The Wellington Arms is a country restaurant and rooms situated between Basington and Reading and located on the Wellington Estate in Hampshire, which spans 7,000 acres of woodland, parkland and a stunning lake. Back in 2018, the countryside pub joined the award-winning Grosvenor Pubs and Inns family and underwent an impressive refurbishment, transforming it into the stylish space it is today.
The restaurant straddles fashionable decor trends and a cosy, traditional feel with rich, dark blue walls, book-filled shelves and a mis-match of vintage furniture. Industrial lighting contrasts against Chesterfield seating and a quirky mix of artworks line the walls, all coming together for a relaxed but well-curated look.
As a classic country pub, the menu's concept centres on British recipes, crafted using seasonal, local producers, working with Hampshire farmers and growers wherever possible. The a la carte menu offers a large variation of dishes, starting with nibbles and small plates such as Bloody Mary prawn cocktail with poached tiger prawns, Bloody Mary Marie Rose, gem lettuce, avocado and cucumber with spiced seaweed crumb.
Mains range from belly of English pork or chicken and ham pie, to summer pea and mint risotto or miso roasted aubergine and spiced chickpea salad, to ensure there's something for everyone. Desserts sound great, too, with options like cherry ripple sundae, sticky toffee pudding and dark chocolate tart.
The Wellington Arms also offers a fixed price menu which is a fantastic, budget-friendly way to taste some of the menu's best dishes. Choose between two or three courses with options like Cornish crab and crème fraiche risotto or a flat iron steak.
For special ocassions, take a lot at the afternoon tea offering, and of course, it wouldn't be a proper pub without a Sunday lunch. Roasts include ballotine of Norfolk chicken, honey roast belly of English pork and wild mushroom and lentil wellington, served with all the trimmings including beef dripping Yorkshire puddings and summer greens.