METROLAND Spring 2022

We love dining out and so I was very excited when
we received an invitation to visit the recently
refurbished Horwood House and dine at their new
restaurant, Harry’s Bar & Kitchen. As a result of our
editor’s packed diary, my husband David was the
lucky person to join me.
Horwood House was built in 1911 in a refined
Jacobean style that gives it the feel of a traditional
country manor. The farm upon which it was built
dates from the 16th Century and the house served
as the country home for the Denny family who had
made their fortune in pork farming – and whose
name has been given to a signature dish on the
menu.
than half-an-hour’s drive away. Horwood House is
a fantastic base to explore some of our greatest
history and take part in iconic events.
Arriving via the long drive lined with lime trees, we
were struck by the beautiful house and the quiet
tranquillity of the setting.
Harry’s Bar & Kitchen is named for the estate’s head
gardener, father to the famous TV gardener Percy
Thrower. Harry’s offers bistro dining in a relaxed
garden environment that combines the tradition of
the original house with a modern feel.
We started with two dishes from Harry’s refreshing
menu. The signature dish is The Denny, a croquette
of pork and apricot with apricot ketchup and
garden apple relish. Recommended by our server,
and clearly a Horwood House favourite, it was a
melt-in-the-mouth experience that would work well
as either a starter or a light lunch. We also tried
the Salt & Pepper Squid, which was accompanied
by tangy plum tomato salsa and a salad. The squid
was perfectly cooked and was a refreshing start to
our lunch.
The original house now has Grade II listed status
and was extended significantly with additional
buildings. Following major renovations Horwoord
reopened on 17th May with a spa and a second
new restaurant opening in Autumn 2021. Horwood
House is in the heart of the Buckinghamshire
countryside and despite its rural location, is
surrounded by attractions, with Waddesdon Manor,
Bletchley Park and the Silverstone Circuit all less
At this point, we must say a huge thank you to the
team who cooked and served our lunch. Working
in the kitchen was executive chef Mehdi and
pastry chef Theodora, whilst our server was Ellie.
A local resident, Ellie was friendly and professional,
clearly proud to work at Horwood and was very
knowledgeable about both the menu and the
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