Celebrity Chefs & Fine Dining

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead boasts a whole host of pubs and restaurants owned by famous names and celebrity chefs, and fine eateries where dedicated chefs have earned prestigious dining awards including Michelin stars and AA rosettes.

The popularity of cookery shows on television continues to grow and more and more chefs are known outside their traditional culinary circles.

Read more about some very tasty places to eat and unique ways of arriving at your restaurant too!

The Sound of the Sea at The Fat Duck, image Jose Luis Lopez De Zubiria

Heston Blumenthal | The Fat Duck, Bray

'Culinary alchemist' and self-taught chef Heston Blumenthal owns the multi-award-winning Fat Duck, in picturesque Bray, near Maidenhead.  The Fat Duck holds three Michelin stars and was once voted the best restaurant in the world.

Celebrity chef Heston also owns the 15th-century Hind's Head restaurant in Bray (now with its own Michelin star).

Edoardo Brambilla/Heston Blumenthal | Hinds Head, Bray

The Hinds Head is a Michelin Star pub based in the centre of the beautiful village of Bray.  Renowned for its hospitality and exceptional food, it been owned by Heston Blumenthal since October 2004.

Relaxed dining areas have been created that reflect the fact that this is still a pub; it oozes originality, exposed beams are plentiful (especially by the bar) with banquettes in the West Room to take in larger groups for dining. Bar snacks can be enjoyed outside on the terrace during the summer months.

Menus offer a combination of seasonal fare and dishes that reflect the venues colourful lineage as well as Heston Blumenthal’s fascination with Britain's gastronomic history. Food here is fuelled by the imagination, combining top quality ingredients to create a menu we are proud to serve; classics, such as oxtail pudding and quaking pudding are firm favourites along with the signature scotch egg and popular fish and triple cooked chips, with Sunday roasts, and set menu specials served during the week.

Sam Brennan | The Braywood, Bray

From the brains behind The Woodspeen comes The Braywood, a luxury fine dining restaurant headed by Chef Sam Brennan, which opened its doors in November 2024.  The menu is based on the finest produce from around the UK, so expect luxury ingredients like Dover sole and chateaubriand to share – all accompanied by a formidable wine list.  Michelin Recommended.

Caldesi in Campagna

Giancarlo Caldesi | Caldesi in Campagna, Bray

Inspired by Giancarlo’s rural upbringing in Tuscany, Katie and Giancarlo opened Caldesi in Campagna, meaning Caldesi in the Country, in Bray in 2007.  The Caldesis are passionate about seasonal and sustainable ingredients and use local produce such as game, meat and eggs where possible.  You can even learn to cook like a true Italian!  Find out more about small group cookery classes at Caldesi in Campagna.

Adam Handling MBE | The Loch and the Tyne, Old Windsor

The Loch and the Tyne by chef and owner Adam Handling MBE is a British restaurant and pub located in the beautiful countryside of Old Windsor.  The Loch and the Tyne serves classic pub food with a luxury approach. Having worked hard for Adam for many years, Adam made Steven and Jonny the restaurant's co-proprietors. Discover signature favourites as well as seasonal additions to the constantly-changing sustainable menu.  The Loch and the Tyne is an award winner!  Great British Pub Awards 2023: 'Best Pub Food'.  Beautiful South Awards 2023: Silver 'Pub of the Year', Bronze 'Ethical, Responsible & Sustainable Tourism Award', Commended 'B&B and Guesthouse of the Year'.  Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand.

Atul Kochhar | Sindhu by Atul Kochhar, Marlow

Enjoy the very best of traditional Indian cuisine in a contemporary riverside setting at Sindhu by Atul Kochhar at the Macdonald Compleat Angler hotel.  Michelin-starred chef Atul’s menus are inspired by his love of traditional Indian cuisine combined with his dedication to using only the finest British ingredients.  The result is an innovative and unique style of authentic modern Indian cuisine offering a selection of deliciously distinctive creations.  The tasting menu offers diners an exquisite selection of perfectly-chosen courses.

Alex Payne | The Tudor Pass, Great Fosters

Led by Executive Head Chef, Alex Payne, The Tudor Pass is Great Fosters Hotel’s Michelin-starred restaurant with just seven tables.  It’s open Wednesday to Saturday for both lunch and dinner.

This intimate restaurant is a new chapter in the storied history of its location, named to celebrate the unique interactive service style diners can expect – without the noise of an open kitchen.

Alain Roux | The Waterside Inn, Bray

Nestling on the banks of the Thames, in the charming 16th-century village of Bray, the Waterside Inn has been serving inspirational French cuisine since brothers Michel and Albert Roux opened the restaurant in 1972.

Its welcoming, informal ambience belies its formidable reputation: run since 2002 by Michel's son Alain Roux, the Waterside is renowned across the globe as a leading light in the world of gastronomy.

Michel and Alain Roux opened a chic Thameside brasserie, Roux at Skindles at Taplow Riverside Maidenhead, Buckinghamshire in 2018 on the site of the former infamous Skindles Hotel.

Adam Smith | Woven by Adam Smith, Ascot

In November 2017 Coworth Park’s restaurant was added to the culinary map when executive chef Adam Smith was awarded his first Michelin star within just 12 months of being at Coworth Park.

Fast forward and Woven by Adam Smith, located within Coworth Park's Mansion House, offers diners a fresh culinary concept in the British countryside.  Experience handpicked recipes inspired by timeless dishes and crafted with the finest ingredients from the beautiful landscape surrounding the hotel.  In this next chapter with Adam Smith, taste contrasting flavours seasoned with storytelling, carefully woven together into the finest cuisine.

Adam represented the Central region in BBC Two's Great British Menu 2024 and cooked a course at the banquet in Paris.

Steve Smith | Latymer, Pennyhill Park

Awarded a Michelin star and 5 AA Rosettes, Latymer is situated within the 5-star Pennyhill Park Hotel. Eat your way through Latymer’s famous Discovery tasting menu, skillfully crafted by Head Chef Steve Smith and his team.

Expect six delectable courses plus snacks on the dinner menu, four at lunch, each one crafted to perfection with the very best sustainably sourced and seasonal ingredients. Your meal is served in a richly furnished, wood-panelled room in the oldest part of the house.

Refined yet creative, this is dinner like you’ve never experienced before!  You’ll still be thinking about the restaurant’s surprise tasting menus long after your visit.

Browse our Food and Drink for more inspiration.

The Boat Hire Company's Fringilla arriving at the Waterside Inn, image Tony Hart

Arrive at your fine dining restaurant by riverboat

The table’s booked and the guests are getting excited.  Now why not consider a stylish way to arrive at your restaurant?

Many of our fine dining and Michelin-starred restaurants are on or near the River Thames meaning that arriving by boat is a unique and wonderful option. 

The Boat Hire Company are specialists in luxury river travel and can transport you in style to many of the Thames-side restaurants and hotels in the Windsor area, including The Waterside Inn, The Fat Duck, The Hinds Head, Cliveden House Hotel and Monkey Island Estate.

About the Michelin Guide

From its humble beginnings in 1889, the Michelin Guide is recognised today as an iconic dining directory with chefs dedicating their careers to winning and retaining these highly-sought-after stars!  Here's a brief run down of what the star ratings, Bib Gourmand and Recommended mean:

Three Michelin Stars: Exceptional cuisine
Two Michelin Stars: Excellent cooking
One Michelin Star: High quality cooking
Michelin Bib Gourmand: good quality, good value cooking
Michelin Recommended: a restaurant has been recognised by the guide for serving food to a high level but hasn’t yet been awarded; being recommended by the Michelin Guide is an honour in its own right.