Heston Blumenthal’s Michelin-starred gastropub The Hind’s Head in Bray dives into the history books and gives old dishes a little culinary craftsmanship. This is a place where flavour and presentation is everything but without the starchiness of fine dining.

Reflecting its hunting lodge and coaching inn past, the vibe is quirky with a nod to the many royal connections. Upstairs you’ll find the The Royal Lounge – essentially a cocktail bar, with tweed and velvet furnishings, taxidermy and dim lighting. Think cool gentlemen’s club without the overflowing testosterone.

You’ll also find the dramatic private dining room on this floor – The Vicar’s Room, painted deep red with teasing, tongue-in-cheek references to the building’s association with Simon Alleyn, the infamous Vicar of Bray. A dining table created from a single trunk of oak dominates the room, under a pair of parlour chandeliers depicting the heads of Queens Mary I and Elizabeth I. If you’re a big group book in, no room hire, no minimum spend, but a really special place to dine.

Regular diners drift downstairs after a couple of craft beers or Emily’s Earl Grey Tea Sours, to enjoy the eclectic British style of cooking. It’s relaxed – no crisp white linens – but the staff are attentive (you don’t get a Michelin star without top notch service). Alternatively you can also prop up the bar and dive into the snack menu.

There’s a kids and Sunday lunch menu available too. So you can enjoy a special family meal without having a ‘my kids only eat fish fingers’ panic.