Latest Restaurant Review (The Oakley Arms)
The Oakley Arms opened its doors in May 2016 following an extensive renovation of the former 19th century Oakley House Country Club. This once derelict venue has been beautifully restored and transformed into a stunning country pub and restaurant, which sits proudly on the outskirts of Brewood Village, a pleasant 20-minute drive from central Telford.
The pretty dove grey exterior and country house charm instantly draws you in. There is ample parking to the rear of the pub and even designated areas to tether your horse, bike or four-legged friend, perfect for the more adventurous and outdoorsy visitors.
The pub is set in a picture perfect slice of English countryside; a large outdoor terrace overlooks the pubs own private lake, complete with ducks and an island. When summer finally does return, The Oakley Arms terrace will undoubtedly be a popular spot for long and lazy lunches in the sunshine.
Inside the interior is warm and spacious, the wood flooring and roaring log fires give a cosy, homely feel. The vast bar takes centre stage and is stocked with a mind-boggling array of beverages. There are an impressive 160 seats in total but thanks to plenty of intimate nooks and clever division of space, The Oakley Arms retains an intimate and relaxed atmosphere.
Upon arrival were greeted and shown to a table in a quiet corner of the pub, our drinks order was taken and we were given chance to look over the menu. The food style is modern British cuisine and the menu is updated regularly with dishes that reflect the season, there is a range of starters, light bites, mains, sandwiches and several children’s dishes to choose from.
For starter I chose the chicken liver pate (£6.25) and my very willing accomplice on this review, my mom Lynn, went for the goats cheese, basil and roast pepper terrine (£6.75).
The pate was served with triangles of toasted granary bread and plum chutney, the generous slice of pate was smooth and flavoursome, the plum chutney added a welcome sweetness and the granary toast gave texture and bite.
Lynn’s goat’s cheese terrine had the unmistakable tangy yet creamy flavour, it was layered throughout with slices of roasted red pepper and basil and came served with a dressed side salad and slices of toasted ciabatta. Lynn said that the crispiness of the ciabatta was the perfect partner to the rich and creamy goat’s cheese.
For main course Lynn ordered the braised shoulder of lamb (£17.95) and I opted for the Applebys Cheshire cheese and potato pie (£11.95), which I am told is a new addition to the menu.
The braised lamb is apparently the most popular dish on the menu and it’s easy to understand why, the meat was melt in the mouth tender and came served with dauphinoise potatoes, buttered green beans and a herby rosemary gravy. Lynn didn’t speak to me for the entire time she was eating her main course, which is always a sure sign of a delicious meal!
The cheese and potato pie was also super tasty and something I’d never tried before, several layers of soft sliced potato, tasty Cheshire cheese and onion wrapped in a layer of golden flaky pastry, served with buttered greens, carrots, parsnips and gravy. This is definitely a dish I’ll be ordering again soon!
Despite the very generous portions at The Oakley Arms, we somehow managed to squeeze in the glazed lemon tart (£5.95) and the profiteroles (5.95) for dessert. The lemon tart was fresh and tangy and came served with fresh raspberries, raspberry sorbet and a raspberry coulis, the perfect palate cleanser after such a rich and delicious meal. The profiteroles were everything you would expect, plump cream filled clouds of deliciousness, smothered in a rich dark chocolate sauce… lets just say the diet starts again tomorrow!
You would never guess that The Oakley Arms is less than a year old, it just feels like it’s always been there, which is testament to the fantastic job that manager John Duncan and his team are doing.
We thoroughly enjoyed our evening at The Oakley Arms, the building, setting and decor is all utterly gorgeous and the atmosphere is warm and welcoming, so much so that I promise once you step inside you really won’t want to leave.
Reviewed by Charlie Scott & Lynn Roulston
