The Potters Arms

There are a few key elements that need to come together to make that classic British country pub experience work. Being in Britain helps, as does having a somewhat rural location, and needless to say, presenting the establishment as a house that is open to the public tends to be on your side. Facetiousness aside, the warm welcome, the cask ale and the menu are all absolute necessities for the country pub experience to be complete, and if your country pub of choice happens to be The Potters Arms in Winchmore Hill, then you’re in luck and then some. They offer all the trappings of the traditional coaching inn, and then stack on top of them a high class hotel, a stunning location and a gourmet food selection that takes in influences from around the world, while remaining true to local ingredients and producers. Book a table now, for a dinner or for the whole night, and head on over to Fagnall Lane in the village of Winchmore Hill and The Potters Arms.

England may no longer be the land of long shadows on village greens, of ruddy faced men scoring cricket matches and of coaching inns in every hamlet, but out in the Buckinghamshire countryside in Winchmore Hill, they have a representative of that rural tradition that is going strong. Or at least, on the surface they do. The outward appearance of The Potters Arms is that of the country pub – and they do yet fulfil that role, with lodgings and real ales and a classically British menu – but to reduce their fare to just that would be to miss the full extent of what they offer. This is a pub with a reputation for great comedy – they’re a fixture on the circuit, with nights every Thursday boasting nationally-famous acts – and even greater food, with a chef that takes inspiration from the whole world and then uses the best of Buckinghamshire to make it happen.

We’re restaurant people, so we’ll leave the comedy to the experts and concentrate on the food. Attila Jakab, the head chef, has crafted a British menu that takes in all the family favourites. The big hitters are all in attendance, from beer battered fish and chips with mushy peas and tartare sauce to sausage and mash with gravy, confit pork belly or duck leg and a homemade pie of the day. For those of international inclinations, there is also a range of pizzas, and there are also more than enough vegetarian options to go around. The Potters Arms is truly one of the best country pubs in Buckinghamshire, and their menu is only one of the reasons why that is the case. Book a table now and set a path for Fagnall Lane in Winchmore Hill to pay them a visit.