The Great Shefford in West Berkshire

We had a great experience here with the food and the service was fine too. We joined our friends who live in Newbury, and had recommended it to us. We will be back in December and will come again.

Really disappointed about the food I recently visited the restaurant and had to order out drinks in the bar (not possible at the table) tried the chicken burger at the Great Shefford and I have to say, I was thoroughly disappointed. The taste lacked any discernible flavor, leaving me wondering if any seasoning was used at all. The burger was bland and lacked the expected zest that one looks forward to in a chicken burger. Additionally, the style of presentation left much to be desired. It lacked any visual appeal and seemed hastily put together. The overall experience was underwhelming, to say the least and they never offer us the dessert menu was it possible ? I hope that the great Shefford takes this feedback into consideration and works on improving the taste, flavor, and style of their chicken burger. As it stands, I cannot recommend this dish to fellow diners.

We arrived to be made very welcome by the staff. Nothing was too much. We had a fantastic lunch. Soup of the day, local Venison Burger which was beautiful. Everything was served hot, and we couldn't have asked for more. Gluten Free was well catered for, and offered the same menu. Clearly cooked on demand, and very fresh. The whole place is clean and well decorated. Plenty of room. Running along the side of the restaurant is a beautiful stream, which was really relaxing. We need to support these local pubs, there's not many left.

Absolutely fantastic! Beautiful location, lovely food, great service! Went as a family, nice kids menu and very good food. Definayley go back!

We had dinner here & the ambience, professionalism of the staff & quality of the food was first class. If in the area, we highly recommend you visit. 10/10.

Friday 4th August 2023 This review is about a takeaway order, ordered from the side of the pub at the breakfast bar. Ordered five bacon and cheese sandwiches at 8am and arranged to return and collect them at 10am. On arrival for collection there was no one around eventually somebody turned up and explained that they had run out of cheese and had to go shopping for some!!! Order completed and returned to Wantage to give staff there treat only to find that the bacon was overdone basically burnt to black in colour and was inedible. Called the pub telephone no answer called again and still no answer, sandwiches went in the bin waste of money and time. Called the pub several times during the day and phone never answered gave up in the end I do have a photo as proof if required.

We’d been planning to come to the Great Shefford for ages. Staff were really good and attentive without being OTT. Quality of the food was also excellent as was the dining area which was next to the river. It made for a lovely atmosphere. However value for money was poor. Our starter was scallops in a lovely sauce. But there were two scallops which were small for £16.95!! It’s a shame, quality excellent, service excellent, value for money…hmm.

We found The Great Shefford when we were looking for a pit stop on the way back from Portsmouth to Cardiff and we couldn’t have chosen better. The service was outstanding, the sourdough bread and butter was the best I’ve had and our ceaser salads were delicious. It’s such a shame we don’t live nearby as this would be our new favourite. We also bought a coffee from the coffee shop attached for our drive home which was an added bonus.

Excellent meal in the restaurant although we could have done with a bit more food for the mains, desserts were awesome, highly recommend the apple and rhubarb crumble. Great ambience, lovely river running down the side of the pub.

We all really enjoyed our food. I had the hake which came with fondant potatoes and a courgette boat, the highlight was the pouring sauce which was white and green, very fun! The decor was recently renovated and we enjoyed the river view. The food was off very high standard so would expect the service to match. However even though it was quiet, we had to wait ages for the water and reminded the waitress for it, and the dessert menu never arrived. This is more meant as constructive feedback for the restaurant. I think you should still go, its a lovely place to eat😊

Clean pub, staff were sweet but unfortunately the food was very mediocre ish . Not somewhere we could return too.

Wonderful restaurant But we found rather pricey for 1 pint of Guinness and half a lager I ploughman’s to share which consisted of two very small slices of cheese,and ham two pieces of bread and two sausage rolls Included was supposed to be pickled onions

Came in for a Sunday dinner and the servers were lovely and welcoming but unfortunately we had a chicken roast and unfortunately it was pink in the middle and they don’t specify which veg come with the roast. We paid for are meal and left and didn’t say anything about it but I wish we had for future people.

After looking at previous reviews we were a little hesitant to book a table but we were very glad we ignored the negative reviews and decided to judge ourselves. We sat outside at a table next to the river, lovely to relax and watch the ducks and their young float by. We were served quickly and there was only the vegetarian main unavailable which did not matter for us. 1 pork belly, 1 chicken breast & 2 beef mains were ordered and were absolutely delicious. Rich gravy, Yorkshire pudding to die for and veg cooked to perfection. Unsure what had happened to the other people's visits but we could not fault ours and will be back

Beautiful pub on the river, fabulous wildlife. As per previous reviews, they had runout of several things, we both had pork belly and it was delicious. Service good, two hard working guys serving bar and tables.

Oh dear how disappointing . The whole experience was just awful . Unwelcoming staff, cold empty room and the food was so dreadful .

shocking service and food, I cannot explain how badly run this place is, they seem to have a very high opinion of themselves chefs table etc but will forget orders (coz them don't seem to own a pen) barely have any of the items on...

Had a really lovely meal at The Great Shefford. The menu is great now and good prices and the team there are so friendly. Thank-you Georgie and Will

Visited for dinner, as it was a central location for a friends reunion but was a very disappointing experience based on the 4.5 review rating. The restaurant was empty (not surprised based on the price list!) The burgers were basic, nothing special for the price...

Had such a lovely evening last night with my girlfriends. Really enjoyed the friendly staff, great wine list and delicious bowl of pasts. It was a bit small but really yummy. the pub is really nicely decorated. I look forward to coming back in the...

Probably the best fish and chips for a very long time. Only problem was the mushy peas were crushed garden peas! Does not take much effort to warm up some Harry Ramsdens tinned ones.

Great tasting food with an energectic, friendly, and welcoming host by the name of Joshua. He likened my partner to Serena Williams and it's an understatement to say how flattered she was for the remainder of the day. Food was well seasoned and they were...

I can't say the service was bad, but it was poor this week. Prices are as high as other local gastro pubs but not as good quality. Vegetarian pasta dish was OK and the burgers are tasty but very dry, no salad (one had this...

The Xmas Day lunch food at TGS was superb - probably the best we’ve ever had and there’s been quite a few to compare against. The little ‘extras’ only added to the enjoyment. Jonny and all his team worked hard to make this a memorable...

We booked lunch on Boxing Day for 16 people, and the food and service were both excellent. 11 people ordered steak and all of them were cooked exactly as requested (the full range from blue to well done) and served at the same time -...

A family meal for 15 on Boxing Day was a roaring success with lovely food. Lovely room next with plenty of space. Scallops to start, Guinea Fowl with Dauphinoise potatoes, kale and root veg mash (absolutely delicious) and creme brulee. Other dishes were steaks which...

Regrettably, once again we were disappointed with our overall experience today. Table booked for the 3.00pm sitting. Warm welcome, very slow with drinks and extremely slow with getting food out the kitchen. Lots of disgruntled guests leaving without having their main course within 3 hours...

Really nice lunch at the Shefford today. Good range of finned, furred and feathered items plus a couple of options for the vegetably inclined. Wagyu burger and Venison Wellington were both excellent as were the Creme Brulee and Ice cream puddings. Service was good and...

We had a wonderfully warm welcome from the Great Shefford from the moment we arrived. The manager took the trouble to fit all 10 of us in at short notice. We had a lovely roast and they catered for our gluten free requirement. The service...

Stopped to have lunch in this 'Riverside Pub with Food' (as it says on its wall outside) expecting a sandwich and a packet of crisps, only to find gourmet food, great service and yes, a river complete with ducks. We are both vegetarian and my...

We went for a meal here yesterday with a couple of friends as we live local, we were expecting pretty typical pub fare. Well we were in for something of a surprise, we had a meal which all of us just described as absolutely fabulous....

Lovely meal great atmosphere friendly service and extremely accommodating to a young family. Nice that other young families were dining as well. Sunday lunch was delicious and the starters were superb too full for pudding!

Went for lunch here today for the first time. Highest quality of service, food and experience. Beautiful location. Highly recommended.

Had to wait 2 hours to complete 2 courses despite being very empty dining rooms. Plenty of waiting staff but kitchen area is either short staffed or totally under skilled. Poor sub standard quality food. Waiter did say the menu was new.....so perhaps things might...

We wanted lunch and thought we'd try somewhere a bit different. There were two choices on offer - a pub layout with round tables and chairs in a cosy room, or a rather chilly restaurant with rectangular tables in what seemed like a converted lean-to...

We had a very pleasant lunch and we were well looked after. The pub is beautifully decorated and we had a lovely table overlooking the River Lambourne and could watch the ducks paddling around while we waited for our freshly cooked menu choices. The food...

We visited the great shefford pub last night 18 of us went for my friends daughter’s birthday . The pub was obviously under staffed as we waited a long time for starters which were cold & came at all different times . Mains, I had...

A friend and I visited the Great Sheffard on a quiet Tuesday evening in August. From the outside it does look like a pub. However we were shown to quite a large dining room which is quite literally on the edge of the Lambourn River...

I love this place and the food is absolutely exceptional! This is the second time I have been here and have not been disappointed! The staff are friendly, the setting lovely and every dish I have had here has been superb and very high quality!...

It was my fourth visit for lunch and supper this year and I have been delighted every time, last evening especially so as I was the recommender and organizer! I was happy to recommend it to our Wine Group - 10 people who know enough...

A lovely place, but vegetarians/vegans or anyone with food intolerances beware. I found bacon in my vegetarian meal which was, as a strict vegetarian quite disgusting and shocking. This should never happen, it’s so basic and a mistake you cannot afford to make, I worry...

One word stunning More words- even the wasps were great as they encouraged the family with nice but noisy ( aren’t they always) children to go inside to eat

Was passing and haven’t stopped here for several years so gave it a try. Its now a smart Gastro Pub. Ordered a burger as I was hungry but was slightly shocked by the £17 price. Nothing wrong with it, but it wasn’t in any way...

Superb quality food, excellent service, beautiful ambience. A total delight to visit and we'll be back for certain. The staff need a special mention including the chef who came out at the end of the night. What a nice and talented individual.

We live locally, so have been a few times. Went for the (new) weekend breakfast and it lived up to it’s excellent reputation. All components of high quality, superbly cooked and presented. Friendly welcome, comfortable and attractive environment. Couldn’t ask for more!

We went for Sunday dinner, and arrived early, but the pub was pretty quiet all evening. We chose this pub, as having eaten before, their menu is not just standard pub fare. We each had different starters, and all were excellent. The main courses were...

Had a very nice experience at The Great Shefford ( formally the Swan) , All the waiters bar staff were superb Elliot was most helpful. Nibbles of olives and bread, beautiful scallops to start , roast chicken and very nice presented fish and chips as...

My husband and I decided to go out for supper, a friend had recommended. Well so glad we went! The food was sublime, we both loved our food. The service was excellent, and all in all w fabulous experience. Definitely will be returning.

My wife, mother-in-law and I ate dinner here for the first time in May 2022. We just had nuts and olives to start with, but were pleasantly surprised to be told we'd be getting sourdough bread with beef-fat butter as well. The bread and butter...

Lovely visit with friends visiting hungerford. Staff were friendly and on point! Everyone had a lovely time no complaints at all the food was top notch!!! Steak was amazing and make sure you leave room for desserts!!!

We had seen adverts on social media and decided to try somewhere different. We were both pleasantly surprised. The moment we arrived we were made very welcome. We sat in the bar area and had a pre-dinner drink and then was shown to our table....

Great service and wonderful food.. although only a quick stop for a snack/bar food, lovely interior to the pub right next to the river.. locals were very friendly as well

Popped out for dinner and was not disappointed. Amazing service and food cooked amazing. Massive thank you for the amazing service by Jonny, Tom, Elliot and Niamh.

So, not having been for a while thought it was high time to drop in for Sunday lunch. The good: Warm enough welcome and friendly staff. Pretty attentive overall. The not so good: 45/50 wait mins for starters. Pretty tasty, but small portions. Another 40...

Downgraded to the cheap seats, This was an interesting visit, Booked for four people in the restaurant for 1:30 pm. When we arrived two of us were seated in the main restaurant and ordered our drinks. Were given the menus, one was the set menu...

Lovely pub, great fresh food served by knowledgable and friendly staff. Best chips ive tasted in ages! Nice to get proper kids food, ie fresh chicken breast, home breaded not the frozen stuff. Only improvement i woukd suggest is a really good home made chunky...

If you haven’t been here… then you NEED to!! Probably the best place for miles.. but I don’t want it to be too full when I want to come!!

Stopped unexpectedly for a Sunday roast. Very friendly staff, great service. Food was delicious, cannot wait to return.

This is a lovely pub by the river where you can sit in comfort inside and watch the birds in the water. We found it easy to book online and the staff were attentive and helpful. The Sunday roast was fab with a delicious cut...

Very good food, excellent menu, friendly and attentive service. Will definitely come again, even though it is a little way from home.

Visited on Mother's day. Very prompt service from Jonny and staff. Couldn't do enough for us. Food much better than your standard pub food. Atmosphere very good with views over the river. Clean toilets. Staff thoroughly swept up after each table finished. Will book again.

Excellent meal, Excellent service, friendly staff. Being dog friendly was also a bonus. All in all an enjoyable experience.

A very friendly and professional village pub. There are two menus, I should stick with the bar one, better value. Drinks are great.

We finally got round to having dinner here (we only live 10 minutes away) and are now kicking ourselves we did not go sooner! From the get go, the friendly welcome, great service, ambience and of course the food. It was the best food I...

We popped in spur of the moment for a drink and looked at the bar menu. Sat in the lovely racing lounge in the bay with our family and made welcome as always. The bar menu was tasty and fresh, promptly served and hot. I...

Booked for a family meal to mark a milestone birthday. First impressions of a drink at the bar was VERY slow service but no observation of rushed team to warrant. When seated in the restaurant the service was very attentive, but missing any basic input...

Were clearly very very busy which is no wonder. The food is fantastic, the staff excellent, Johnny, Georgie, Faye,Joshua, and everyone are so keen to make you feel welcome. It’s warm, cosy, friendly and a really good family meal. Would highly recommend, ( but not...

I found this place by chance and was seriously impressed. My Roast Pork Belly was simply one of the best I have ever had, the roast potatoes were crispy outside and fluffy inside, the jus was rich and delicious. I highly recommend this wonderful place....

I called here for lunch and to my surprise the menu was appalling. In fact it was not a proper menu. It was a restaurant menu not a pub menu. Beautiful decor, lovely dining room overlooking the river. If you wanted restaurant food It was...

Almost good but not quite. Service was slow, probably unacceptably so for someone expecting normal service. Food was ok to good, though the menu is quite restrictive if you don't like pork! but worrrying that the waitress didn't know if the starter was a hot...

We are two friends. We both chose the same starter and after quite a long wait, a floor manager told us the chef had dropped our food and there was no more of that plate. There were only two other choices on the fixed menu...

Not sure where to start with this as there is the good, the bad and ugly. Is it a village pub, a gastro-pub or a would be fine dining restaurant? I am not sure even it really knows what it wants to be. The establishment...

We had a lunch with our friends and our son on a Saturday lunchtime. The pub wasn't too busy when we were there so expected reasonable service. The menu was good for meat eaters but my vegetarian wife had a very limited option, she chose...

We go out for Sunday roast every sunday across 4 counties. This is easily up there now with our previous number one experience. The food was immaculately presented. the flavours were intense and the meat, we both had pork belly , was tender and fell...

After recently moving to the village and having been made so welcome in the pub, we visited for a Sunday roast. It was absolutely sublime, the welcome and service is so heart warming, you feel like a part of the family. The food was to...

Delicious sunday roast with wonderful, friendly service. Pork belly with herbs, rare beef - fab yorkies. Good selection of local ales and beer. Nice country pub atmosphere.

I've given a 3 for the food because I felt it was OK, the service was very slow and we didn't bother with pudding as I don't think they could be bothered if we were there or not !! We got up went to the...

Great food to match the company and excellent service. The food was outstanding and a warm and friendly service. The fish was cooked to perfection, my only quibble would have been to have more pomme puree. Great night and many thanks.

Very good service and excellent food. But portions were more Taster Menu size than normal. Scallops starter at £11.95 had two small - medium sized scallops in delicious sauce. Main duck at £22.95 had two small breast portions again served in an attractive way with...

Fantastic meal, great atmosphere and fabulous service - thank you Jonny. Would definitely recommend. We had the duck breast and steak, both cooked to perfection.

Excellent modern British dining experience. The vegetarian cauliflower and sides were exceptional and ice cream absolutely delicious. My partner had the baked alaska which did not disappoint. Looking forward to coming back soon!

Lovely 3 course lunch with family. Food was delicious! Staff were attentive and friendly throughout the whole visit.

A very welcoming service and the food was delightful . I’ll be definitely coming back in the near future . Joe and Lotti x

My partner and myself visited for dinner. Absolutely delicious food, and amazing service. Will be returning.

Absolutely outstanding food today for Xmas lunch. Amazing service. Will definitely be back next year!

My fiancé took me on a well needed date night. It certainly didn’t disappoint!! The food was amazing and the service was spot on. Staff made us feel very welcome and we had a lovely evening. Will certain be returning in the near future ❤️

Fabulous food, amazing service and a charming clean and tidy pub. Great wine list and local beers which are very fresh. We will definitely be returning.

Started with a drink in the bar, then went through to the restaurant area, the waitresses were friendly and the food was faultless, definitely try the Baked Alaska dessert on the festive menu! We will be back

Totally amazing experience, from the moment we walked in. Great friendly staff who looked after us throughout the evening. A comprehensive menu, too many choices only to receive the most flavoured, mouth watering dishes. I will visit this restaurant again, very soon.

Honestly really, really good…new Festive Menu spot on (playlist could do with changing!). Location has always been great but now a proper team running it. Thoroughly recommended

A really lovely Sunday meal. The food was delicious and really well seasoned. Great service and location too! Looking forward to returning soon and would recommend to anyone who is passing by!

Absolutely top service One of our best meals with had in along time All three courses where really delicious And the espresso martini's best we've ever had

Superb food. Chef Sam Cary has created a great menu, with delicious flavours. The scallops and venison were fantastic. Amazing fresh bread. Rich, tasty desserts. Excellent service and a very pleasant setting as well. Look forward to returning soon.

One of the best meals I have had in a long time. The chef, Sam has created a fantastic menu. Perfect for a date night or catch up with friends. Can’t recommend highly enough!!! Try the scallops, they are to die for!

We came in & was bought in to dining area, told to pick any table to sit. We sat the waitress Aimee came to us, took our drinks order and was quick to bring the drinks, then came and took our food order. She was...

Just a few words, excellent food, great professional and polite staff, lovely atmosphere, well done guys!!

Came there a few weeks ago for a business lunch, restaurant was quiet but the food was just as great as Michelin star I went lately. The food took some time to come out, but we enjoy our apéritif in the mid-time. I would recommend...

A wonderful experience from start to finish. Welcoming staff, beautiful space, great service throughout our visit and exceptional food… the fresh sourdough and parfait were possibly the showstopper.. but the roast beef was also excellent.. and the Yorkshire puddings. Would highly recommend and we are...

A great experience and first time visit with the family (2 under 8’s). Very hospitable and friendly staff, amazing food - both children loved the sourdough, beef butter, and chicken liver foie gras pate starter! Roasts were super tasty and excellent portions, and some excellent...

Lovely food, friendly and helpful staff! Would definitely recommend. Top class service and delicious food