The Chesil Rectory

It's an incredible setting (try for a window seat to get a great view of King Arthur!). The meals are of the highest quality & the wine list is perfect! But the very best thing about the Chesil Rectory is the quality of the service! Simply outstanding! We went for South African wine dinner that was, as usual, absolutely perfect!! Update - went back - chose from the a la carte menu - it was even better!! Wouldn't have thought that was possible!!

Came for an anniversary dinner, had high expectations which were blown away. Fantastic service in an historic building tucked away in Winchester. To top, possibly the best 3 courses of food I can remember having: the tender-stem broccoli was the highlight for me, so many intricate flavours put into a delightful starter, beginning the meal on a very high point. Followed by creamed polenta, beautifully paired with some puff pastry and wild garlic on a bed of asparagus. To top it off with a brandy snap basket was nothing short of perfection. Such a lovely touch from the Chesil Rectory to also give us an anniversary tray message, joined by homemade fudge and marshmallows. Will certainly be returning for any special occasion.

Loved this gorgeous, historic, atmospheric place, with classic, yet adventurous, food. Erika was so lovely even after super long day for her, I am sure (as i had very late lunch here). Chicken terrine with microherbs and shitake mushrooms was a thing of beauty. Their upstairs area is gorgeous. So if you are 4 or more, ask to sit upstairs.

This was a lovely roast to go with the family. We all had an amazing meal and I’ll definitely be back to try the new menus! To start I had the Trout Rilette. It was wonderful, light and delicate. The trout was delicious and tasted fresh. An immense starter before the main event. I had the Roast Sirloin of Beef, the true star of the show. The meat was cooked to perfection, lovely and tender. The Roast Potatoes were tender and flavoursome. The Yorkshire Pudding was perfect and light. The Cauliflower cheese just had a deep rich flavour. Seasonal Greens were lovely and Al dente. The Stuffing was different and one I definitely enjoyed. My only critique was the gravy may have been slightly salty but that is my ONLY critique of the food. To finish I had the Dark Chocolate Delice. It was a lovely ending. Well-balanced with the tartness from the cherries and the rich dark chocolate. Overall it gets a 4.4/5. The service was amazing and our waiter, Craig, was lovely and attentive. Extremely good quality of food and reasonably priced.

Simply superb! A lunch with friends as a thank you. I had searched for an appropriate restaurant for a high quality lunch and The Chisel Rectory came up as an option. Thank you Google! I had seen the website and the fact it is independent and really seasonal. The results were excellent, I am so pleased I booked. We enjoyed pre lunch drinks together with bread, chicken butter, Isle of Wight rapeseed oil and Moroccan spices and seeds to compliment the butter. So simple but perfect. We all chose the lamb rump which was beautifully tender. For desert one friend chose pear in pastry and I had spotted a brandy snap basket that included some beautiful pineapple pieces. Absolutely delicious!!! I wasn’t sure what red wi e to choose, I just knew it needed to be light at lunchtime. I was recommended a light Italian red called Mesdi and was just the style I had asked for. All the staff serving in the restaurant were attentive but really approachable, friendly and welcoming. A perfectly well organised team delivering super food in beautifully decorated and upholstered surroundings. Really great attention to detail…even the backs of the chairs caught my attention, birds and bees embossed in the fabric. It just gave you the feeling the restaurant was created with loving detail. We were not hurried in any way and as the restaurant went a little quieter I managed to get some interior pictures without disturbing anyone. What an historic venue. Thank you so much for making our visit to Winchester such a memorable experience.

I wasn’t impressed by food, interior or service. For the money I have paid I didn’t want to see spiders and spider webs in every corner, dirty floor and windows, yes building is very old but it doesn’t mean it should be dirty and untidy. Food, presentation and quality of it was good, but not good enough if they are after Michelin star. Service just average, long wait, all cutlery were laying on the table without tissue and they forgot to bring part of my dish. So it’s more like a very posh pub not restaurant. Do I want to visit this place again, NO.

We decided to try this restaurant from my partners birthday lunch. Booking was really easy online, and they sent a reminder email a couple of days before to check i still wanted the table. We arrived a little early and they were more than happy to show us to our very comfortable round booth table. There was a good selection of wines by the glass and the bottle, as well as beers. We decided to do the lunch set menu, which was delicious, and well priced. At the end of the meal the discount via the set menu was £5 off each. We had bread to start which was fresh and crunchy. The Farmhouse Terrine was delicious served with the jam. We were pleased with our choice and the jam complemented it well. We both had the Pork Schnitzel, which was also delicious. The combination of anchovies and capers was great, the bits with the anchovy on were especially a highlight. The baby Gem was also really good. We finished our meal with delicious puddings, which weee both really good. A lovely venue in the centre of town. £50 a head for three courses and drinks. A delicious lunch

Well where do I begin with our wonderful dinner? Beautiful food, the most delicious bottle of wine we've ever enjoyed, gorgeous, cosy surroundings, and friendly service from welcoming, attentive, and knowledgeable staff. We were given a little anniversary surprise making our visit even more unforgettable. We shall be back.

We went for a day out in Winchester and found ourselves let down by so many things being closed, unavailable, etc. Finding Chesil Rectory was a treat. We were walking by and saw it and the look of the building stood out for its age and style. A sign outside proclaimed it had been rated one of the most romantic restaurants in Britain and after having dinner there I have to agree! We worried that due to nearby graduation festivities we might need a reservation, so arrived just after they opened at 6pm and were delighted that they had space available. From 6-7pm they offer a set menu option in addition to the regular menu, and we both went for this. I had a fish starter, potato dumping main and the berry fool. All were delicious - especially the dumplings which were a bit like big gnocchi, but absolutely melty and dreamy. In addition to the delicious food, the service was wonderful. I'd mentioned it was our anniversary when we were being seated and my dessert came with "Happy Anniversary" written in chocolate sauce on the plate! A really lovely touch. The building itself is charming and full of history from medieval to modern times. Downstairs there are 2 rooms for dining, and upstairs there are 2 more (plus a door that indicated a private dining room). Upstairs is a bit brighter than downstairs, but both are cosy and sweet. Ceiling and door heights are low, as to be expected in a building of such age, & there are lovely wooden beams throughout. It is truly a dreamy space. I highly recommend having a meal here if you're in Winchester!

Everything about this experience is great. The ambiance is really unique and enjoyable; simultaneously cozy and elegant at the same time, and very subtle, like the artwork. The food is great. The prawns were excellent, the beef was amazing, and the lamb dish was the best lamb dish in all of my travels through the UK.

In Winchester to see the Christmas Markets. Stumbled upon this place by accident by in my goodness what a delightful treat. We had no booking and on asking about free tables were told that they'd had no spaces for about a month! Phew! Thankfully there was a no show just a couple of minutes later so we we're offered their table. The staff were very friendly and the deco with it being Christmas was very festive! Recommendations were given for food ND wine but it all sounded amazing. Service was prompt but we were left to enjoy or courses without the constant fuss of some places. Food was very very good! Particularly beef carpaccio with a hint of horseradish. Mains were large and extremely filling, chicken was succulent and hake just fell away and melted in your mouth. Got busier as the night weren't in but the tables were not sitting on top of each other so you didn't have to listen to others conversation. A delightful find that hit the spot.

In Winchester for a business trip and had dinner here as a guest. The ambiance is charming and historic, full of a real old world feel. Service and attention is fantastic; staff is pleasant, knowledgeable and accommodating. Pork terrine and quail egg appetizer was delicious and plenty. The main dish of venison with beet was out of this world! The meat was cooked to medium rare and tasted like none other! The rest of the dish was equally pleasing. If in town this is a must eat place!

Cosy and great food, the building itself is worth a visit but the service is good and the prices not unreasonable (for Winchester). All round an excellent eatery.

Fantastic food, great wine and very reasonable price. Highly recommended.

Oldest gaff in town, 1500's me thinks. You walk in through a subterranean hobbit entrance way, past a stuffed fish into a quaint well preserved set of two dining rooms with wooden timber beams & green leather upholstery. Main downside is traffic just outside on eye level as restaurant sits below street level. I suggest you ask to be seated away from the street, preferably in the adjoining room. The waiter was down to earth, but a little to informal, addressing my wife & I as 'guys...' Steak was excellent, but I think food all comes down to personal choice & luck of the draw, i.e. don't assume each dish is of a similar standard. Well worth a gander.

Wonderful location. Amazingly friendly staff. Ala carte and 2/3 course menus available. Very romantic location (apparently 3rd in the UK) situated in a nearly 600 year old house. Fantastic fish pie and pumpkin casserole. We don't travel to Winchester often (out of country visitors) but will definitely be back next time we return.

This place is overrated and overpriced for the food it serves,service is too casual,spend your money elsewhere,that's my advice.

Lovely restaurant. Great food, warm environment and a really great team of staff. It's our favourite place to go and can't recommend it highly enough.

Avoid at all costs. Used to be fantastic. Now run by rude staff with owners who really don't care. VERY expensive restaurant that serves average brasserie food. Total rip off

Have been here several times now and love the story for this place - and that the owners are so eager to share the building's history. Menu offers great selection for both food and wine, with some particularly yummy options to choose from. Waiting staff can be informal, but very friendly and helpful - with the Owner close at hand to make sure everyone happy.