View our handy Food & Drink Map with cycling route and list of places to eat

Rutland is proud of its farming and agricultural background and it is thanks to this strong tradition of supporting local produce that there is an excellent selection of quality food and drink available now, not only when eating out but also with local businesses producing delicious fare to enjoy in your own home.

Award Winning Food & Drink

Inspectors and reviewers are repeatedly impressed with the quality food offer here, with many establishments winning awards in guide books and reviewed in the national press.

The Olive Branch in Clipsham has an enviable clutch of hospitality industry honours. Crowned ‘Best Pub’ in the GQ Food & Drink Awards 2021, this year it has also been recognised as the finest gastropub in the county in the Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropub Awards. Being placed in ‘The List’ is one of the pub world’s highest accolades and The Wheatsheaf in Greetham is also proud to be among the recipients of this coveted award.

Good pub guide

The Good Pub Guide, awarded The Olive Branch ‘Pub of the Year 2021’ and also recommend these excellent Rutland pubs:

 

An AA Rosette Award is an highly sought-after accreditation for culinary excellence, awarded annually on a rising scale of one to five. Rutland is proud to have a multitude of recognised venues:
Hambleton Hall    aa rosette smallaa rosette smallaa rosette smallaa rosette small
The Olive Branch  aa rosette smallaa rosette small
Lake Isle                  aa rosette smallaa rosette small
The Kings Arms     aa rosette smallaa rosette small
Barnsdale Lodge    aa rosette small

 

Good Food GuideSince 1951,The Good Food Guide has reviewed the best restaurants, pubs and cafés across the UK. Each year, the guide is completely rewritten and compiled from scratch. All reviews are based on a huge volume of feedback submitted by readers, together with anonymous expert inspections to ensure that every entry is assessed afresh. Rutland boasts four entries in 2021;
The Olive Branch, Clipsham | Hitchens Barn, Oakham | Lake Isle, Uppingham | Hambleton Hall

 

Michelin Awards of Distinction

For top quality English elegance, it is hard to beat Hambleton Hall on the Rutland Water peninsular, it has the longest retained Michelin Star in the UK (since 1982) and appeared in The Good Food Guide’s Top 50 best UK restaurants for 29 years, it is also renowned for a quality wine list, luxury accommodation and an award winning bakery, not to mention outstanding hospitality – come and see what all the fuss is about on your next visit.

Hitchen’s Barn opened on Burley Road in Oakham in 2019 and as well as featuring in The Good Food Guide, has also been distinguished with a Bib Gourmand, an award which showcases “delightful little restaurants selected by MICHELIN guide inspectors for their very good value for money.”

Ganders Goat pride themselves on their green focused farming and production methods. Come Goat Walking on the farm, where they produce a range of Soap and Ice Cream from the goat milk.
Rutland is a county bursting with flavour! The variety and quality of produce made in this area is astonishing.
The Crown is a 16th-century coaching inn with boutique accommodation set in the heart of Rutland, on the quaint high street of Uppingham. Serving fresh food, real ales, gins and hot drinks, sourced where possible from other local independent businesses.

Start Date: 01/01/2017

Hambleton Hall, a Relais and Chateaux property, is one of Britain’s finest country house hotels. It has a spectacular lakeside setting and its restaurant is a haven for gourmets.
The 16th Century award winning picturesque freehouse “The Berkeley Arms” is located on the border between Leicestershire, Rutland, and Lincolnshire. Here we aim to provide a friendly service in a cosy, traditional village pub.
Inspired by the Rutland county motto Multum-in-Parvo or Much-in-Little, we designed a range of Gins to capture the essence of this wonderful area. Using ingredients that have been sourced locally, we’ve come up with some beautiful and unique gin flavours that we hope you enjoy as much as we do.
A cosy and stylish restaurant seating up to 360 people; with an outdoor verandah that’s perfect for summer and a lovely ‘snug’ area by the wood burner in winter. It’s a warm and relaxed environment that welcomes visitors of all ages.
We are extremely proud of our brewing expertise at The Grainstore Brewery. But not only do we offer great ales, but great food too!

Start Date: 01/01/2018

Supplying wines, beers and spirits to the local area and also to our online community. We pride ourselves in the quality of fine French wines, and only source from the very best suppliers in Europe, the US, Australia and beyond.
Award winning farm shop, butchery and eatery just south of Rutland, New Lodge Farm has been owned by the Singlehurst family for over 100 years, focusing on cattle and sheep production by using traditional organic methods of farming.
Set in the picturesque village of Lyddington, The Marquess of Exeter is a charming country pub, a modern Indian restaurant by Krishnapal Negi and 17 charming rooms.
With panoramic views of the water, waterside café is the ideal location serving breakfast and lunch, along with a wide range of delicious sweet treats to compliment the refreshment of your choice.
Your Local traditional English Pub
A village pub serving freshly prepared modern British food, homemade bread, weekly changing menu, lunchtime open sandwiches and specials.