Backwell House, the glorious 9-bedroomed country house hotel situated just 6 miles from Bristol in the rolling North Somerset countryside, has opened a new 40-cover restaurant. Open for lunch and dinner from Wednesday lunch through to Sunday lunch, under the watch of the brilliantly talented Chef Ross Hunter, the restaurant offers a daily changing menu of deliciously vibrant and beautifully flavourful dishes using the very finest local and organic produce, to reflect the elegant Backwell House and its bucolic setting.
With “provenance” a key watchword of the day, Backwell House couldn’t be more on point. Herds of beef graze the lush pastures surrounding the hotel, the local farmer’s pigs are fattened on the land, bees provide the most delicious honey and chickens lay the freshest of eggs. The stunning Victorian walled garden offers a wealth of vegetables and herbs, and with the intention of increasing the supply, a gardener has been employed specifically to work with Chef to create his perfect kitchen garden. Further ingredients are sourced from bountiful suppliers and farmers in North Somerset, and beyond to Brixham in Devon for the very best seafood.
The menu may include the following dishes (with the sublime Strawberry Cannelloni fast becoming a “signature”):
- Heritage Tomatoes, Goats Curd, Gazpacho, Basil
- Brixham Crab, Beetroot, Apple, Nori Seaweed
- Backwell pork loin, peas, Saddleback pancetta, tarragon
- 60 day Hereford sirloin, ox cheek, alliums, king oyster mushroom, Beef Jus
- Potato gnocchi, wild garlic, calcot onion, hazelnuts
- Turbot, curried veloute, confit potato, yoghurt, spring onion
- Pipers farm chicken breast, leg ballontine, asparagus, girolles
- Selection of Local Cheeses served with crackers and Pear Jelly
- Vanilla custard slice, textures of raspberry
- Strawberry cannelloni, Meringue, Cheddar Valley strawberries
With the lightest of touches, Chef Ross Hunter and his team present the most exquisite modern dishes, drawing out incredible flavours with impeccable seasoning and classic taste combinations. Based in Bristol, Hunter has spent the past few years in the South West with previous positions at The Stonemill at Rockfield, The Swan at Almondsbury, The Pony & Trap, Yeo Valley and various Pop-Ups with local food hero, Josh Eggleton. Intelligent and creative, Ross Hunter is surely a name to watch.
Bristol is currently enjoying the well-deserved reputation as one of the top foodie destinations in the UK and Backwell House is proud to part of such a burgeoning gastro scene. With sweeping views of the North Somerset countryside you’ll hardly believe you’re a mere 15-minute drive from the bright lights of the energetic city. The beautifully revamped Georgian country house, which opened as a boutique hotel in September 2016, offers nine seriously stylish and uniquely decorated bedrooms, and is the ideal base for exploring all the city has to offer.
The quintessentially English house, built in 1817, is independently owned and run and has the feel of dining or staying at a friend’s very chic country pad. Relax in the beautifully airy Lounge, overlooking the lawn with the ha-ha beyond; enjoy Afternoon Tea in the Conservatory with a view to the Kitchen Garden or grab a killer cocktail in the stylish Bar (take a moment to check out the bar-top – a mosaic painstakingly made by the General Manager out of old floorboards!). With oodles of Georgian charm, updated for the 21st century guest, it’s the ideal countryside escape for a romantic getaway or a very special private celebration.