With longer days and warmer weather on the way, it's time to experience the joys of eating outside.
From sunbathed terraces to riverside hotspots, be sure to head to a Gloucestershire pub or restaurant offering alfresco dining options to make the most of the sunnier climes.
Alfresco dining in Cheltenham
Alfresco dining at The Brewery Quarter
The lowdown
The Brewery Quarter in Cheltenham offers a diverse variety of food and drink options to enjoy alfresco, from fragrant curries and juicy burgers to craft beer and cocktails, with plenty for vegetarian and vegan diners to tuck into — and lots of places to dine with little ones, too!
Menu highlights
With outdoor dining and meaty, veggie and vegan options at many of the Brewery Quarter's restaurants, there’s plenty to choose from. Grab a table outside Pho to enjoy a taste of Vietnam, with the country’s national dish, pho, as well as creamy curries, fresh summer rolls and plenty more on the menu; or try something a little different at The Alchemist, with its creative food menu offering quirky dishes like chorizo and cheddar dough balls, cheeseburger bao buns and Korean fried chicken burgers, as well as boozy brunches.
Burger and beer fans are spoilt for choice, with BrewDog serving up burgers, loaded fries, chicken, cauliflower and seitain wings and its cult craft beer; Hub Box offering burgers, hot dogs and beers with Cornish produce taking centre stage; and Brewhouse & Kitchen dishing up pub classics like burgers, beer-battered fish and chips and beer-can chicken with a drink pairing recommendation to wash it down with.
Head to The Botanist to try one of its famous hanging kebabs; say buon apetito to classic Italian dishes at High Street favourites Prezzo and Pizza Express; sink your teeth into prime cuts at Son of Steak; or spice things up with a trip to Nando's. There are tasty toasties and lunch options on offer at SOHO Coffee Co. too, ideal for an alfresco working lunch.
SoGlos loves
It’s not just the fantastic food that makes Cheltenham’s Brewery Quarter a must-visit: there’s plenty of entertainment for before, during and after dinner – including social darts at Flight Club; adventure golf at Mr Mulligans; nostalgic fun at Hollywood Bowl; the biggest blockbuster movies at Cineworld; and even escape rooms at Escape Hunt.
How to book
Visit thebreweryquarter.com.
Alfresco dining at Brasserie Blanc
The lowdown
Get a taste of the atmosphere of French alfresco dining at Brasserie Blanc Cheltenham, with a full outdoor area set up with plenty of tables and seating, accompanied by a big parasol for shaded options, too.
Menu highlights
French flavours abound with a menu designed and curated by Brasserie Blanc's chef patron, Raymond Blanc.
À la carte highlights include duck leg confit with citrus sauce, dauphinoise potatoes, French beans and confit orange; dressed Devon crab with crab mayonnaise and French fries; and roast pepper, aubergine and potato tian with grilled baby courgettes, Padrón peppers and red pepper sauce — and top it off with a pistachio souffle with chocolate ice cream or Madagascan vanilla creme brulee.
There's also plenty of savings to be made at Brasserie Blanc throughout the week, with steak night on Wednesdays, where diners can order two steak cuts of their choice and accompany them with a free bottle of house wine.
Make the most of weekend sunshine with a Sunday roast from 12pm until 5pm and get bottomless trimmings and gravy.
Plus, kids eat free during the school holidays — fantastique!
SoGlos loves
Why leave some of the most-loved members of the family at home when treating yourself to an alfresco meal?
A trip to Brasserie Blanc Cheltenham is great for man's best friend, too — with dog-friendly tables available to book online and a special doggy menu featuring nutritious treats and puptails for even the fussiest of canine pals.
Try a treat pot for £3.50 consisting of hand-baked lamb and mint bones; mini chicken sausage treats; and beef patties with cheese; or really show your pooch some love with a roast dinner or fish and chips bowl with a refreshing puptail — all completely suitable for dogs, so you can sit back and soak in the sun alongside your furry friend.
And be sure to sip and save with the Brasserie Blanc happy hour, with two-for-one on selected drinks every week from Monday to Friday from 5pm until 7pm.
How to book
Visit brasserieblanc.com/restaurants/cheltenham or call (01242) 266800.
Alfresco dining at Hotel du Vin
The lowdown
Soak up the sun at Hotel du Vin this summer, where guests can indulge in a whole range of alfresco eats, with the chic venue offering the best seasonal food and drink to enjoy in the great outdoors — available throughout May, June, July and August 2024.
Menu highlights
Sure to make for a memorable gathering for friends, families and colleagues throughout the warmer months, Hotel du Vin is hosting a special alfresco menu for hungry diners across the county.
Tuck in to everything from chicken or halloumi schnitzels to moules frites and sea bass on the terrace, accompanied by a glass of white, red or rose wine; mimosas; raspberry and elderflower Collins; Heineken; and plenty more, while celebrating the British summertime's warmer weather and longer days.
Summer diners can also choose from a selection of sides to add on at a surplus charge, including pommes frites, buttered ratte potatoes, haricot verts and tomato and onion salad.
SoGlos loves
Alfresco dining can be booked all week long, with the menu including a choice of main and drink for £24.95 per person.
How to book
Call Hotel du Vin on (01242) 370584.
Alfresco dining at Sef Steakhouse
The lowdown
Serving up succulent cuts of premium steak cooked with precision, Sef Steakhouse in Cheltenham is a meat-lovers haven.
The independently owned restaurant in Cheltenham's thriving Quadrangle is the first UK venture for the Sef team — who have a combined 30 years' worth of industry experience, having opened and operated restaurants in Turkey and Kuwait.
Hungry diners can tuck into a selection of dry-aged meat cooked over charcoal at an outdoor table in Sef's attractive alfresco dining area that enjoys boundless evening sunshine — and is also great for people watching, as it looks out over the Promenade and Imperial Square.
Menu highlights
Sef's a la carte menu lets diners begin with starters like oyster mushrooms in balsamic glaze, grilled king prawns or roasted bone marrow, before moving on to the main event, with cuts from tender fillet to flavoursome T-bone, cooked to their preference — plus an extensive wine list for perfect pairings.
Delightful for date nights, Sef's offers a choice of impressive sharing steaks, all served with two sides and sauces. Choose from the Caveman, which is a 1,100g tomahawk steak cooked on the bone and sliced by the chef; slow-roasted short ribs; or the Sef Special that consists of tender slices of fillet steak in butter with croutons, rocket and mozzarella, cooked tableside by the chef with a flame show!
Those who don't fancy a steak needn't worry, as there's plenty of other options available, such as a feta salad, chicken skewers, burgers and grilled salmon to choose from.
Sef's is also a great venue for an alfresco evening of cocktails, with options including a classic espresso martini and twists such as a chocolate and rum old fashioned or a Frangelico sour — ideal for making the most of a warm evening.
SoGlos loves
Make your next Sunday lunch extra special by reserving a table at Sef's, with a choice of slow-cooked lamb leg; pork belly cooked in cider; dry-aged sirloin of beef cooked sous vide until pink, then charcoal grilled; or sweet potato and pepper wellington, with all the classic trimmings including roast potatoes, seasonal greens, carrots, parsnips, a Yorkshire pudding and that all-important gravy, expertly cooked by the Sef's team.
How to book
Visit sefsteakhouse.co.uk.
Alfresco dining at Montpellier Wine Bar & Bistro
The lowdown
Set in a stylish spot for alfresco dining and drinks in the sunshine, Cheltenham’s iconic Montpellier Wine Bar is back this spring 2024 under new ownership — and with all-new food and drinks menus, it’s a must-visit for a luxurious late lunch or dinner in the town’s historic Montpellier district.
A wine bar since 1977, the Victorian corner building has been bought back to life by new owners The Hatton Collection with glamourous new interiors and modern British bistro cuisine, with an added nod to French finesse.
Menu highlights
With all-new lunch, dinner and Sunday lunch menus, Montpellier Wine Bar & Bistro offers something for everyone whether you're looking for a light bite or something more hearty; with vegetarian and vegan dishes available, too.
Lunch highlights include smaller plates like bouillabaisse with tomato saffron broth, fresh fish, seafood, sea vegetables and sourdough; ham hock terrine with salt cured egg, beetroot piccalilli and sourdough; and wild mushroom arancini with parmesan and truffle emulsion.
Larger plates feature a pesto, mozzarella, sundried tomato ciabatta; fishcakes with poached egg, wilted spinach and beurre blanc; and the MWB burger with gem lettuce, red onion, beef tomato, relish, gherkin and fries, with a range of sides to choose from including dauphinoise chips, rocket and parmesan salad and new potatoes with garlic butter.
The bistro also offers two lunchtime platters; the cheeseboard with English and French cheeses, chutneys, grapes, crackers and sourdough; and a meze board with hummus, artichokes, gherkins, balsamic onion, piccalilli, olives and sourdough.
There's even more to enjoy from the dinner menu with a range of starters and mains including west country mussels with lemon, thyme, garlic and fries; farmhouse chicken with dauphinoise potatoes, wild mushrooms and tomato chutney; and wild mushroom risotto with shaved parmesan, truffle and crispy mushrooms; or choose from a 10 ounce sirloin or eight ounce rump from the grill, with Café de Paris butter and fries.
If there's still room for something sweet, diners can choose from indulgent dessert options like affogato with an espresso shot, amoretti biscuit and ice cream; double chocolate chip brownie with salted caramel ice cream; and salted caramel truffles served with a glass of champagne.
SoGlos loves
Described as a ‘lively, unpretentious spot’ to sip and savour great wines and beers alongside your meal, Montpellier Wine Bar & Bistro's large sun-dappled terrace — famous for its after work golden hour — offers a perfect location for unwinding with friends or making new ones while soaking up the afternoon or evening sun.
How to book
Call 01242 350772 or visit themontpellierwinebar.co.uk.
Alfresco dining at The Greenway Hotel and Spa
The lowdown
Soak up the glorious Gloucestershire sunshine in a countryside setting this summer, with alfresco dining at The Greenway Hotel and Spa in the village of Shurdington near Cheltenham.
A picturesque Elizabethan manor house with eight acres of grounds, menus are prepared by the hotel's award-winning team at the Garden Room restaurant — which has a 3 AA rosettes under its belt.
Menu highlights
Menus change daily and with the seasons, but diners can expect fresh, local ingredients and artisan display from head chef Abhijit Dasalkar.
Breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner can all be taken from the hotel's restaurant, sunny restaurant terrace or its stylish spa courtyard space.
The Greenway's limited edition summer menu features light, summery dishes that lend themselves perfectly to alfresco dining.
There's hummus and warm pitta strips, falafel and tzatziki and vegetable samosas to start; classic sandwiches such as ham, cheese and pickle, egg mayonnaise and mustard cress, and coronation chicken; with refreshing salads including Greek salad with aged feta cheese, tuna Nicoise and chicken Caeser; with mains like spaghetti Bolognese or spaghetti with creamy pesto, tuna melt or gourmet burgers in a brioche bun with fries.
SoGlos loves
Summery desserts are one of our favourite treats over the warmer months! And The Greenway has crafted some perfect delicacies such as yogurt mousse with raspberry sorbet; fresh fruit salad; and warm chocolate brownie with a dollop of vanilla ice cream.
How to book
The Greenway's summer outdoor menu is served daily from 11am to 8.30pm in the lounge area or one of its terraces. Other menus are also available in the Garden Room restaurant. To book a table, visit thegreenwayhotelandspa.com/eat.
Alfresco dining in the Cotswolds
Alfresco dining at Cowley Manor
The lowdown
Luxury Cotswold hotel and restaurant, Cowley Manor, offers alfresco dining on its sun-soaked terrace, overlooking Italianate gardens enveloped by lush green meadows, in the village of Cowley near Cheltenham.
Menu highlights
Nothing is off limits for alfresco diners, with Cowley's full restaurant menu — crafted by acclaimed British chef, Jackson Boxer — available to order from the terrace.
Featuring dishes that use local ingredients to make the best of every season, spring highlights include the Wye Valley asparagus, crab and hollandaise starter; a flavourful super salad of broccoli, cabbage, wild rice, lemon and ginger; fresh tagliolini with either Cornish crab and pickled chilli or the vegetarian-friendly combo of smoked butter and black pepper; and Bibury trout served with spring peas and asparagus.
And, with the hotel's very own Experimental Cocktail Club serving a curated cocktail menu, guests can sip seasonally inspired drinks in the sunshine. There's the refreshing Cowley Spritz No. 2 — a concoction of Gewurztraminer wine, French aperitif liqueur, raspberry eau de vie and vodka infused with dill and cumin, topped with soda — to the highly recommended Old Cuban, which combines white rum, Angostura bitters, lime, ginger and mint with Champagne.
The ever-creative cocktail menu also features a pea and carrot-inspired tipple and a clarified Horlicks Milk Punch — a nod to former owner Sir James Horlick who wrote the famous malted milk recipe at Cowley Manor.
SoGlos loves
For an extra-special outdoor dining experience — and one that's bound to impress little ones! — request an alfresco picnic in one of Cowley's bell tents. Dotted around the grounds, these pinstripe canopies provide a unique setting for a spot of lunch, surrounded by open space for an afternoon amble.
How to book
Visit cowleymanorexperimental.com.
Alfresco dining at Whatley Manor
The lowdown
Enjoy afternoon tea soaking up the sunshine on the terrace at stunning hotel Whatley Manor or try the casual all-day dining menu overlooking the beautiful gardens which include a glorious wildflower meadow.
Menu highlights
For afternoon tea, tuck into a savoury sausage roll followed by a selection of finger sandwiches featuring Wiltshire ham, smoked salmon and cream cheese as well as egg mayonnaise.
Scones are served with clotted cream and strawberry jam alongside a pot of tea, coffee or hot cocoa. A delicious array of sweets round off the afternoon with a caramel and cinnamon doughnut, lemon tart, apple and blackberry delice and blueberry Eton mess on the menu.
For something a little more substantial, tuck into lighter bites from the all-day dining menu that features crab arancini and quinoa salad bowls all the way up to more hearty steak sandwiches and fish and chips along with a burger and fries.
An a la carte dinner from Grey’s is also served alfresco in the Kitchen Garden. Tuck into creative starters ranging from smoked duck ham, sourdough crumpet, peas and confit yolk to spiced carrot yoghurt pannacotta with curry granola and coriander.
Mains feature pork belly, catch of the day, spatchcock poussin and truffled gnocchi gratin with optional sides of fennel, orange and sesame salad, peas and potato wedges.
Sweet treats include rhubarb trifle, apple tarte tatin and chocolate brownie mousse. There's a selection of English cheeses too.
SoGlos loves
The all-day dining menu is served between noon to 9pm, so you have huge flexibility on whenever you fancy grabbing an alfresco bite, enabling you to time it to peak sunshine perfection.
How to book
Call (01666) 822888 or book online at whatleymanor.com.
Alfresco dining at Stratton House Hotel & Spa
The lowdown
If you're looking for a chilled-out dining experience with a dose of Cotswold charm, pay a visit to Stratton House Hotel & Spa in Cirencester.
The alfresco area offers a peaceful space inside a private walled garden at the rear of the hotel. There's also an outdoor terrace that is accessed directly from the Garden Restaurant — for a stunning outlook of the manicured grounds.
The space is also dog-friendly and there's free parking on-site at the hotel, including four charging points for EVs. Plus, the area can be used as an event space and booked for private hire.
Menu highlights
Dinner menu highlights include soup of the day with artisan bread, and mussels in coconut, lime and chilli with toasted sourdough among the starters; and pan-roasted broccoli steak with butterbean puree, chimichurri and crumbled goats' cheese or Oxfordshire pork tenderloin with green leek mash, roasted carrots and apple puree jus among the main course options.
The lunch menu features classic sandwiches served with chips and coleslaw, alongside light mains of steak frites with house butter and fries, or spring garden vegetable, Carnaroli Gran Riserva risotto — with a vegan burger served with house tomato chutney also up for grabs.
Afternoon tea and Sunday lunch lovers are also covered, with Stratton iterations of the British favourites also on offer.
SoGlos loves
Alfresco dining at Stratton House is available for morning coffee, lunches, dinners or just drinks — with spa guests able to enjoy their afternoon tea or lunch included in their package in the great outdoors, too.
This summer, the Stratton team is hosting alfresco events including cocktails and canapes on Friday 26 July 2024, where a selection of bite-sized tasters from the Garden Restaurant menu will be available, accompanied by a live saxophonist, from 6pm to 8pm.
Plus, on Sunday 25 August 2024 from 12pm until 5.30pm, it's time for Stratton House's summer garden party. Celebrate the bank holiday with live music in the garden and food cooked on the smoker — cheers!
How to book
Visit strattonhousehotel.com/eat or call (01285) 651 761.
Alfresco dining in Gloucester
Alfresco dining at Coal Kitchen
The lowdown
One of the most popular dining spots at Gloucester Quays, waterside restaurant Coal Kitchen is located in the Pillar and Lucy Warehouse and has a large south-facing terrace, perfect for alfresco dining.
Proudly independent, many of its ingredients — including its bread, meat, flour, eggs and coffee — are all sourced from suppliers in Gloucestershire and the south west.
Menu highlights
Coal Kitchen's bottomless brunch is a summer highlight and perfect for a lazy weekend tuck-in from a sunny spot on the terrace.
Diners can sit down for 90 minutes of brunch time to feast on a dish from each section of the updated bottomless brunch menu, plus a selection of drinks. From sourdough pizzettes and chicken tacos, to Asian noodles, full English breakfast or vegan flatbreads – finished off with a mimosa fizz, cappuccino or maybe even both — the Coal Kitchen brunch won't disappoint, whatever your culinary tastes.
The bottomless brunch is on from Monday to Thursday all day and Friday and Saturday until 4.30pm, costing £39 per person.
And Coal Kitchen's popular Sunday Roast menu is available to tuck in to all day on Sundays, with locally sourced meats from Ben Creese Country Butchers and all served with roasted carrots, fluffy roast potatoes, seasonal veg, Yorkshire puddings and cauliflower cheese as standard.
The eatery's latest set menu is also available throughout the day, featuring two- or three-course options, with tantalising choices like beef koftas, beetroot hummus, courgette and spinach linguine, steak frites and ice cream for pudding. Rest assured, there's something for all taste buds and dietary requirements, including vegetarians, vegans and little diners. The set menu costs £16.50 for two courses and £17.50 for three.
SoGlos loves
It's not only the food that's fantastic — Coal Kitchen's cocktails are sublime, too. Relax in the cosy cocktail bar or on the waterside terrace with glass of fizz, a mocktail, or, the ultimate sign that summer is well and truly here, a classic Aperol spritz.
And new for this year is Gloucester Quay's Summer of Sports — fans can watch all the live action from Coal Kitchen's alfresco terrace, with food and drinks being brought straight to your table throughout the game; or order from the square and servers will hand deliver a specially curated selection of food and drinks that can be enjoyed as a picnic.
How to book
Visit coalkitchen.co.uk.
