We’re really fortunate to have great places to eat right on our doorstep in Winchcombe St. Here’s a short tour of our section of the street and we hope it inspires you to check them out for yourselves.
Our tour starts from Albion St, and just a little up on the left is Vegetus, Cheltenham’s independent vegan restaurant. Vegetus serves plant-based dishes that will please the vegan and non-vegans alike.
If you imagine the archetypal friendly local restaurant, Vegetus is just that. That it serves vegan food is a bonus for the vegans, and others concerned about reducing meat/dairy, but (in the best way) it is irrelevant to the experience. It is quite cosy, but not uncomfortably so, and there’s a lot packed into a small space.
A few doors up is Istanbul Kitchen, the largest restaurant on the street and probably the noisiest – it’s great to hear the music and cheering in the evenings. Although larger, it’s usually packed out and creates a very party-like atmosphere. They are also very generous with portions and keen to give out samples of food.
The cuisine is authentic Turkish, with plenty of grilled meat and meze choices. There is also a good choice of vegetarian/vegan options.
A bit further along and directly opposite our doors is Holee Cow an independent burger restaurant, which really isn’t just another burger restaurant. It’s a simple, unpretentious layout, and a very friendly service. They pride themselves on serving “burgers beyond belief” and they are definitely a better quality than the norm.
For the vegan/vegetarians, there is separate Holee Cowless menu, with a good amount of choice and at the same quality as the meat options.
New kids on the block. My Pastalicious moved in just after we did in the summer of 2021 and provide a real gourmet alternative to the boring lunch time sandwich. Serving home-made authentic Italian pasta, foccaccia and other treats to take away, and to eat outside (weather permitting).
Finally, just before the junction with the ring road is Golden Mountain Chinese restaurant. The outside is quite unassuming, but it has a great take on the Chinese buffet – all you can eat for a set fee, but choose from the menu and they cook it fresh. It’s clearly a popular model as its been running for decades and its sure to continue for many more.
So, that’s the end of our tour as we hit the road junction. We could extend it further, but the Winchcombe St golden 80 metres has enough to offer! Next time you tackle an escape room maybe try them out!
