. A festive menu has also recently been released for restaurant bookings and corporate festive parties. provenancekitchen.com
Chestnut
Celebrating the magic of winter here in the East of England, there’s lots to look forward to at Chestnut’s pubs with rooms over the coming months.
The perfect time for a good whodunnit, The Packhorse Inn in Moulton is hosting a Murder Mystery Supper on 27 November. Characters will perform between each of the three courses, dropping clues and answering your questions as you sleuth for the truth. Similar events will take place at the collection’s other locations, including The Three Blackbirds, Woodditton; The Black Lion, Long Melford; The Weeping Willow, Barrow; The Cricketers, Clavering and The Carpenters Arms, Great Wilbraham.
Chestnut’s kitchens will also be serving three-course festive menus from 24 November, perfect for friends and family looking to gather and make memories. Make the celebration last even longer with a festive stay package, including dinner from the festive menus, a seasonal gift and a cosy stay.
On Christmas Day itself, lunch will be served from noon across the collection’s pubs with rooms and Big House hotels, with bars open for a pre-lunch drink. chestnutgroup.co.uk
