The Waterside Inn

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

A French Institution on the Thames

On the banks of the Thames in the village of Bray, The Waterside Inn has long been regarded as one of Britain's most serious French restaurants. The setting — Ferry Road, Berkshire — is quietly dramatic: water on one side, a discreet country-house calm on the other. It is the kind of place where the room itself asks you to slow down.

Chef Alain Roux and the Roux Legacy

At the heart of the restaurant is Chef Alain Roux, who continues the culinary tradition established by the Roux family. The cooking is rooted in classical French technique — precise, considered, and without the need for spectacle. That commitment to rigour earned The Waterside Inn a place among The World's 50 Best Restaurants, appearing in both 2004 and 2005, recognition that confirmed its standing not just within the United Kingdom but on an international stage.

Lunch as a Ritual

The restaurant currently offers two dedicated lunch experiences, both personally presented by Chef Alain Roux. Lunch des Amis is a refined four-course midweek and Saturday affair — described as "a lunchtime escape" — available Wednesdays through Saturdays. Sunday Lunch is framed as "an indulgent four-course ritual," a fitting description for a room where French cuisine is treated with genuine ceremony. Both experiences run through spring 2026.

Staying Overnight

For those who want to extend the experience, rooms are available — each one including a French continental breakfast served in the bedroom. Overnight guests are guaranteed a table for dinner, and dining at The Waterside Inn on at least one evening is part of the arrangement. It is a considered way to structure a stay: the restaurant and the inn are inseparable here, each reinforcing the other.

Private Dining

A private dining room accommodates parties of up to eight guests booked online, or larger groups by arrangement. The main restaurant takes a maximum of six guests per table — a detail that speaks to the intimacy the kitchen is designed to deliver.