Bucks &amp; Oxon


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-lowdown">THE LOWDOWN</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/04/Artichoke-May2023-PWF-0061-HDR-MAYBE-ABOUT.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-186745" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/04/Artichoke-May2023-PWF-0061-HDR-MAYBE-ABOUT.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/04/Artichoke-May2023-PWF-0061-HDR-MAYBE-ABOUT-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/04/Artichoke-May2023-PWF-0061-HDR-MAYBE-ABOUT-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/04/Artichoke-May2023-PWF-0061-HDR-MAYBE-ABOUT-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>This <a href="https://www.artichokerestaurant.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">elegant restaurant</a>, now holding its Michelin star for a sixth consecutive year, sits on the High St in the beautiful market town of Old Amersham in South Buckinghamshire &#8211; an easy 45 mins from London with its own stop on the Metropolitan line. Run since 2002 by Chef Patron Laurie Gear and his wife Jacqui, who looks after front-of-house, <strong><a href="https://www.artichokerestaurant.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Artichoke</a></strong> is that rare breed now, a wholly independent restaurant with Gear himself still behind the wheels of steel &#8211; but clearly that hand on approach pays dividends and you&#8217;ll often see him coming out from the kitchen at the end of service to chat with his guests. The food is modern British, with an emphasise on free-range and local where possible, and it turns out I&#8217;m fighting it out with Raymond Blanc for the moniker of Artichoke&#8217;s biggest fan. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-vibe">THE VIBE</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/04/Artichoke-May2023-PWF-0485-HDR.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-186748" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/04/Artichoke-May2023-PWF-0485-HDR.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/04/Artichoke-May2023-PWF-0485-HDR-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/04/Artichoke-May2023-PWF-0485-HDR-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/04/Artichoke-May2023-PWF-0485-HDR-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Relaxed, unpretentious and easy on the eye. The interiors are Scandi-influenced, designed by award-winning Fiona Johnston Parke who&#8217;s elevated the original features of this 16th century Grade Two listed building with a soothing palette of walnut, lilac, and grey. </p>



<p>Michelin levels of service come as standard but thankfully there&#8217;s no endless brushing of crumbs or jumping in every time you drop a napkin; the kind of starchy over-attention that makes me want to giggle. It&#8217;s an intimate restaurant with around 45 covers &#8211; the main dining area sits 24 with an additional 15/16 covers in the upstairs private dining room. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scoff-amp-quaff">SCOFF &amp; QUAFF</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/06/Hero-and-wine-Artichoke.jpg" alt="Hero holding a glass of wine" class="wp-image-191020" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/06/Hero-and-wine-Artichoke.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/06/Hero-and-wine-Artichoke-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/06/Hero-and-wine-Artichoke-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/06/Hero-and-wine-Artichoke-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>This is one of the few restaurants I return to again and again with my own family and the reason is this &#8211; the food is incredible. I ate here at lunch, when there&#8217;s a choice of Set Lunch (great value at £65 for three courses), the Six Course Tasting Menu (£95 per person, with £60 wine flight/£40 for non-alcoholic pairing) or blow-the-barn-doors gastronomy with the full Tasting Menu (£130).</p>



<p>I had the six courser and I&#8217;ll let the images below take you on that journey! The  <a href="https://www.artichokerestaurant.co.uk/our-menus/lunch-tasting-menu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">menu is here</a>, but if you&#8217;re asking me to select the <em>Sophie&#8217;s Choice</em> of highlights, I&#8217;d choose the courgette flower with borlotti beans, courgette, old winchester custard and basil pesto.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="750" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/06/artichoke-courgette-flower--750x1000.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-191031" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/06/artichoke-courgette-flower--750x1000.jpg 750w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/06/artichoke-courgette-flower--600x800.jpg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/06/artichoke-courgette-flower--300x400.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/06/artichoke-courgette-flower--1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/06/artichoke-courgette-flower-.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Courgette flower </figcaption></figure>



<p>&#8230;the roast breast of Adlington english label special reserve chicken with spilman white asparagus, crispy wing, tarragon pickled romanesco and the airiest cauliflower puree you&#8217;ve ever encountered</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1922" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/06/Artichoke-Amersham-restaurant-chicken-.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-191032" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/06/Artichoke-Amersham-restaurant-chicken-.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/06/Artichoke-Amersham-restaurant-chicken--624x800.jpg 624w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/06/Artichoke-Amersham-restaurant-chicken--780x1000.jpg 780w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/06/Artichoke-Amersham-restaurant-chicken--312x400.jpg 312w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/06/Artichoke-Amersham-restaurant-chicken--1199x1536.jpg 1199w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Roast breast of chicken</figcaption></figure>



<p>&#8230; and the English raspberry mousse with amadei white chocolate jelly, chocolate sponge and raspberry sorbet &#8211; looked like a dream and stayed resolutely away from over-sweetness.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/06/raspberry-dessert-Artichoke.jpg" alt="raspberry sorbet dessert" class="wp-image-191015" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/06/raspberry-dessert-Artichoke.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/06/raspberry-dessert-Artichoke-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/06/raspberry-dessert-Artichoke-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/06/raspberry-dessert-Artichoke-400x267.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">English raspberry mousse</figcaption></figure>



<p>Wine was served by the newly appointed sommelier Louis Wilde, who has handed in his Oxfordshire passport as Head of Wine at Le Manoir aux Quat&#8217;Saisons to make Artichoke his new home across the Bucks border. His pairing of a soft velvety Girlan Patricia Italian Pinot Noir 2023 with my chicken course was ideal matching. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-kids"><strong>KIDS</strong></h2>



<p>Artichoke is child-friendly and they will cook smaller, plainer portions of adult for those under 12 years old. In the evenings children need to be 8+ years old. There&#8217;s no outdoor area and the restaurant is relatively small in size so bear that in mind! </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-accessibility"><strong>ACCESSIBILITY</strong></h2>



<p>Artichoke&#8217;s main restaurant is ground floor and easily accessible though the small toilet area can&#8217;t accommodate wheelchairs. Private dining is on the first floor, accessible only via stairs.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-out-and-about">OUT AND ABOUT </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/03/spring-garden-hughenden-buckinghamshire1652517-1.jpg-copy-1.jpg" alt="Hughenden" class="wp-image-186787" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/03/spring-garden-hughenden-buckinghamshire1652517-1.jpg-copy-1.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/03/spring-garden-hughenden-buckinghamshire1652517-1.jpg-copy-1-800x534.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/03/spring-garden-hughenden-buckinghamshire1652517-1.jpg-copy-1-400x267.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p><a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/best-places-to-live/buckinghamshire/amersham/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Old Amersham</a> is well deserving of an afternoon mooch. Much of the old town is in a conservation area with more than 150 listed buildings from Tudor wattle and daub through to elegant Georgian mansions, and the 12th century St Mary’s&nbsp;Church that was recently chosen for the funeral of One Direction star Liam Payne. </p>



<p>There are guided walks through Amersham’s untouched Old Town, while the beautiful beech woods of Chesham Bois provide endless dappled strolls at the northernmost point of the town.&nbsp;It also boasts some lovely indie stores:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fabricfashionstore.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Fabric</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.chattertonshop.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chattertons</a>&nbsp;for fashion (there’s a decent-sized Whistles too) and&nbsp;<a href="https://suchases.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Su Chases Interiors</a>&nbsp;is a treasure trove for the home.</p>



<p>A little further afield in Hughenden, the home of Benjamin Disraeli, the redbrick mansion&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hughenden" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hughenden Manor</a>, is an easy drive. It&#8217;s part of the National Trust, as is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.clivedenhouse.co.uk/">Cliveden</a>&nbsp;just outside Taplow, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/west-wycombe-park-village-and-hill" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">West Wycombe Park</a>, the Palladian home of the Dashwood family. For those with kids in tow, there&#8217;s&nbsp;<a href="https://coam.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chiltern Open Air Museum</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bekonscot.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bekonscot Model Village</a>&nbsp;to help make a day of it. If you’re reading this from London, it’s easy peasy to come up for the day – Amersham is on the Metropolitan line.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-muddy-verdict">THE MUDDY VERDICT</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/06/Hero-outside-Artichoke.jpg" alt="Hero standing outside Artichoke restaurant Amersham" class="wp-image-191012" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/06/Hero-outside-Artichoke.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/06/Hero-outside-Artichoke-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/06/Hero-outside-Artichoke-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/06/Hero-outside-Artichoke-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p><strong>Good for: </strong>Foodies obvs, but Artichoke will suit those anyone who wants all the style and substance but none of the pretentious stuffiness of Michelin star dining. Ideal for romantic dinners, girly lunches or bigger special occasions in the private dining room. Vegetarians and well catered for here, with veggie versions of all menus. </p>



<p><strong>Not for: </strong>Early week diners. The restaurant is open from Thurs &#8211; Sat for lunch, and Weds &#8211; Sat for dinner, with the tasting menu only offered on Friday and Saturday nights.</p>



<p><strong>The damage: </strong>No Michelin meal is bargain basement and nor should it be, but I think the Set Lunch is great value for what you get at £65 for three courses; the Six Course Tasting Menu is £95 per person, with £60 wine flight/£40 for non-alcoholic pairing). Or you can go for blow-the-barn-doors gastronomy with the full Tasting Menu at £130 with a £90 accompanying wine flight / £60 non-alcoholic version.<br><br><em>Artichoke, 9 Market Square, Old Amersham, Buckinghamshire HP7 ODF. Tel: <a href="tel:01494726611">01494 726611</a>. <a href="mailto:reservations@artichokerestaurant.co.uk">reservations@artichokerestaurant.co.uk</a>. </em></p>



<p></p>


Review: Michelin-starred Artichoke restaurant, Amersham

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