Licensed since 1754, the Five Elms is an unspoilt Grade 2 listed two-room country pub complete with thatched roof and log fires, in the village of Weedon on the fringe of the Chiltern Hills. Dog-friendly, it attracts walkers for a refreshing local ale and families, too, thanks to the garden and play park across the road.
It reopened in November 2021 with Tom Moody, head chef and a partner in the pub with hotelier Andrew Helmsley, bringing his experience in Michelin-starred restaurants around Europe into the kitchen. He’s steeped in classic techniques, his dishes are ambitious and his skills once took him to the semi-finals of Masterchef: the Professionals.
Bar snacks include corn ribs glazed in chipotle and honey, and starters hand-dived scallops, jerk chicken thigh, kohlrabi and lime or maybe a goat’s cheese pannacotta. For mains you might find spiced mutton loin and kofta, grilled lamb belly and roasted cauliflower or a wild mushroom linguini. And for dessert, a white chocolate mousse or selection of British cheeses.
