The Barn at Severn and Wye Smokery, Gloucestershire restaurant review

One of the major pitfalls I find with food blogging (and life in general) is over-analysing things.

Was that salad under-seasoned? Could that sauce have been a bit thicker? Did I just offend that person with my bad joke? Have we waited a bit too long for our starters?

Sometimes, I need to relax a little bit more and just enjoy the experience.

Which brings me to the Barn at Severn and Wye Smokery in Gloucestershire where we had a delicious lunch but I if wanted to I could find ways to nitpick.

Based in a converted barn close to the banks of the River Severn, it's the kind of destination which oozes luxury, with a downstairs food hall selling all manner of smoked fish, pates, pies and charcuterie.

Upstairs there’s a high-ceilinged restaurant, showcasing the wares of the smokehouse, which held a Royal Warrant to Queen Elizabeth and supplies high-end destinations such as Harrods and the Ritz

Dishes on the fish focused menu which caught my eye included traditional dishes like kedgeree and Mediterranean fish soup as well as more contemporary small plates such as crispy salmon skins, gherkin tempura, and grilled octopus with salsa verde.

We opted for a selection of the smaller dishes as well as a platter to share.

A crisp croquette of tender shreds of pork (£8.75) was enhanced by nuggets of comfortingly smokey eel and the punchy seasoning of mustard and capers. Accompanying mustard mayonnaise and a zippy gribiche sauce provided further balance to the richness.

Exemplary crispy squid (£8.50) was lacking its billed Szechuan pepper and chilli but it didn’t detract from their deliciousness. It was in part thanks to an addictively sweet and savoury teriyaki dip.

An absolutely whopping bowl of Brixham crab (£10.25) was seasoned beautifully with fresh dill and topped with cleansing slices of kohlrabi and shards of the shortest of brown crab biscuits, which broke apart with the lightest touch.

Silky and smokey taramasalata (£4) was dressed with a vibrant herb oil and salty pearls of salmon roe. Accompanying crackers were the ideal pairing but a few lacked a little bit of crispness.

A mixed platter (£16.50) comprised of a range of Severn & Wye’s smoked goods. Rich and creamy smoked salmon pate and a bowl of sweet and sharp balsamic onion chutney were the two standout components. Smoked salmon was good but not game changing whilst smoked duck was commendably tender but lacking a little in flavour. But it was still a delicious plate.

Overall we had a really tasty lunch at the Barn at Severn and Wye Smokery. It’s a gorgeous setting with friendly service and delicious fish cookery. Whilst there were a few minor quibbles with some of the dishes, in reality it didn't detract at all from the overall experience. 

The Details:

Address - Severn and Wye Smokery, Chaxhill, Westbury-on-Severn GL14 1QW

Web - http://www.severnandwye.co.uk/

Telephone - 01452 760191