Set in the picturesque Buckinghamshire village of Brill, upmarket gastropub The Pointer sits smartly on either side of the road, with the main venue on one side and newly converted guest bedrooms, the other.
It’s striking cornflower windows and trendy scrawled font signage both pack a heavy punch and serve as a reminder that this is not your run of the mill drinking den.
On entering the cosy front bar, we were warmly greeted by Christian, the accomplished manager, who stood in front of a well-stocked bar, complete with barrels of homemade Negronis.
No time was wasted checking us in to our sumptuous suite across the road – the converted building an MOT station in another life. The bedroom boasted a subtle grey and white colour palettte, with the plush pillows and Egyptian cotton sheets of a five-star hotel.
Little touches impressed, such as the grand free-standing bath, Nespresso machine, cupboard doors made from recycled oak floorboards and huge walk-in rainforest shower.
After freshening up, we propped up the bar with two pink pepper gin and tonics, chosen from the specialist gin menu. Reminiscent of Palma, Majorca, gins are served in fishbowl glasses and accompaniments & tonics a precise flavour match to the gins.
Suitably merry, we then headed past the busy open plan kitchen to the full dining room, where diners were already in full swing. The airy room boasts a beamed vaulted ceiling and looks on to the pretty cottage-style walled garden outside.
Our starters were a melt-in-the-mouth confit salmon with Japanese radish, cucumber and horseradish crème and a robust ham hock terrine with lemon & garlic mayonnaise.
For main, we shared an enormous plate of chevroned Chilton home farm angus rump for two, which was served with sinful chips cooked in dripping, wild mushrooms, roasted cherry tomatoes and a silky béarnaise sauce. Simply divine, paired with a bottle of punchy Malbec.
The Executive Head Chef James Graham came to chat to us after the meal. We were interested to learn about the venue’s commitment to homegrown produce and sustainable, responsible, farm to table dining. Both the Pointer Farm nearby (less than a mile door to door) and Butchers next door, are also run with a fixed eye on sustainability and clean farming.
It’s little wonder amongst other accolades, we learned The Pointer won Michelin Pub of the year 2018. Not to be beaten, we opted for a liquid pud in the form of an espresso martini – at the bar before retiring over the road.
Breakfast the next morning was a perfect full English and eggs benedict, served with the crunchiest bacon. The bar thoughtfully offers Berocca and Panadol for guests who might have had a little too much fun the night before, alongside a tempting jug of Bloody Mary.
We left refreshed and revived from our night away from the kids. For anyone who wants an adult break in Buckinghamshire, I’ll be sure to point them to a little village called Brill.
Contact:
Address: 27 Church St, Brill, Aylesbury HP18 9RT
Phone: 01844 238339
