A picturesque village in the heart of Rutland, Wing invites you to slow down and immerse in scenes accented with golden cottages, tranquil countryside, and a rich history that permeates the landscape. The village’s chocolate-box offering goes far beyond its honeyed streets, beckoning visitors to come and experience some of the best dining in the country. Rutland may be small, but its natural larder is replete with grazing livestock, farm-to-fork vegetables, and hedgerows rich with berries and brambles.
Whether you seek to celebrate a special occasion or accent your stay with local flavours expertly woven together, Wing’s restaurants invite you to bask in lingering moments as you delve into the area’s artful menus and vibrant dishes.
The Buttonhole
Set within a gorgeous Victorian country house, The Buttonhole beckons for winsome repasts in a spellbinding setting. Inside, new interiors marry with the historic setting, with original features intertwining with playful touches to create a space that feels modern yet relaxed. A bar bearing colourful bakes tempts you to extend your dining experience, while a wine and beer menu promises a refreshing accompaniment to your visit. For a truly mesmerising experience, take a seat outside in the tree-lined garden. The menu is centred on delectable day-long dining, from fruit-led breakfasts to vibrant brunches, followed by an afternoon of Cornish tea and homemade cake. The Bottonhole frequently hosts live music, alongside evening soirees where local ingredients take centre stage and simple flavours shine.
Hambleton Hall, Oakham
A captivating country house nestled within storybook grounds and gardens, Hambleton Hall is utterly serene in its setting. A bountiful display of flower-hugged borders wraps around the house, before trailing across the garden to the shimmering lake beyond, inviting you to seek out the magnetic views in every direction. Inside, the dining room is equally enthralling, with plush chairs set against striking wallpapers and opulent accessories. Underscoring the luxurious space, the menu is the pearl in the centre, earning the hall’s accolade of longest retained Michelin Star in the UK. Whether you seek to slow down with a light lunch or celebrate something special with a private dining experience, Hambleton Hall ensures every moment is honoured and remembered. Indulge in a two-course lunch, a three-course dinner, or the renowned tasting menu for a delectable discovery of dishes, from roast loin of water deer with spiced lentils and sea buckthorn to passionfruit soufflé with a passionfruit and banana sorbet. A plentiful wine cellar combined with the sommelier’s in-depth knowledge promises a masterful marrying of perfectly paired vintages with each course.
No.23, Uppingham
A Grade II listed exterior encases a sleek and refined bistro-style restaurant at No.23. A pastiche of captivating prints adorns the walls, alongside backlit ceramics and world wines, drawing inspiration from the Mediterranean, whose influences weave throughout the restaurant and its artfully designed menu. With soothing interiors and a sun-soaked garden terrace encouraging lunches to roll into afternoon cocktails, dining here is always a cherished experience. Sip a lemon meringue martini as you explore a menu replete with tempting tastes, from baked scallop and lobster thermidor to spinach and ricotta ravioli with a mushroom and black truffle velouté. The desserts are just as dreamy, with tiramisu and limoncello custard tart evoking rolling hills peppered with ancient trees and wildflowers. Open for lunch, dinner, and a seasonal Sunday lunch, and with all meat reared at their very own farm, No.23 invites you to experience the UK’s rich natural larder in the serenest of spots in Rutland.
Fern, Uppingham
A seasonal restaurant a stone’s throw from Wing, Fern’s sleek ambience and peach-kissed interior create a tranquil setting for your evening nourishment. Small plates with big flavours driven by locally sourced ingredients offer a classic yet compelling menu, with dishes ranging from braised baby carrots with feta and a spiced crumble to braised short rib ravioli with a port and red wine reduction and whipped vintage cheddar. Amplifying the restaurant’s love of high-quality, local fare, the wine list features some remarkable organic wines and British aperitifs, inviting you to unwind with a glass of something crisp as you indulge in a plate of Cornish scallops or Maldon rock oysters. Open Tuesday to Saturday evenings, as well as lunch on Fridays and Sundays, this oasis of cultivated cuisine entices for intimate dinners and social gatherings alike.
The Finch’s Arms, Oakham
Nestled on the water-lined wiles of Hambleton Peninsula near Wing, The Finch’s Arms sets the scene for dreamy dining in a spellbinding sanctuary of calm. The 17th-century country inn infuses each visit with a warm welcome, with beamed ceilings and flagstone flooring weaving historic elegance throughout the space. The menu balances this timeless setting with a thoughtful melange of dishes crafted with local ingredients and no small amount of creativity. Start with a tomato gazpacho with pickled jalapeños, sour cream, and focaccia, followed by tagliatelle woven with asparagus and chestnut mushrooms in a truffle cream, before finishing with a stem ginger, lime, and semolina cake with a lime crisp and lemon sorbet for a delightfully fresh end to your meal. The bar boasts the perfect accompaniment to every dish, while the surrounding serenity of Rutland Water ensures fairytale vistas frame every moment.
The View at Rutland Nursery, Oakham
A place where plants flourish, and baskets are easily filled with local giftware and artisan products, Rutland Nursery invites you to sink into a relaxed day of browsing, before pausing in the sunlit restaurant for a medley of dishes sure to tempt and satisfy. A spellbinding space lit by large windows and hanging lights, The View paints pictures of unhurried breakfasts that slowly become brunch and peaceful lunches seated around the enchanting olive tree in the heart of the restaurant. Begin your day with rhubarb and custard porridge or sauteed portobello mushrooms on toast, or let time pass you by as you imbibe in a glass of crisp white wine and a plate of garlic and chilli king prawns. For something deliciously sweet, stop by the onsite bakery for a cake or pastry you can enjoy in The Bothy, the nursery’s sumptuously cosy area overlooking the courtyard. Dog and family-friendly, and with vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options available, The View welcomes all to dine in utter tranquillity.
The Lake Isle, Uppingham
For those seeking lingering moments with loved ones, The Lake Isle offers a contemporary yet intimate setting in which to luxuriate over carefully curated dishes crafted with local ingredients and finished with flair. Browsing the à la carte menu, get lost in the possibilities of interlacing flavours as you choose between crispy tempura courgette flower stuffed with Cromer crab mousse with a samphire slaw and lobster and basil bisque or Norfolk duck breast with sesame cracked wheat, toasted cucumber, spring onions, and Japanese preserved rhubarb. Sundays leave room for the beloved Sunday lunch, which has grown into its own tradition here at The Lake Isle. Whether you adore roast ribeye of beef or the first crunch of a rosemary-encrusted roast potato, Sundays are celebrated in timeless style here. Choose a bottle of wine from the extensive menu, and settle into an exquisite evening amidst The Lake Isle’s blissful ambience.
Hitchen’s Barn, Oakham
Tucked within a red-brick barn in Oakham, near Wing, you’ll find Hitchen’s Barn, a rustic restaurant full of heart. Founded by husband and wife Neil and Louise Hitchen, the warmest of welcomes awaits, made all the more inviting with the beamed ceilings and festoon lighting within. The menu is playful, inventive, and always changing with the seasons, making use of the local larder at every chance. Starting your meal with some nibbles as you browse the menu, your eyes will quickly be drawn to the flavourful offering. Possible starters include twice-baked creamy red Leicester and Lincolnshire poacher cheese soufflé and grilled wood pigeon with an artichoke, blackberry, and hazelnut salad. For mains, anticipate the likes of local venison with poached pear, Cornish turbot with new potatoes and Cornish clams, and fillet of stonebass with a Brixham crab and chive risotto. Should you wish to mark the occasion fully, the upstairs private dining room promises a delightful space for up to 20 guests.
John’s House, Mountsorrel
For a day trip from Wing, Mountsorrel tempts with arcadian vistas and Michelin Star repasts. Set within the very 16th-century farmhouse that chef and owner John Duffin grew up in, John’s House holds family at its heart, which can be seen from the farm-to-plate ethos made possible by John’s brother tending to the 400-acre estate that keeps the restaurant’s menu thriving. Lunchtime promises a dreamy three-course affair or a simple five-course tasting menu, while evenings cultivate an air of indulgence with a seven-course tasting menu waiting to enrapture and enchant. Shifting with the farm’s harvest, the menu whispers of delights such as salt-baked kohlrabi with toasted sunflower seeds and currants, roast and raw Orkney scallops with optional Exmoor caviar, and a refreshing sorrel sorbet with yoghurt and cucumber. There are two wine pairings to choose from, with the cellar selection promising the very best vintages to complement your meal, or you can go off-menu with something special from the wine list.
