Owners Ruth Leigh and Oliver Brown lovingly converted a grade ll listed building over a number of years to create restaurant with rooms Updown Farmhouse, and their efforts have paid off. The bucolic setting of a 17th century farmhouse, set within seven and a half acres of Kent countryside, lends itself to Updown’s hyper seasonal approach to cooking with a covered outside dining area that provides visitors with an idyllic location for a long lazy lunch or intimate dinner.
If the Leigh name sounds familiar it’s because Ruth is the daughter of celebrated chef and restaurateur Rowley Leigh. Alongside Brown, who founded London restaurant Duck Duck Goose, the pair have tried to keep things as simple as possible but still provide the wow factor. Everything is cooked over wood in the open kitchen with the Italian-leaning menu kept relatively tight to keep quality high.
As the environment dictates, dishes are more on the rustic than refined side, with starters that could include a plate of pasta or veal carpaccio and main such as roast squab pigeon with peas and lardo; or grilled leeks with pepperonata and polenta. For those who prefer to share a larger, daily changing dish is also available.
Updown’s concise Italian-focused wine list takes an equally laissez-fair approach, comprising a mix of winemakers the pair have loved for years and newer finds from smaller producers, including some local vineyards.
If the Leigh name sounds familiar it’s because Ruth is the daughter of celebrated chef and restaurateur Rowley Leigh. Alongside Brown, who founded London restaurant Duck Duck Goose, the pair have tried to keep things as simple as possible but still provide the wow factor. Everything is cooked over wood in the open kitchen with the Italian-leaning menu kept relatively tight to keep quality high.
As the environment dictates, dishes are more on the rustic than refined side, with starters that could include a plate of pasta or veal carpaccio and main such as roast squab pigeon with peas and lardo; or grilled leeks with pepperonata and polenta. For those who prefer to share a larger, daily changing dish is also available.
Updown’s concise Italian-focused wine list takes an equally laissez-fair approach, comprising a mix of winemakers the pair have loved for years and newer finds from smaller producers, including some local vineyards.
