If you fancy a night out and a convenient day trip into the delightful Thames Valley, the rather decent bistro at the Hotel du Vin in Henley isn’t a bad shout.

You’ll enjoy good simple Anglo – French food that is unfussily prepared and expertly cheffed in a cosy, buzzy brasserie-style environment.

Prettily situated just 150 yards walk from the River Thames one way & a minute to the shops the other, Hotel Du Vin Henley-on-Thames offers an escape into some autumnal riverside coziness.

Formerly the 18th century Breakspear brewery (a mate at Uni’s Dad used to run the brewery as MD), the upmarket hotel is a quirky but attractive cluster of Georgian buildings. It consists of a Champagne bar, large bistro, private dining area and a courtyard (not ideal on the wet winter’s night we visited!) with original ‘brewery’ signage and brickwork.

Starters were absolute ‘classics’ with smoked Scottish salmon and two big juicy seasoned & breadcrumbed scallops.

The Wiener Schnitzel / escalope and the cod with puy lentils were excellent. Puddings were totally OTT and utterly naughty. A crème caramel par excellence and what you call a proper darn humungous Profiterole!

If you fancy a “dine and stay” sejourn from Oxford or a mini break, keep a look out for “dinner, bed & breakfast” offers on the glam 43 luxurious hotel suites and rooms. Plenty of mooching, river walks and quality retail therapy is on offer in Henley.

It’s as good spot a spot as any to blow away those inevitable cobwebs we will all face between Christmas and New Year.

Hotel Du Vin
New St, Henley-on-Thames RG9 2BP

Bitten were invited as guests, all views are our own