Amersham & The Griffin: Lunch in the Chiltern Hills

 

With its half-timbered houses and handsome Market Hall, Amersham is one of the most photogenic market towns in the Chilterns. Having spent my formative years living in Amersham and going to school at Heatherton House on Copperkins Lane, our family spent memorable years exploring the English countryside, so returning for a visit during our stay on the Cotswolds, was a heartwarming trip down 'memory lane'. The Kings Arms was the posh restaurant at the time, but we decided to enjoy a lovely lunch at The Griffin. 

Located in a late 17th-century coaching inn with a high arched gateway and cobbled yard in the historic market town of Old Amersham, The Griffin was once a popular stopover on the way from London to Oxford or Aylesbury, and was once even reported to be dined in by Oliver Cromwell in the 1600s when his family lived in the area during the English Civil War, and also McNeil Whistler, the famous 20th Century American artist, who had lunch at the inn and commented that it was "an old house, charming, and the kitchen amazing". 

In 2021, The Griffin bistro opened its doors in the heart of Old Amersham by chef patron Joe Izzo, and quickly became an elegant, warm and welcoming bistro serving high quality classically refined cuisine, using locally grown and sourced ingredients, with a delicious wine list and amazing service with chef Tomas Topolar at the culinary helm and his talented brigade. Beginning with a glass of champagne at the posh bar, we were seated at a lovely table in the elegant dining room, and enjoyed a delicious lunch and dessert before taking the slow country roads through bucolic Buckinghamshire on our way home to Chipping Camden.

Old Amersham from the hill

'Body Stones' of St Mary's Parish Church of Old Amersham dates from around 1140 AD 

Heatherton House Girls School, which was founded in 1912, is where I went 

to school from Form 3-5 while living in Amersham in the early 70's

Plump Pink English Rose in the Old Amersham Memorial Gardens

Coronation Clock in Old Amersham Memorial Garden

Nestled in the heart of Old Amersham is the iconic Market Hall which was built in 1682 

by Sir William Drake who was an MP for Amersham

Domesday Plaque on Amersham Market Hall, issued to celebrate 900 years of Norman Heritage

The Kings Arms in Old Amersham is where we went as a little girl for dinner 

with my parents and brother in the 70's

The Kings Arms was used in the film 'Four Weddings and a Funeral'

The Griffin in Old Amersham

Interior of The Griffin

The swishy Bar at The Griffin

Glass of Cuvée Brut Oudinot Champagne

The Griffin Lunch menu 

An enticing wooden board with freshly baked sourdough bread and dill butter

"for whilst we wait"

Chalkstream Trout Ceviche with citrus ponzu, sesame. seaweed salad and radish

Gazpacho with poached tomatoes and croutons

Glass of Paza la Maza Albarino

Griffin head chef Tomas Topolar and his kitchen brigade

Cornish Bream with peas, tartare beurre blanc, potato pavé and beer batter scraps

Tartare Beurre Blanc Sauce

32 Day-Aged Bavette Steak with stout and miso glaze, fries and chimmichurri sauce

Sticky Toffee Pudding with macerated cherries and milk iced cream

Macchiato

griffinamersham.co.uk