Unmissable food and drinks at The Winchmore pub

Wonderland

There’s something incredibly inviting about The Winchmore. In the summer, the front is decked out with greenery, and there’s an expansive pub garden that’s perfect for warm weather. In the winter, The Winchmore transforms into a cosy hide-out, complete with a roaring fire, comfy leather booths, and traditional wooden beams. At Christmas the outside area transforms into the ‘Winchmore Wonderland’, where guests are greeted with ‘winter warmer’ hot drinks (hello Baileys hot chocolate!), festive cocktails and super-Christmassy themed decorations (Christmas trees, tinsel, the works!). If you’re looking for a venue for your next event, The Winchmore also has a gorgeous private function room. The team offers a mouthwatering selection of canapés for you and your guests to enjoy, and if you have any special requests, don’t hesitate to ask — they tailor their packages to suit the needs of each party. 

Crowd pleasers

It’s not just The Winchmore’s canapés that are mouthwatering. All of the food is made from scratch by a team of extremely talented chefs, using only locally-sourced ingredients. The menu is extensive, and covers everything from crowd pleasing pub classics like fish and chips, to knock-out veggie and vegan plates. Start your meal as you mean to go on — with a selection of tasty small plates. From crispy chicken wings coated in peri peri sauce, to salt and peeper squid, handmade sage and pork sausage rolls, and freshly prepared soup – starter-wise there’s something to suit all taste buds. 

The main courses are equally diverse. We love the (entirely vegan!) black bean shepherd’s pie —  which is rich with gravy and sweet potato mash, and served with perfectly-cooked seasonal greens. Equally tasty are the handmade pizzas, all of which are topped with tasty morsels like fresh mozzarella, jerk chicken, and fresh chilli. There’s even a 2-4-1 pizza deal every Monday! If you’re looking for heartier fare though, why not indulge in the freshly prepared pot pie of the day? Served with a perfectly flaky puff pastry lid and creamy mash, it’s super comforting and moreish. Likewise, the 10oz British sirloin steak is as bold as you like, perfectly cooked, and served with gorgeously golden hand-cut chips. If you’re visiting with friends and family, the sharing plates will go down a treat. From ‘loaded nachos’ (complete with chilli beef, guacamole, sour cream, salsa, and melted cheddar, to an entire ‘burger selection’: that is, six medium beef burgers with a variety of toppings – including cheese and smoky BBQ and bacon), there’s something for everyone.

Sweets and smaller appetites

No pub meal is complete without a decadent dessert! Happily, The Winchmore has an abundance of dreamy puds on offer — you’ll find it difficult to settle for just one. Like the rest of the menu, the sweets are all seasonal, so at winter you can expect the likes of spiced apple and winter berry crumble, and in summer there are lighter options like strawberry and vanilla panna cotta. There are a few desserts that stay on the menu all year round, owing largely to just how popular they are. There’s an unctuous and gloriously dense sticky toffee pudding (complete with toffee sauce and vanilla ice cream), a Belgian chocolate brownie topped with a deliciously dark chocolate sauce, and a creamy orange and ginger cheesecake that’s impossible to stop eating. Yum! Portion sizes are generous (much like the hospitality!), so arrive hungry. 

For smaller appetites, there’s a brilliantly priced kids menu, where all main courses (including a mini margarita, penne pasta, and chicken and fish goujons) are priced at just £7. Kids eat completely free, however, 12pm-5pm every Monday to Friday, which is a real steal.

Drinks and brunches

Unsurprisingly, The Winchmore also has lots to offer in the way of drinks, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. As the drinks menu reads: ‘drinking good wine with good food in good company is one of life’s most civilised pleasures’. Indeed. And the wine list at The Winchmore is just about as civilised as it gets; with everything from elegant Pinot Noirs to aromatic and floral Picpoul de Pinet, the choices are extensive. Alongside the wines you’ll find an equally varied choice of beers and ciders, some on tap, some bottled. If you’re celebrating, treat yourself to one (or two…) of the bespoke cocktails — the espresso martini is to die for.

Things don’t stop there at The Winchmore. Enter the brunch menu — available every Monday to Saturday, 12pm-5pm. Alongside the usual suspects (like the full English breakfasts), sit a number of more unusual plates. There’s the Ultimate Salt Beef sandwich, served with pickled gherkin and mustard mayo, a jazzy fish finger sandwich topped with a homemade tartare sauce, and a fresh and vibrant halloumi and red pepper dish complete with heritage tomatoes and hummus. Wash your brunch down with one of the tasty hot drinks, and you’ll be onto a winner.

To describe The Winchmore merely as a pub is to do it a great injustice. It’s so much more than that. It not only manages to excel in serving some of the finest traditional grub north of the river, but embraces other types of cooking, entertaining, and brunch-making with aplomb. It’s the perfect all-rounder. Whether you fancy a quick pie and a pint, catching up around a table full of tasty sharing plates, or a leisurely lunch complete with seasonal dishes, The Winchmore never falls short.