The Green House

This place feels a bit like stepping onto the set of Desperate Housewives — light, airy New England-​style interior, with vases of granny smiths, baskets of red peppers and rows of olive oil bottles set out on wooden shelves. Muted wall tones, rustic tables and a few pretty chandeliers complete the look — which seems to be working a treat with the yummy mummies of the area!
Popped in for a drink on a Sunday afternoon to find the restaurant full and the bar area overflowing with others waiting hungrily for a table. As luck would have it, a group was called to be seated as we arrived so we nabbed their table and 3 padded armchairs in the bar.
I went to grab a drinks menu only to be confuzzled by how many there were — a bar nibbles menu, cocktail menu, a wine list, a special summer drinks menu, a Sunday menu, etc etc. Phew I was thirsty already so panicked and asked for something I could see!
We were actually there to scope out the place for my sister’s 21^st bday meal so enjoyed drooling over the menu for a while. It all sounded delicious (and looked/​smelled it too from what we could spy in the restaurant), but then the manager shot down our hopes by saying they don’t take bookings larger than 8 on a Saturday night. Bummer.
The place certainly looks the part and is getting plenty of attention for it — for me though there was a bit of warmth missing. The manager was obviously busy on a Sunday but gave my mum a bit of a brush-​off in saying he was too busy to speak to her at the time. I also suspected the barman may have been a robot as he managed to show zero emotion when serving me. If he is, his lemonade-​and-​lime programming needs some work (and a fraction of the limey-​ness he put in!).
A nice-​looking gastropub to take your granny for a meal I think — though if your family’s too big I guess they don’t need you! Bit of a shame but hopefully I’ll have another occasion to go back and try the food. Oh yes, useful car park is worth mentioning too.

Typical Gastro type pub part of a Mitchell’s and Butler brand. Modern décor verging in trendy which also describes the clientele. Good food with nice daily specials. Good range of beers and wines with pleasant and helpful staff

I felt a pang of guilt hit me as I walked through the doors to The Green House but I brushed them aside to allow me a clear head (and heart) as I ventured into this new hang out.
The atmosphere was already oozing out of the doorway as I approached with my hubby and I squeezed his hand in appreciation for finally making me come here. We managed to get served and stood at the end of the bar for a few minutes before being asked to move so people could be seated. We couldn’t stop ourselves from drooling. Waiters kept passing us with trays of delicious smelling food and he wasn’t giving any of it to us!
I couldn’t hold the temptation to grab someone’s ribeye steak any longer so we moved outside away from the bustling crowd and the rising temperatures. Once outside we finished our drinks and decided that when we go back it will be earlier so we can choose where to sit and to prevent us from starting to singe in the heat.
If you’re looking for a kool, swanky restaurant or bar then The Green House is great for that but beware you may get glares or have your pork rack stolen if people are waiting around and you are taking too long!

The Green House opened in July 2011, it used to be called The Half Way House but was failing as a pub so was closed and bought by the Salisbury brothers who have turned it into a happening place to be. The décor is modern verging on trendy and it attracts the same in its clientele.
If your lunch hour just isn’t long enough, pop-​in for a quick bite from the bar menu with winter warming and sharing dishes available until 7pm. There’s a fixed price menu available Monday to Friday, from noon until 7pm with two courses for £12.95. The perfect day for a long lazy lunch, roaring fire in winter and a catch up with friends — make sure you book early. Go in for a beer and read the papers then stay for the best roast around with 2 courses from £12.95, beautifully prepared with all the trimmings. Sunday wouldn’t be Sunday without a delicious Sunday Roast with all the trimmings and lashings of gravy! What better way to spend time with family or friends?