Autumn flavours arrive at the Thimbleby Café
With the evenings drawing in and the trees around Thimbleby Estate shifting to gold and russet, our café has stepped fully into the season with new menus designed to bring warmth, comfort and great flavour to your visit. We’re not just for those visiting to shoot, our doors are open to walkers, cyclists, visitors and locals for a tasty bite to eat. Refuel, relax and let someone else do the washing up, because there’s something to suit every appetite.
Breakfast at its very best
Start your day the right way with one of our ‘Bore Breakfasts’, a nod to Thimbleby’s sporting roots. Choose from the .410, 20 Bore or 12 Bore, ranging from a lighter plate of sausage, bacon, egg, beans, hash brown and toast to a full spread with mushrooms, tomato, Doreen’s black pudding, beans and multiple sausages and eggs. For those seeking a meat-free start, the Vegetarian Breakfast offers fried eggs, vegan sausage, hash browns, beans, roasted tomatoes and mushrooms, proof that hearty doesn’t have to mean heavy.
There’s plenty for those who prefer a simpler morning too. Our Ultimate Butty is a crowd favourite, stacked with sausage, bacon, fried egg, hash brown and black pudding, while classic bacon, sausage or egg butties remain the go-to choice for anyone on the move. For something lighter, try avocado on toast with chilli jam, porridge with honey or brown sugar or a toasted teacake with Tiptree marmalade. However you like to start your day, you’ll find a breakfast that sets you up perfectly for the day ahead
Lunchtime favourites and autumn comforts
We’ve also refreshed our main menu so that balances seasonal comfort with variety – ideal for hungry shooters, walkers and cyclists looking to refuel. Our highlights include:
Pie of the day served with fries, peas and rich gravy
Sausages of the day with creamy mash, peas and gravy
Curry of the day with rice, poppadom, mango chutney and cooling yoghurt and mint sauce
Scampi and chips or chicken strips with fries and coleslaw for a pub classic feel
The cheese and bacon beef burger, served on brioche with fries, salad and coleslaw – this is already a firm favourite with regulars
For something a little different or the perfect plate of food to share with friends, our loaded fries are not to be missed. Choose from curry (with chicken curry, cheese and mint yoghurt), nacho (topped with tomato salsa, sour cream, avocado and jalapeños) or poutine, a hearty mix of sausage, chicken, bacon, cheese and gravy.
Those after a lighter bite can opt for our freshly made sandwiches and warming jacket potatoes, from a TSG club sandwich layered with chicken, bacon and mayonnaise, to a fish finger sandwich with baby gem and tartar sauce or grilled goat’s cheese with beetroot chutney for a vegetarian twist. Our jacket potatoes come loaded with comforting favourites such as tuna mayonnaise, chicken curry or cheese and beans, each served with salad and coleslaw
A new season in the kitchen
This autumn also marks our first game season with Head Chef Tristan Prudden at the helm. An award-winning game chef with a passion for local, seasonal produce, Tristan brings a wealth of experience to Thimbleby.
As the season unfolds, you can expect to see more game dishes appearing on our specials board. Tristan’s advice for anyone cooking game at home is to keep it straightforward: “Start with familiar cuts like pheasant breasts or venison haunch, cook gently to avoid drying out and let the flavour speak for itself. Game pairs beautifully with autumn produce, so fill your basket with root vegetables, dark greens and a touch of fruit or spice.”
Visit us this autumn
The Thimbleby Café is the perfect place to relax, refuel and enjoy the very best of seasonal food, regardless of whether you’ve visited to shoot here, walk nearby, use pedal power to arrive or fancy a change of scenery from the home office. Just make sure you come with an appetite and we’ll take care of the rest!