Visiting the Double Red Duke | A Review

The Double Red Duke in Bampton, the Cotswolds, is an incredibly stylish pub. The entire venue is reminiscent of Soho House and other similar chains. We decided to check out this Instagram-magnet to see what all the fuss was about. Visiting the Double Red Duke is an experience in itself and I can’t wait to tell you all about it. Here is my review.

Visiting the Double Red Duke | Review

Getting to the Double Red Duke

The village of Bampton is not too far from Abingdon and Witney, the gates to the Cotswolds. The roads are really simple and there are only a few winding lanes. From Henley, it took just over an hour to get there. Quite a trek, but the promise of an excellent roast dinner made it worth the wait.

Once you arrive in the village of Bampton, be prepared for a hunt for a parking space. There is a car park at the Double Red Duke, but it was full. I think it must be because the venue also operates as a hotel.

We managed to find parking just on the road adjacent to the car park. Our friends however parked a good 100m away. It really wasn’t the end of the world, but just bear it in mind when you visit.

The Venue

Visiting the Double Red Duke almost feels like you are going to a country house. The outside of the building is impressive and has a classic, countryside atmosphere. The gardens also look inviting and looked perfect with a Winter mist.

Inside the building is a throwback to a more civilised age. The are echoes of the 19^th century, all with a slightly modern, neoclassical twist. Their choice of colour is dark and moody, which is balanced with the cosy furnishings and the lighting choices.

Our seats were in the Garden Room. The fire was crackling in a grand fireplace, which made for a wonderful wintery atmosphere. I loved the skylight in this room, especially the original beams that sat just underneath. Whilst it had clearly been newly renovated, there was enough to remind you that it was an older house.

A highlight for me has to be the choice of art. Sketches and basic paintings of the Duke were presented in dark blue frames. It gave the venue a lot of character and uniqueness, something which I think is missing from a lot of places nowadays.

Overall, I really like the venue. It is, after all, one of the main reasons why people visit this iconic restaurant. Now, on to the food…

The Food at the Double Red Duke

As it was a Sunday, it was only right that we both tuck in to one of the famous roasts. I thought there was a lot of choice; you could pick from chicken, pork or beef. There was also a vegetarian option. We decided to opt for the pork and beef and could not wait to try.

After being served pink lemonade (and why not?), our food quickly came out. The main plate was really nicely presented. The pork belly was really quite large and there was a good amount of roast potatoes. The beef was smaller, but came with a monster Yorkshire pudding. Alongside the main dishes came honey parsnips, carrots, and cauliflower cheese.

Let’s start with the beef. The flavour was just divine. It was perfectly cooked and the quality actually astounded me. The gravy complimented the flavour and the Yorkshire added that extra something. The pork belly was also very tasty, but I would probably say that the beef won it.

The star of the show though had to be the cauliflower. Sometimes, restaurants don’t put enough effort into this side. This however was perfectly cheesy and had a hint of horseradish in the sauce. If you are visiting the Double Red Duke, make sure you order extra!

Service and Price

The service at the Double Red Duke was good. I can’t say that I was bowled over, but it was good enough to compliment the atmosphere. There were a couple of small mistakes throughout the meal (a latte instead of a cappuccino for instance), but these were quickly rectified.

The price is slightly more than I would usually expect. For the two of us it came to just over £72.00. The food was really good, but this is definitely on the more pricey side.

The Verdict

If you haven’t thought about visiting the Double Red Duke, add it to your list. I personally think that the experience of visiting the venue is reason enough to go. However, the food is superb and I really would recommend their Sunday menu. Is it pricey; yes and I would not say that this is the usual Sunday local. But, for an event or a meet up, it is an excellent choice for a winter’s lunch.

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