The Stag & Hounds

The Stag and Hounds is a traditional 16th Century pub set just outside of Melton Mowbray, the rural Capital of Food, in Leicestershire.

They offer a weekly changing a la carte menu that highlights the best of what is in season, showcasing Leicestershire’s amazing natural larder, from veg grown outside the pub in their onsite truggs, to locally shot game birds, to Hogget raised on Burrough Hill just a few hundred yards away.

Local beers take pride of place, including Melton Mowbray’s very own Round Corner brewery or Charnwood brewery from just down the road, alongside some cracking ales from further afield.  

The Stag and Hounds is delighted to be Leicestershire’s only Michelin Bib Gourmand venue, the only pub to feature on the illustrious Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropub list at number 98 and a previous winner of Great Food Club’s Dining Pub of the Year

They pride themselves on being a great pub that happens to offer quality food as opposed to a restaurant in a pub shell. Friendly dogs and drinkers are most welcome, as are walkers and cyclists after a trip to Burrough Hill Iron Fort. They have BBQs on Bank Holidays, Cocktail night on Fridays, a Quarterly Pub Quiz and host village meetings once a month.

As the fruit trees in the village begin to ripen, we find ourselves immersed in apples, plums and berries of all descriptions, many of which will be swapped for a cheeky pint and end up on the menu.

Typical dishes may include Heirloom Tomato salad with Mozzerella and chive or Rack of Burrough Hill Hogget, Shoulder Shepherd’s pie, broccoli and curds or Village Apple tartlet with Brown Butter Ice cream.