We tried The Spade Oak in Bourne End

The pub is located near the River Thames making it the ideal riverside spot to grab a drink or enjoy the full dining experience.

Whether you fancy something from the grill, such as four-bone lamb rack, rotisserie pork belly and scallops or expertly aged steaks, there’s something to suit all tastes.

The lunch menu includes dishes under 650 calories, stonebaked pizzas and freshly prepared sandwiches.

There is also a brunch menu available from 9am on Saturday and Sunday which consists of classic favourites.

A new private dining room, with bifold doors and outside space was put in with the refurbishment and it can be used for celebrations and special occasions.

A second fireplace has also been restored to complete the contemporary look.

The general manager, Chris Gowers said: “We’re thrilled with the transformation at The Spade Oak – the new design retains the pub’s fantastic original features, including two fireplaces for guests to enjoy, but with a fresh, stylish feel with a touch of glamour.

“The re-opening marks a new chapter, and we can’t wait to see what the future holds.”

We were let in to try out the menu, which has remained the same, and to check out the pub’s new makeover.

The food experience

To start we tried the pan-fried wild Atlantic scallops which came with Devon crab and king prawn bonbons finished with a pea and truffle oil velouté. The scallops were browned well and tasted great with the pea and truffle oil sauce. The crab and king prawn bonbons were also a good addition and could even warrant being its own starter. We also tried the creamy Paris brown & oyster mushrooms which came in a white wine cream, on a toasted sourdough crumpet. This was a recommended choice and we could see why. Due to the generous portion of mushrooms, you were never left with a dry crumpet and you had plenty to spread onto each bite. All in all the two starters left high expectations going into the mains.

For the main course, we ordered the dirty burger and the panko-bread chicken Milanese. The prime beef burger was topped with crispy bacon, lashings of cheese and beef dripping sauce and served with fries. We were hesitant to order a burger with the varied choice the menu offered but I’m so glad we did. Dirty burgers can sometimes leave you wondering where the ‘dirty’ comes in but this one didn’t. The amount of beef dripping sauce and melted cheese were not held back on and it made each bite a joy to eat. The panko-breaded chicken Milanese was topped with a slow-roasted tomato sauce, Monterey Jack cheese, crisp prosciutto and came with rich chicken gravy and skinny fries. The gravy was the star of this dish and was the ideal addition to the crunchy panko-breaded chicken. This was down on the menu as a ‘classic dish’ and certainly followed the classic substance over style rule.

Whilst tucking into our mains we were tempted by one of the cocktails highlighted at the top of the menu. The Koko kolada is described as “taking the pina colada into the 21st century, Koko Kanu coconut rum is shaken with refreshing pineapple juice to produce a tropical taste of the Caribbean.” Coming in a martini glass the Koko kolada was a fun twist on the popular cocktail. They also have a range of fan-favourites including mojitos which we also tried. Whether you try one of their own creations or a classic cocktail it’s definitely worth it if you fancy an alcoholic drink away from beer or wine.

For dessert, we tried the black forest melting bomb which brought a "modern makeover for a retro classic". You are brought a chocolate brownie mousse, vanilla ice cream and cherries in a Kirsch encased in a dark chocolate sphere with a hot chocolate sauce that you pour over the sphere for the melting bomb effect. As well as that we had the lemon meringue flamed Alaska, a lemon mousse roulade rolled in raspberry sugar crunch, topped with vanilla ice cream and flamed meringue, served with fresh strawberries. Both desserts looked incredible and were real showstoppers to end the night.

To book your table at The Spade Oak in Bourne End visit here.