Openings
Old Mill
Berkhamsted, Herts, 01442 879590
theoldmillberkhamsted.co.uk
Who: This is Peach Pub Company's seventh offering. It's a joint venture with Alan Turtill,
ex-ops manager of London clubs Century and Kensington Roof Gardens. Head chef is
Michael Matheson.
Food: The menu follows the characteristics of its sister pubs, and favourites such as the deli boards are included.
On the menu: Starters include pressed ham hock terrine with home-made piccalilli (£6). Mains include Eastwood's locally-produced sausages, mashed potato, red onion marmalade (£8.75). Desserts include rich chocolate brownie, orange Chantilly (£5).
Covers: 145
Style: Imposing Victorian and Georgian property close to the banks of the Grand Union canal.
The Highwayman
Burrow, Lancashire, 01254 826888
highwaymaninn.co.uk
Who: This is the eagerly awaited second pub from Nigel Haworth's Ribble Valley Inns, following on from the Three Fishes in Mitton, Lancashire.
Food: Nigel has created the menu and Three Fishes manager Andy Morris has assembled the kitchen and front-of-house staff.
On the menu: Starters include Yorkshire pudding, melting Leagram's sheep's milk cheese, mushrooms and tomato fondue, wild leaves (£5.95). Mains include Lowther park organic chicken breast, real chips cooked in dripping, onion rings, tomato, field mushrooms, roast garlic and fine herb sauce (£10.50). Desserts feature elderflower syllabub and jelly, crushed Grasmere ginger bread (£4.50).
Covers: 120 inside and a further 30+ outside.
Style: The pub has enjoyed a £1.2m
refurbishment and pictures of local suppliers are dotted around the 19th-century outlet.
Black Boy Inn
Milton, Oxon, 01295 722111
blackboyinn.com
Who: Merchant Inns, set up by industry veteran Robert Breare. The executive chef is Michelin-starred Rob Clayton, previously at the Priory Hotel in Bath. The Black Boy is one of four pubs. The others are the Carnarvon Arms, Whitway, Berkshire, the Horse & Groom, Charlton, Wiltshire, and the Mermaid in Ellington, Cambridgeshire.
Food: The menu features similar dishes to its sister pubs and there is a focus on provenance, with items such as Oxford Blue cheese and Gloucestershire Old Spot pork in the offering.
On the menu: Starters include warm tart of creamed leeks and Oxford Blue cheese with tomato relish (£4.50 or £7.95 as a main); oak-smoked salmon salad with baby salad leaves with a saffron mayonnaise (£6.95 or £9.95). Mains include pan-roasted 28-day hung rib-eye steak with home-made chips, roasted shallots, cherry tomatoes and Madeira sauce (£16.95); and pan-roasted Gloucestershire Old Spot pork cutlet with sage mash, braised red cabbage, apple and cider sauce (£14.95).
Style: Traditional rural English pub.
Albion Public House & Garden
London N1, 0207 607 7450
the-albion.co.uk
Who: This is Richard Turner's first independent venture. Richard has worked with Marco Pierre White at Canteen and Quo Vadis.
Food: Quality traditional English pub food in Islington.
On the menu: smoked haddock with bubble and squeak; spit-roast cuts of prime English beef and potted duck.
Covers: 114 inside, 15 outside.
Style: Stylish, Georgian, with lots of dark wood and light walls.
Ones to watch
The Waterway
Established gastropub the Waterway, in London's Maida Vale, has recently been purchased by Carlo Spetale, the owner of Notting Hill Brasserie. It boasts one of the largest barbecues in the UK. The spring menu features lots of seafood as well as twists on traditional classics, such as rack of lamb with smoked aubergine.
The Rosendale
Mark and Sharlyn van der Goot, who own the award-winning Greyhound in Battersea, will open the Rosendale, in West Dulwich, next month. The food at the pub will focus on provenance and the use of ingredients sourced, when possible, from Kent and Sussex. The pub features a large landscaped garden with space for 50 people.
