Review: Good carvery at Prestwood pub with a new look (From Bucks Free Press)

Review: Good carvery at Prestwood pub with a new look

10:40am Saturday 21st July 2012 in Freetime By Rebecca Cain

SHARON Osborn's previous regulars are so loyal they travel from Great Missenden to her new pub in Prestwood. She certainly must be doing something right so Rebecca Cain went to see how she has transformed The Kings Head.

I had never been in the pub which is on the main road into Prestwood before, but Sharon showed me photos of what it looked like before she renovated the whole place.

And she hasn't just added a lick of paint. She has put in new furniture, new décor, a garden play area and basically created a whole new feel.

Sharon moved there from The George in Great Missenden with her manager, Rob Berry. The two have worked together for ten years and tend to move when the other does.

They moved there on June 6, revamped the pub and then reopened on June 22.

Already, they said, regulars are coming back.

The menu is simple, offering a lounge menu weekdays and Saturdays from 12-3pm, and 5-9pm and Sundays from 12-6pm. They also offer a carvery weekday evenings and Saturdays from 5-9pm and Sunday from 12-6pm.

The lounge menu ranges from main dishes such as ham, egg and chips (£5.59) to an all day breakfast (£6.50). There are also jacket potatoes from £5.50, burgers from £5.95, baguettes and sandwiches at £3.50 and a kids menu. They also do specials which on the night we went were Madras and Korma.

The carvery is £6.95 Monday to Saturday and £8.95 on a Sunday.

There are no starters so it is straight to the mains. I went for the carvery and had beef and turkey but there was also lamb.

I could then help myself to a good selection of vegetables from garden fresh carrots, cauliflower cheese, green beans, broccoli, roast potatoes and new potatoes.

There was, of course, also stuffing, Yorkshire puddings and gravy.

Chef Gary has moved there from Cambridgeshire and is clearly proud of his food, which is home-made.

It was a thoroughly decent roast- the turkey was perfectly cooked as were the vegetables, which were done exactly the way I liked them- ie. not overcooked.

What I liked about it was that it was good, honest cooking and it is definitely a top option for a carvery, which is quite scarce in the area.

My fellow diner, Tom, went for the sausage, mash and peas from the lounge menu. It was presented well and the sausages were a good quality and the mash the right consistency. Definitely a good pub dinner.

There are three puddings on the menu: sticky toffee (£3.95), apple pie (£3.95) and three scoops of icecream (£2.50). There was also a special called Hanky Panky cake, which I went for.

It was rich and delicious, with a thick chocolate biscuit base, a medley of chocolate and vanilla icecream with a chocolate coating.

Tom had the apple pie, which was served with icecream and judging by how quickly he finished it this was also a winner.

The atmosphere is comfortable, with good background music playing at a volume so you can still talk to each other.

Sharon has already put out a Christmas menu, which is booked up. They also have cocktail nights on Fridays and Saturdays.

They are going to start doing breakfast on a Saturday and Sunday between 9am and 12pm, a ladies night on a Sunday and have more live music.

They are also getting involved in the community and have already had the local pre-school to visit.

Sharon said: "We have got people who haven't been in here for years coming in here now.

"We will be a force to be reckoned with."

And I can well believe that.

The Kings Head is at 188, Wycombe Road, Prestwood. Their number is 01494 863265. Their website is being developed: www.thekingsheadbuck.com