The Flying Horse in Clophill, Bedfordshire has had a major refurbishment that literally leaves you speechless. Think glamorous jewel tones, leafy prints, plush velvet seating, cosy corners and ambient lighting all coming together to create an atmosphere of cosy chic opulence.
The opulence continues with a bar engulfed by a marble top and a ceiling adorned with foliage Wallpaper. The Art Deco influence is certainly felt here it’s like stepping into the 1920’s era of glitz and glamour.
Enough drooling over the décor it’s now time to see if the food makeover is as good as the interior.
You can’t start a dining experience without a drink or two! The bar had created their own DIY Gin Station complete with botanicals and garnishes, I opted for my favourite Tanqueray Flor De Sevilla with Elderflower Tonic and hubby decided to try the Koko Kolada Cocktail – Taking the Pina Colada into the 21st century Koko Canu rum is shaken with refreshing pineapple juice to produce a tropical taste of the Caribbean, delightfully fruity and refreshing.
The menu brings together an exciting social dining and drinking experience, featuring fresh flavours and ingredients inspired by modern world-food trends.
Choose from a broad range of premium grill dishes, fresh fish, Asian influences and plenty of healthier and lower calorie options, a great range of salads and plenty of vegetarian and vegan options too, the choice is yours and the selection mouth-wateringly tempting.
To start, we opted for a selection of small plates that included Pan- Fried Wild Scallops the flavour and texture combination was perfection, Crispy Duck Bao Bun, a stand out favourite, Hummus & Toasted Ciabatta not only tasted delicious but looked just as delightful with edible flowers as décor and the Sweet Chilli Chicken Wings were a real treat on the tastebuds.
These sharing plates were a real hit, we could have just eaten them all night, but as it was a new menu calling out to be reviewed I decided to order a main whilst hubbie continued to indulge in the delights of the sharing plates.
There was no hesitation when it came to my choice it had to be the Pan-Fried Seabass Fillets & Chorizo served with a roast pepper and onion confit, lentils and grains, baby potatoes and pea puree. The portions were incredibly generous and boasted plenty of sumptuous mouth-watering fish to devour. The strong flavours of the chorizo worked well with the delicateness of the fish, full of flavours and textures to elevate the palette.
I most definitely didn’t have room for dessert, but hubby had spotted his favourite on the menu – Sticky Toffee Pudding, served with a honeycomb ice cream, was it a hit? In his words “The best I’ve ever tasted” (great praise indeed considering he used to be a chef!)
The Flying Horse is most definitely up there in the style and food stakes, the perfect place for cocktails with friends, a romantic meal with a loved one, a family get together, after dinner drinks or just because!
This really is a stylishly divine drink and dining venue that needs to be visited at least once!
For more information or to book, visit www.theflyinghorse.co.uk