REVIEW: A Charming Country Pub Sunday Lunch near Swindon | The Barrington Arms, Shrivenham

As we say goodbye to summer and hello to the colder months, there’s nothing we love more than a warming Sunday Roast to warm us up. And where better to enjoy it than a family-run, village pub - The Barrington Arms at Shrivenham?

When the Barrington Arms team invited us along to try their Sunday Roast, which they have only recently started serving again after the summer, we seized the opportunity. It’s located in a lovely little village just outside of Swindon, Shrivenham, and the pub has a really lovely relaxed feel to it. It had a really cosy touch too, with log fires and comfy armchairs to unwind in - exactly what’s needed on these chilly days! 

Upon entering the pub, we received a warm welcome and were promptly seated at a charming table by window, offering us a lovely view on to the high street so we could watch the world go by. Our attentive waitress approached our table, providing us with menus and promptly taking our drink orders.

The Sunday Menu featured a diverse selection of options for starters, mains, and desserts. We decided to skip starters and go straight for the main event - the roast. I went for a Roast Topside of Beef, which came with cauliflower cheese, a Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes, seasonal vegetables and lashings of rich gravy.

My guest chose the Supreme of Chicken, coq au blanc, with mushrooms and bacon. However, since my guest isn't fond of bacon, they enquired if the chef could prepare the dish without it, and the kitchen graciously accommodated their request with no issues at all. It's worth mentioning that they provide gluten-free and vegan choices, ensuring inclusivity for all dietary preferences.

The dishes are priced at a very reasonable £16 each, especially considering you're enjoying a homecooked Sunday Lunch in such a lovely village setting.

The food arrived promptly and was beautifully presented. It was served steaming hot and had a delightful, fresh taste. The beef was cooked to perfection, tender and melted in the mouth, whilst the roast potatoes were lovely and crispy on the outside but soft and fluffy inside. The homemade Yorkshire puddings were large and really tasty, and the cauliflower cheese was divine - lovely soft cauliflower florets coated in the most delicious cheese sauce. The roast dinners also include delectable dauphinois potatoes, which came as a delightful surprise!

My guest stated that the chicken was equally as delicious, served with its own pot of rich gravy and all the trimmings. We both devoured our plates, savouring every bite, and were left feeling very full and satisfied!

When our waitress came over to take our plates, however, we were a little too tempted by the dessert menu, and so I opted for the warm chocolate brioche pudding with ice cream whilst my guest went for a classic sticky toffee pudding, also with ice cream. Choosing was tough since they had an array of tempting desserts, including options like passionfruit creme brulee and apple crumble cheesecake.

The desserts were to die for - the sticky toffee pudding was just the right size, drizzled in a rich, sweet and sticky sauce accompanied by a dollop of vanilla ice cream. The warm chocolate brioche pudding was something I had not tried before, but being a chocolate lover it was right up my street, warm with mixed chocolate and brioche in a dish topped with ice cream.

We both left feeling rather full and very satisfied with our meals and knowing we would not need to eat for the rest of the day! To conclude our experience, we took a delightful stroll through the charming village of Shrivenham - a highly recommended addition to your visit to The Barrington Arms.

If you’d like to try their Sunday Lunch for yourselves, be sure to book a table by clicking here!