1st visit of the outing to Maidenhead and its environs: Very busy with diners as largely food-orientated in this ancient 15th century gem of an old pub in the picture-postcard village of Bray. To the righthand side, facing the bar, is a drinking area with tables and chairs and a side room snug. Prompt friendly service for my early afternoon visit and the drinking area was extremely peaceful. Superbly preserved with leaded-glass windows and ceiling beams and fireplaces and with one in the dining area lit with its logs glowing.

This is owned by Heston Blumenthal. His famous restaurant The Fat Cat is next door, and the food in both places quite amazing. There are 4 hand pumps on, and a wide variety of wines and whiskeys. Plenty of seating but if you want to eat in the pub restaurant upstairs you need to book up about 2 months in advance for Fri / Sat evenings! Well worth the wait though! Little but suprised that given the passion for good food and wine in this place that the beer selection was so boring and un-inspiring. They should do some more bottle beers perhaps, and try some more interesting beers in the pub on pumps. Some food beer matching would also work so well in there.