Seasonal dining with Cowshed at Tewinbury
This post features a gifted dining experience at Tewinbury. Thank you for continuing to support the content that makes Daisybutter possible.
Tewinbury is one of my favourite local spots. Nestled in Hertfordshire, this country farm estate has long been favoured by locals for its cosy restaurants and farm shop, gorgeous wedding venue (a few of my friends have been married here!) and homely hotel rooms. This autumn, Tewinbury underwent a bit of a transformation, elevating their restaurants and menus to boot.
I was kindly invited to sample the autumn menu at Cowshed at Tewinbury – their more upmarket restaurant that also offers a delicious afternoon tea. (I’d know, we took Mum for Mother’s Day last year!) My friend Natasha and I often enjoy Sunday lunch and a farm-side walk at Tewinbury’s Granary Kitchen so, of course, I had to bring her along.
Address: Tewin Bury Farm Hotel B1000, Hertford Rd AL6 0JB
Cowshed at Tewinbury
Cowshed focuses on classic British food crafted from fresh, locally sourced produce, served in what was the farm’s original cowshed. Inside, the décor has been tastefully furnished with an elegant, modern farmhouse feel. I always love coming here as there are round tables, booths, smaller tables… it feels cosy and not at all intrusive of other guests. They’ve recently adopted a seasonal menu – to make best use of all that local produce! – and also offer set menu dining from Monday to Thursday, which changes on a weekly basis.
An elegant drinks’ menu
For starters, Cowshed’s elegant drinks’ menu is completely made for toasting a special occasion or celebrating milestones and date night. Handcrafted cocktails and an edited wine list offer a sophisticated beginning to the experience.
Stylish starters and sides
There’s an extensive selection of starters, sides, snacks and bread to choose from here – perfect for leading the meal and enjoying with a glass of wine. We chose the olive focaccia sticks to start, which were delicious. Served warm with dipping olive oil and balsamic vinegar, it piqued our appetite for our mains. It’s worth noting that while there are a few vegan options, plant-based diners like me are fairly limited for choice.
Seasonal produce-led mains
Cowshed’s menu divides into grill, sea, land and pies – comforting British classics. And I was grateful to see a few vegan options. There’s a warm kale salad, a plantain curry and a squash and red onion tagine. I opted for the tagine, a crusty Tewinbury water pastry pie filled with tomato chutney, squash and red onion, served with seasonal greens. I would’ve loved an option of serving this with potatoes, but sadly none are vegan or vegetarian. Having said that, the dish was absolutely delicious – a real, warming seasonal meal.
My friend chose their Tewin lamb Barnsley chop which she described as tender and rich in flavour. Served with garden mint sauce (homegrown at Tewinbury’s kitchen garden) and hand-cut ‘Koffman’ chips, it was an enjoyable autumn dish.
Beautifully balanced desserts
Onto desserts! And we were oh so impressed by the selection. From cheeseboards to chocolate cake, there’s something for everybody. The gorgeous ambience and setting of Cowshed simply makes you want to stay for longer, and so we did. Natasha went for the 63% dark chocolate pot, paired with black cherry and a sweet bread crisp, while I rounded off my meal with an espresso martini affogato. It was the ideal way to complete our evening.
Thank you again to Cowshed at Tewinbury for hosting us for the evening. A truly special place to gather with food and loved ones.
