The Old Thatched Cottage Review, Weston-super-Mare

The Old Thatched Cottage is a most charming building dating from 1774 and Grade II Listed; once upon a time it stood directly on the beach serving as a holiday home but has been run as a restaurant by the Michael family since 1959. With a history like that who could resist a visit and recently it has also benefited from the addition of a superb outside terrace shielded from the Bristol Channel’s chilly breezes by an on trend glass frontage and further warmed by tables with central fire pits.

In these challenging times the restaurant is operating all the Covid rules with plenty of space but making sure that their customers still enjoy a happy and welcoming experience as well as great food. The menu has a fine choice of fish dishes – of course ‘traditional fish and chips’ feature amongst these – and they specialise in steaks, all dry aged in a Himalayan salt ageing chamber for 28 days which sounded rather exotic so we were determined to try one!

After taking gin and tonics on the terrace with the warm glow of the autumn sunset lighting the sky, we ordered a classic prawn cocktail with North Atlantic prawns, Marie Rose sauce, lettuce and cucumber, served with ciabatta bread, and whitebait lightly floured with tartare sauce and rocket garnish. Then for those mouth-watering steaks : an 18 oz T bone (someone was very hungry) and an 8 oz fillet, both served with plum tomatoes, beer battered onion rings and chunky chips. I also ordered an au poivre sauce, peppercorns flamed in brandy and finished in cream served on the side for my fillet, always a match made in heaven.

Our starters were excellent and most stylishly presented with plenty of plump prawns in the cocktail and agreeably crisp and tasty whitebait. Whilst waiting for the main courses we admired the stunning view and watched a steady flow of happy holiday makers taking a last stroll down the Promenade; better than being in Spain we reckoned and without the hassle of a long journey.

Ah, the steaks, what can we say? Magnificent and perfectly cooked, juicy and tender even the enormous T bone was scoffed to the last mouthful, and no chunky chip was left unharmed after this encounter. We cast an eye over the dessert menu, Eton mess, seasonal fruit crumble but alas such was our satisfaction after the steaks there was not even room for the sorbet selection.

We had a marvellous evening and The Old Thatched Cottage will always make a special occasion for you, be it a dinner à deux or larger celebrations which for the moment are a thing of the future.

By Jacquie Vowles

The Old Thatched Cottage
14 Knightstone Road . Weston-super-Mare
North Somerset BS23 2AN
Tel: 01934 621313
www.theoldthatchedcottage.com