Berkshire


<p>From the brain boxes behind The Woodspeen comes the WSH Restaurant group&#8217;s sizzling new venture, <a href="https://www.thebraywood.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Braywood</a> &#8211; a luxury fine dining restaurant headed by Chef Sam Brennan, set to open this month. The building on Paley Street, formerly the Michelin-starred gastropub, the Royal Oak, has been completely gutted and renovated, transforming it into a bold, deliciously modern, and just darn swanky hideout. The result? Pretty spectacular. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="811" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/THE-BRAYWOOD-EXTERIOR.jpg" alt="Sam Brennan, The Braywood restaurant " class="wp-image-73426" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/THE-BRAYWOOD-EXTERIOR.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/THE-BRAYWOOD-EXTERIOR-800x433.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/THE-BRAYWOOD-EXTERIOR-1000x541.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/THE-BRAYWOOD-EXTERIOR-400x216.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/THE-BRAYWOOD-EXTERIOR-768x415.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Inside, you&#8217;ll find <span style=", sans-serif">a 70-cover restaurant and cocktail bar offering a fresh, contemporary twist on the signature dishes of <a href="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/eat-out/review-the-woodspeen-restaurant-newbury-nerkshire/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Woodspeen</a></span>. It&#8217;s here Sam previously donned the Head Chef whites before making the move over to raise The Braywood from the ground up. The food is basically his baby, and in signature Sam style, there&#8217;s little doubt, it&#8217;s going to be something special.</p>



<p>While we practically combust with excitement awaiting the grand opening on Saturday, we grabbed Sam Brennan for a quick Muddy chin-wag. Over to you, Sam.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1500" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/woodspeenlowressept-177.jpg" alt="chef Sam Brennan, The Braywood restaurant " class="wp-image-73377" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/woodspeenlowressept-177.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/woodspeenlowressept-177-533x800.jpg 533w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/woodspeenlowressept-177-667x1000.jpg 667w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/woodspeenlowressept-177-267x400.jpg 267w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/woodspeenlowressept-177-768x1152.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-your-first-job-in-a-kitchen-nbsp">Your first job in a kitchen?&nbsp;</h3>



<p>My first foodie job was at my uncle’s pub where I worked as a kitchen porter after school. There was a Christmas one year where I got snowed in and spent almost a week there so the chefs got me helping with veg prep and making salads – and that’s where I fell in love with cooking.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-career-highlight-nbsp">Career highlight?&nbsp;</h3>



<p>There’s two. Getting a mention in the Michelin Guide for The Bell and The Sparsholt after a relatively short time, particularly with all the pressures of a post-covid environment.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-did-you-do-a-lot-of-cooking-for-the-rich-and-famous">Did you do a lot of cooking for the rich and famous?</h3>



<p>Yes – I used to cook for a lot of footballers during my time in Manchester, Sol Campbell comes to mind. I’ve also cooked for Chris Tarrant and Marco Pierre White.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-would-you-sum-up-your-cooking-style-and-food-philosophy">How would you sum up your cooking style and food philosophy?</h3>



<p>Ingredient-led, seasonal, tasty. Unpretentious.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-most-memorable-moment-at-work-nbsp">Most memorable moment at work?&nbsp;</h3>



<p>The nice messages and comments after my last service at The Woodspeen before coming over to The Braywood were pretty special.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1770" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/HEAD-CHEF-Sam-Brennan.png" alt="chef Sam Brennan, The Braywood restaurant " class="wp-image-73375" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/HEAD-CHEF-Sam-Brennan.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/HEAD-CHEF-Sam-Brennan-452x800.png 452w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/HEAD-CHEF-Sam-Brennan-565x1000.png 565w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/HEAD-CHEF-Sam-Brennan-226x400.png 226w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/HEAD-CHEF-Sam-Brennan-768x1359.png 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/HEAD-CHEF-Sam-Brennan-868x1536.png 868w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-you-re-tired-starving-and-impatient-what-do-you-cook-for-dinner-nbsp">You’re tired, starving and impatient: what do you cook for dinner?&nbsp;</h3>



<p>I’d throw on a nice rib-eye steak with tenderstem broccoli and a little bit of sweet chili sauce.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-would-you-cook-to-impress-a-date-nbsp">What would you cook to impress a date?&nbsp;</h3>



<p>I made my wife a steak with stir fry veg! I don’t really show off to her, eating is mostly about what’s quick and easy with two small children!</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-who-is-your-favourite-chef">Who is your favourite chef?</h3>



<p>Gordon Ramsay. I’ve always admired his ethos since working at Petrus early in my career.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-favourite-local-cafe-restaurant-hotel">Favourite local café? Restaurant? Hotel?</h3>



<p>It’s not particularly local but I like GAIL&#8217;s for their smoked salmon bagels. And I love The Connaught for a special treat.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-do-you-have-a-favourite-cookbook-nbsp">Do you have a favourite cookbook?&nbsp;</h3>



<p>The one I go back to a lot is Daniel Humm’s<em> The Nomad</em>. It’s completely different to 11 Madison Park, much more chilled, elegant &#8211; sort of outside the box brasserie. And the recipes actually work!</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1500" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/woodspeenlowressept-105.jpg" alt="chef Sam Brennan, The Braywood restaurant " class="wp-image-73376" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/woodspeenlowressept-105.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/woodspeenlowressept-105-533x800.jpg 533w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/woodspeenlowressept-105-667x1000.jpg 667w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/woodspeenlowressept-105-267x400.jpg 267w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/woodspeenlowressept-105-768x1152.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-s-your-favourite-type-of-cuisine-nbsp">What’s your favourite type of cuisine?&nbsp;</h3>



<p>Italian. Pizza and pasta all day long. With pizza – I always go for something spicy. And pasta – it’s always a proper carbonara with no cream or peas in sight!</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-favourite-things-to-eat-when-you-re-on-holiday-nbsp">Favourite things to eat when you’re on holiday?&nbsp;</h3>



<p>Anything that the local cuisine has to offer. When we honeymooned in Greece, I had the best lamb koftas I’ve ever experienced. Absolutely stunning.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-favourite-kitchen-gadget-nbsp">Favourite kitchen gadget?&nbsp;</h3>



<p>Knife and a spoon.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-favourite-ingredient-and-why-nbsp">Favourite ingredient and why?&nbsp;</h3>



<p>British asparagus. I just love everything about English asparagus – the sweetness, the bitterness, how tender it is. When it’s in season, no matter how you cook it, you can’t go wrong. I love to serve it with lamb or fish.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-most-overrated-ingredient-nbsp">Most overrated ingredient?&nbsp;</h3>



<p>Gold leaf. It adds literally nothing.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tell-us-your-best-ever-cooking-tip-nbsp">Tell us your best ever cooking tip?&nbsp;</h3>



<p>Always be prepared for the unexpected!</p>



<p><strong><em>You can experience Sam Brennan&#8217;s exceptional cooking at <a href="https://www.thebraywood.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Braywood</a> on Paley St from 23 Nov.</em></strong></p>


What’s Cooking? Sam Brennan, The Braywood

You may also like