Foodie Trip: 7 of My Must-Try Cheltenham Bars and Restaurants!
Cheltenham As A Food And Drink Destination
Looking for the best Cheltenham bars and Restaurants? I have you covered. As someone who can’t really sit still for more than 38 seconds, I often love trying out other towns and cities every now and then. That way, if I get barred from a pub, it doesn’t really matter. So putting together this list of my favourite Cheltenham bars and restaurants was a joy.
I’ve been to Cheltenham a number of times, and every time I go, I try and find myself new and exciting places to try. Or at least that’s normally the plan. What actually happens is that I go straight to the pub and the rest is a blur!
You can easily drive to Cheltenham, but if that isn’t for you, then the train is a great choice. Cheltenham Spa Station is located on the western edge of town, next to a couple of food and drink places, and it has a lovely mile-long footpath towards the town centre, which is relatively flat and landscaped with lots of greenery. Cheltenham train station is so easy from Birmingham Uni Station too, and it takes little more than 30 mins if you get a direct train, for all you Brummies reading this. For you non-Brummies, there are great links from other non-Brum towns too.
So it is time to put your feet up, open a can (if you aren’t driving!), and get ready to enjoy my current fave Cheltenham bars and restaurants!
7 of my Fave Bars and Restaurants in Cheltenham
The George Hotel, St Georges Rd.
The last time I stayed in Cheltenham, I looked The George up before we got there. It’s only one minute off the landscaped walk from the station. The George is a well-presented and comfortable hotel with the town centre on your doorstep. The room I stayed in felt luxurious, the bed was comfortable and the bathroom was well fitted.
If you want to enjoy breakfast at the hotel, there a great looking breakfast room called ‘The Diner’, but we opted to go and explore Cheltenham to find somewhere to start our foodie weekend instead. I was so impressed with the hotel, I thought it was worth an honorable mention.
Favourite Beers, Hewlett Road
This is the only specialist craft beer and cider off-licence in Gloucestershire, and one of my all-time favourites on the Cheltenham bars and restaurants scene. It has a full gamut of bottles and cans on the shelves, and 10 keg lines.
The place itself has several tables to pick from, to take the weight off if you have been pounding the pavements exploring all day. I’ve always found there to be an easy to talk to local crowd, and Rosie is the ever-present perfect host behind the counter. There is also an interesting Stirchley link here (all roads lead back to Birmingham!)…Favourite Beers are friends with Stirchley Wines, and help each other out occasionally.
The Beefy Boys, Regent Street
The Beefy Boys are multiple world burger championship finalists since 2014. Their burgers are made of 21-day-aged Herefordshire beef and are made daily. There are four types of patties that make up the menu. These are thick patties, smashed patties, Oklahoma style, and animal style patties. I had the Oklahoma style, 2x 3oz onion smashed patties, which came with double American cheese, beef dripping, onions, mayo and bacon. All on a sesame-seeded semi-brioche bun. Or something. It was pretty special, and I also ordered the millionaire fries. Mainly because I’m a millionaire.
If you aren’t in Cheltenham quite yet, it’s worth noting that they also have restaurants in Shrewsbury and Hereford. Maybe Birmingham soon boys?…here’s hoping anyway!!
Le Champignon Sauvage, Suffolk Road
Highly acclaimed but modest Michelin starred French restaurant on the outskirts of Cheltenham centre, with a set 2 or 3-course menu and an a la carte menu. David and Helen Everitt-Matthias have headed up the restaurant for over 30 years, and their experience shows. The wine list is thorough and predominantly French. It’s one of only two Michelin-starred restaurants in Gloucestershire, and but it put the Cheltenham bar and restaurant scene on the map single-handedly.
I went for the three course menu and every mouthful of each was absolutely excellent. As well as the little treats between courses, the starters and mains were superb! And then we went for the cheeseboard… Oh man, and what a cheeseboard! You can pick 5 different kinds of cheeses from the vast board, and they are served with great little baked breads, which are, of course, baked on-site. The service was absolutely lovely too. It doesn’t feel that well frequented now, which is a huge shame as it is wonderful, and excellent value too.
As stated above, both menus are incredibly well priced (check which days set menus are available), so it’s very accessible for a restaurant with a Michelin star on the wall. The restaurant has a really laid-back feel and seems the sort of place that has regulars, so easy to relax and eat at.
Planet Caravan, 25 Bath Street
This is an Independent neighbourhood craft ale bar, serving a vast range of rotating beers from 16 keg lines and 2 off a pink Lindr. There are tacos and platters available from the kitchen if you want to line the stomach. If craft ale isn’t for you, cocktails, wine and spirits also available. There is seating at both ground and first floor levels.
Top-tier craft ale is very much the reason I went here, and they had a fine selection indeed. Ben, Jessie, and the team certainly know what they are doing and Planet Caravan should be a must-visit place if you visit Cheltenham.
It’s another place with a link to Stirchley in Birmingham. I was in Cork and Cage the night before, talking to Nathan at the Cork and Cage bar about the band(s) he is in with Ben from here! Music and craft ale are certainly a match made in heaven!
The Vine, 47 High Street
I heard that this place was all about the Thai food! I popped here on my last day, when I last visited Cheltenham, and was happy to see the place is a lovely pub in its own right too. A glazed tiled green exterior teases you in, and a well served bar keeps you there.
10 keg lines and 4 hand pulls of cider, real ale and craft ale are on offer here. They even had a Lemon and Yuzu Pilsner on! A proper corner boozer with character, and I have already enquired about a table for food when I’m back in 6 weeks time for the Cheltenham Jazz Festival. A great inclusion on my Cheltenham bars and restaurants list.
DEYA Taproom, Lansdown Industrial Estate
If you are visiting Cheltenham on the train, this place is ideally located almost within view of the station. So either pop in on arrival to, or departure from, but make sure you give yourself enough time, as this is one of the country’s leading craft beer breweries and you’ll want to explore the menu.
Set in a huge warehouse on an industrial estate (as most of the best tappys are), this place regularly has street food outside from one of the many vendors. The taproom and brewery inside, however, are something else! The vessels line up like a giant metal army, and the tap selection is just as vast. If you could choose any top national brewery to open a bar next to the main train station, then you could do a LOT worse than this.
Final thoughts on my food and drink trip to Cheltenham
The Cheltenham bars and restaurants I chose to visit, are a mixture of prior knowledge, planning ahead, or just simply exploring Cheltenham and finding these places as I strolled around. Cheltenham is a very walkable town, and so it’s easy to spend time exploring on foot. I enjoyed all of the places on the list, and am sharing them with you to enjoy too.
I hope you have enjoyed this blog post as much as you will enjoy my Cheltenham recommendations!! If you want to read more. Explore the rest of my website by clicking here and find new independent places in Birmingham (or elsewhere!) to visit and support!
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