It has a wonderful heritage, awards and accolades covering many recent years, attracting both diners and drinkers from a wide range of towns in and around this stunning venue in the beautiful Berkshire countryside. The Bar with its stripped wood floors and warmly painted walls seats 40 people and the newly refurbished dining room can hold up to 60, and over looks water meadows. There is a private room for conferences and private parties which seats up to 30 people and out side is a terrace for summer alfresco dining or simply a glass of Pimms in the sunshine. The gardens are stunning, with a very spacious car park, much needed as few could walk there. Xavier Le-Bellégo who re-opened The Red House in November 1999 is back after successfully opening Forbury's restaurant in Reading 2004. He was approached to take The Red House and bring it back to its former glory, having had a new thatched roof and new interior fittings The Red House is now a country pub offering serious food, fine wine, a range of real ales and Belgian beers, and also light snacks, the bar is open all day. The Red House offers excellent wheelchair access and disabled toilet facilities. What is effectively an a la carte menu for lunch and dinner produces a meal that could start with mixed pepper Gazpacho soup, Galloway smoked salmon with a caper and endive salad, a Cornish asparagus tian, tomato and avocado, or a Ham Hock terrine. A special Red House favourites are the ½ pint of Atlantic prawns with garlic mayonnaise and the fully loaded burger with either fresh ground rib-eye

or local venison. To follow, the whole grilled Brixham lemon sole with simple caper butter, though pan-fried fillet of bream with a bisque of hand dived scallops, rib-eye steak with chunky chips, green beans and Béarnaise and fresh tagliatelle with wild mushroom fricassee and truffle shavings. Despite these delicacies battered cod with chunky chips and mushy peas remain a firm house favourite. As a founder member of the make-vegetables-more-exciting movement I noted with approval their champ mash, garlic green beans and home made ratatouille. Desserts continue to display a broad approach with warm chocolate fondant and white chocolate ice cream, banana pannacotta with toffee sauce or the by now much loved sticky toffee pudding, served here with vanilla ice cream. The local cheese plate offers Barkham Blue, Wigmore and Spenwood A prix fixe set menu offers excellent value with a choice of two or three courses. Look for the charcuterie plate of fine cured meats, the pan-fried halloumi and walnut salad or a delightful prawn and avocado salad. Curried pork with pilau rice and apricot chutney brings a welcome breath of the Orient into Newbury, or there could be lamb and vegetable pie with braised white cabbage. Lemon cheesecake and plum compote rounds off an excellent meal. The wine and beer list offers a very well travelled collection that displays a sound knowledge of wine and beer to match the food. Their real ale is popular amongst the walkers, boat owners and lunchtime trade who have come to regard The Red House as their second home.