Wykeham Arms - Winchester Review

Wykeham Arms
75 Kingsgate Street
Winchester
Hampshire
SO23 9PE

Phone 0871 223 8968
Calls cost 10p per minute plus network extras

Type of Cuisine Modern British / Eclectic
Number of Covers 80

Lunch 12.00 - 2.30pm (1.45pm Sun)
Dinner 6.30pm - 9.00pm Mon-Sat

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Review of Wykeham Arms, Winchester

As much of an institution as the nearby College and Cathedral, 'The Wyk' is a 250-year-old gem of a pub hidden away down narrow cobbled streets in the oldest part of the city. Behind the unassuming, weathered exterior is a maze of atmospheric little rooms fitted out with old school desks and decorated with a veritable junk shop of hats, books, tankards and lamps. Beer drinkers make a beeline for the Hamilton Bar, while the Watchmakers Bar is reckoned to be first choice if you want to eat.

Simple lunches cover plenty of familiar ground, from sandwiches upwards to spicy tomato soup, salmon fishcakes and a near-legendary version of cottage pie. In the evening there's much more in the way of restaurant-style food, taking in such things as Thai-marinated pigeon breast on citrus and coriander couscous with hoisin and sesame dressing, sea bass and scallops with saffron cream.

To finish, there's an array of cracking desserts including an assiette of crème brûlée, iced lemon and ginger parfait, and warm cherry and almond tart with Kirsch coulis. The wine list is a serious 100-bin slate, heavy with Burgundies, but also open-minded enough to go on a world tour.

Also featured in: AA Guide, Good Food Guide, Michelin Guide, Hardens.