It’s British Game week this week running from 4th-11th November so we thought that we’d highlight some local game producers and where you can enjoy some superb game dishes at some of Henley’s fantastic restaurants.

Henley is blessed by being surrounded by beautiful countryside and amazing estates who provide restaurants and shops with high quality game. As we know it’s really important to eat locally and sustainably. Wild game is much leaner and lower in fat, with greater nutritional value than farmed meat. It’s also much tastier, as the varied natural diet of wild animals means that their meat is packed with flavour.

The Culden Faw Estate produces excellent venison including bone in fallow deer haunch, boned & rolled, diced, minced, deer shanks, steaks and burgers. You can purchase the meat online for collection from the Estate Office, Dairy Lane, Hambleden, and the lovely Hambleden Village Store stocks the venison as well.

The Stag & Huntsmen in Hambleden uses the venison that it raised on the Culden Faw Estate, while it’s sister pub The Bottle & Glass Inn which resides on the Phillimore Estate has the estate’s fallow deer on the menu.

Where can you eat gorgeous game? You don’t have to go far to get some knock out game cookery.

Restaurant Dominic Chapman at The Relais Hotel by Henley Bridge has a superb dish of Wild Hart Venison, Celeriac Puree, Spinach, Mash Potato & Red Wine Sauce – Experience Henley Card holders receive a 10% discount on their food bill.

Hop over the bridge to the homely and welcoming The Little Angel pub where they are serving a special Venison & Game Pie with Pomme Puree and Winter vegetables – Experience Henley Card holders receive a 15% discount on their total bill.

The Golden Ball in Lower Assendon is renowned for it’s high quality seasonal menus and their menu is packed with game including delicious locally shot Partridge with Wild Mushrooms and Autumn Greens. You will also find mallard, rabbit, quail and venison making an appearance. Definitely somewhere to try and they also do a super set lunch which is great value for money.

Over to The Plough at Shiplake. The Plough continually produces outstanding menus and dishes and if you hop on over this November you’ll see a Roast Pheasant Game Pie proudly sitting on the menu – Experience Henley Card holders receive a 10% discount on their food bill.

Staying in Shiplake a few minutes walk from The Plough is the esteemed Orwells Restaurant who currently have a stunning list of Special Game Mains on their A La Carte menu – New Forest Wild Boar & Belly, Berkshire Hare Loin, Muntjac venison, Berkshire Pheasant, Berkshire Red Legged Partridge and Oxfordshire Mallard. What a treat and what to choose?

The Bottle & Glass Inn have a Game Supper Club on 28th November which includes Soda Bread & Confit Duck Leg Whipped Butter, Pan Roasted Wood Partridge, B&G Classic Pigeon Wellington, Seared Brill, Butter Roasted Phillimore Estate Fallow Deer, finished off with a Slow Baked Chocolate Cake

If you’re buying game meat for yourself to cook take a look at some of the recipes on eatgame.co.uk for cooking with duck, grouse, partridge, pheasant, pigeon, rabbit, venison and wild boar.

And lastly, of course go to your trusted butcher to find out what they are stocking at the moment and if you’re not sure how to cook it, you can be certain they’ll give you a tip or two.

Need an Experience Henley Card? Find out more about the Experience Henley app and it’s discount card by visiting experiencehenleycard.co.uk

Top image: The Bottle & Glass