★★★★★ "I was drawn to the words ‘Welsh rarebit crouton’, and was soon sipping on a velvety cauliflower soup with a marvellous, rich and naughty charred chunk of cheese on toast." - William Sitwell
See the full article here 
"This cosy, 40 cover restaurant likes to showcase game. Venison is sourced locally, while shoots at Thistleton and Lyndon provide the partridge and pheasant.
Look out for? Loin of local rabbit, stuffed with black pudding and roasted with puy lentils, root vegetables and game sauce, while Neil's twice-baked creamy cheese souffle has near legendary status among Rutland foodies" -The Field Magazine 
"Neil and Louise Hitchen have got a good thing going at their Barn not far from Oakham Castle, deftly balancing a homely pub ambience with some serious restaurant finesse. Regional suppliers are naturally front and centre on Neil's daily changing menus, and if snacks such as pickled quail's eggs or roast chorizo with Dijon mustard and honey are anything to go by, the formula exerts broad appeal.
Easing into the main menu, there are good things galore. A smoked salmon Scotch egg is neatly offset with samphire and warm tartare sauce, while the famous twice-baked two-cheese soufflé of Lincolnshire Poacher and Red Leicester has deservedly acquired the status of a signature dish. Fish main courses are both generous and big on flavour (creamily sauced fillet of sea bass with clams, crayfish and new potatoes, for example), while meats offer pedigree prime cuts such as chargrilled ribeye with hand-cut chips or flavoursome pork fillet in prune and Armagnac sauce with savoy cabbage and mash. A flawlessly balanced blackberry cheesecake paired with outstanding apple sorbet rang all the autumn bells at a November visit, or there might be an apricot Bakewell tart with honey-poached apricots and roasted almond ice cream. A thoughtfully chosen selection of wines by the glass completes the picture." -The Local Good Food Guide 
★★★★★ “An unpretentious place with a real rustic feel”- AA Inspector
-AA Rated Trips 
We are thrilled and delighted to be the only recipient in Rutland of this award in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 & 2024. After only being open eight months we are so proud of our team for this amazing achievement.
"Named after Bibendum – the Michelin Man – our Bib Gourmand distinction highlights restaurants offering ‘good quality, good value cooking’ at £30 or under for 3 courses, and is a hit among our readers. 22 restaurants have been newly honoured for 2020." -Michelin Guide 
With a table of four, there was plenty of chance for owner/chef Neil Hitchen to showcase his talents. For starters, dishes ranged from my mum’s wild mushroom soup with tarragon and truffle cream (‘silky, delicious, lovely light foam on top’), to dad’s indulgent twice-baked creamy Red Leicester & Lincolnshire Poacher cheese soufflé (‘a fabulous cheesy hit’), to Nick’s crispy egg, with Parma ham, watercress, apple and celeriac remoulade (‘a perfect combination of contrasting textures’), to my Long Clawson stilton cheesecake, with red wine-poached quince and walnuts. My dish sounded like a bit of a gamble on paper, but, trusting in the acclaimed chef’s ability – and tempted by the inventiveness of it all – I went for it anyway. This bold move paid off… it was fabulous... if you’re ready for a break from home cooking, however good at that you are, then an exquisite meal at Hitchen’s Barn is definitely recommended.
- Local Living |
Hitchen's Barn was nominated March 2025's dish of the month for their Banana Panna Cotta, Chocolate Mousse and Honeycomb.
“When done right, a panna cotta is a thing of beauty. This one was just set, as it should be, with a wonderful ‘wobble’. It harboured a deliciously pure banana flavour, which showed the skill of the kitchen, as banana is not the easiest of fruits to extract flavour from. This was accompanied by a creamy dark chocolate mousse, which married excellently with the banana flavours, and some slices of caramelised banana. Finally, the honeycomb added a textural contrast and extra sweetness. What a great way to finish a meal!” 
As recommended by Comedians Tom Davis & James Acaster. -Off Menu Podcast. 
“Bravo Hitchens!” – this “consistently excellent” barn conversion is “a template for the perfect neighbourhood restaurant, owned and run by a talented chef and his charming wife” (Neil & Louise Hitchen, who met working at local powerhouse Hambleton Hall more than 20 years ago). “The interior is bistro-esque and relaxing”; and the “beautiful seasonal food” delivers “real value for money”: “flavour combinations are carefully created, with each dish superbly planned and cooked to maximise taste. Fish has to come from afar (Cornish turbot on the bone) but nearly all else is sourced from local suppliers”. Top Menu Tip – “game in season is a standout”.- Harden's
Hitchen's Barn are in the top 10% of restaurants worldwide.
The Travelers’ Choice Award celebrates restaurants that consistently deliver fantastic experiences to travelers around the globe. Winners like HB earned positive traveler reviews and ratings over the past year. -Travelers' Choice 
"At Hitchen’s Barn in Oakham you’ll enjoy beautifully cooked food. Seasonal game dishes feature prominently, inspired by head chef Neil’s love for the British countryside. Examples include Braised Shoulder of Local Venison, Mash, Red Cabbage, Walnuts & Poached Pear; and Braised Rabbit Leg, Mash, Savoy Cabbage, Mustard & Gherkin Sauce. You can also expect excellent fresh fish dishes, such as Fillet of Cornish Cod, New Potatoes, Baby Leeks & River Fowey Mussels. The menus change regularly, reflecting the seasons.
At this restaurant, the owners’ name is above the door. They run it with pride, and no-one benefits more than the diners." -Great Food Club 
"Run by local couple Neil and Louise Hitchen, Hitchen's Barn is a must-visit for food lovers on a trip to Oakham. The enormous menu included treats such as loin of local rabbit stuffed with it's own liver, whole roasted partridge and local Victoria plum crumble."
-The Telegraph |
What our customers think
You can read the full reviews here
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★★★★★
"From walking through the door, the customer experience is excellent. The staff are very friendly and accommodating and the food is excellent. I had the chicken with leeks and mushrooms and it was the best chicken I have ever tasted. Other members of our party had the fillet steak and they said it was cooked to perfection and very tasty. Everything is cooked fresh so there is a little wait but they provided us with complimentary bread and butter to keep us going. As you can imagine, this is a very popular place so booking is essential. Can’t wait to visit again." -Vanessa Rayner ★★★★★
"FLAVOURS!!!!!! Sunday Lunch at 14.30. Chose Mussels starter in saffron sauce....... amazing! Then Pork roast second course. Excellent service as ever. Chef reakky knows his stuff here. Highly recommended. Definateley in our top 3 in Rutland after trying 3 times. Need to book." -Ken Gill ★★★★
"Great birthday lunch for ten...superb setting, service and food....plus bubbly of course.." -Julian Cardew |
★★★★★
"Beautiful food, fantastic customer service. We had our valentines meal here and are already booked for another. Our absolute favourite restaurant. If we absolutely had to make a constructive comment it would be that it’s very quiet in there until the tables start to fill in so it feels a bit like you have to whisper. Other than that, we adore the place!" -Schtiff |
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About UsFind out more about Neil and Louise and the team
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Food and DrinkBrowse menus and learn more about our local produce
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