The founding trio of Ben Jones, Sean Hope and Marcus Welford bought The Olive Branch in November 1999 when it was a closed village boozer. Today it is widely seen as one of the UK’s best gastropubs.
It is a country inn that combines informality with high standards and excellent attention to detail. With a deserved reputation as one of the most consistent dining pubs in the region, the kitchen provides a comprehensive offering throughout the day, from breakfast for overnight guests, to simple pub classics, to more extravagant restaurant dishes. The highly seasonal menu is written daily and incorporates plenty of local ingredients – many nearby suppliers are highlighted.
On our autumn visit, game featured strongly, including an outstanding game sausage roll with crab apple relish and lightly soused vegetables. The presentation was perfect – the dishes were made to look appealing without straining for effect. There is an outstanding wine list – especially at the higher end – and many interesting beers.
Over the years, The Olive Branch has won a Michelin Star (2002 – maintained until 2013), collected the title of Michelin Pub Guide ‘Pub of the Year’ (2008 – in the inaugural edition), and been named Good Pub Guide ‘UK Pub of the Year’ (2014 & 2021). It has also bagged a huge number of awards and positive write-ups, including Great Food Club ‘Pub of the Year 2019’ and Good Pub Guide ‘County Dining Pub of the Year’ pretty much every year since it opened. If there were an award for Most Consistent Dining Pub in Britain, The Olive Branch would probably win.
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