Page 6 - JSCSC guide 2015

Unique pub on an
organic farm 5 miles
from your door
Helen Browning at The Royal Oak is The Times Food Editor’s 2nd favourite place to eat in the whole of the UK (but Trip Advisor rates us 27th best in Swindon)—anyway it’s a very English pub in the middle of Helen’s organic farm in Bishopstone; and the farm feeds the pub, almost literally.
This pub is all about just lovely things— award winning food, recognised by Michelin and The Good Food Guide; increasingly good beers from our local brewers, Arkells; simple but well chosen wines, unusual gins and a wide range of malt whiskies; more importantly, a huge warm welcome for families, children, dogs, muddy boots, lycra cycling shorts and syndicates. A roaring re when needed, books and magazines (better and more modern than the average dental surgery’s!); a daily changing menu.
Combine that with a huge wild garden,
a summer marquee, a proper wooden wendy house and rope swings; most of the
ingredients for an enjoyable and ful lling lunch or evening or day out are on your doorstep. Stay over in the pub’s simple bed and breakfast, or our renovated cottage. Organise the farm land rover to collect you or take you home, our Pork and Ride service—a great treat for groups of six or more.
The farm, which has been producing organic meat and livestock for the past 25 years, is responsible for all the beef, veal, pork, lamb and bacon sold there; oh yes, and the milk, cream and butter. The Oldie magazine described The Royal Oak as a ‘bullshit free zone; Waitrose magazine had us in their top ten family weekend lunch list in 2014.
01793 790481
Cues Lane, Bishopstone, Swindon SN6 8PP www.helenbrowningorganics.co.uk
Helen Browning at The Royal Oak
Five miles from your Shrivenham doorstep, this pub tries to do it right: Organic food from our own Eastbrook Farm beef lamb and pork; Michelin Bib Gourmand 2012; Good Food Guide 20009‐2013,
Sawday’s Special Places Gold Award 2010 At least three real ales all the Jme; organic soK drinks; marvellous food for kids, good stuff they’ll eat; beauJ‐ ful wild garden with pizza oven; free landrover safari service to collect and take home (at our discreJon); we love dogs, classic cars, newspapers, cricket, rugby and big fires; simple bed and breakfast; literary and sporJng sup‐
pers; annual pig racing! Great food and booze and good company, basically.
Cues Lane, Bishopstone, SN6 8PP; 01793 790481;
royaloak@helenbrowningorganics.co.uk; www.helenbrowningorganics.co.uk