PUBS are transforming their outdoor spaces into relaxed dining experiences and The Bull in Henley-on-Thames has really embraced that.

I was invited along to the venue in Bell Street on Thursday, May 12, to see how the pub has totally transformed itself into a beautiful botanical display.

The pub has had a complete redesign, with a colour palette of sage green and coral tones, bold floral and floral wallpapers and soft furnishings.

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The gorgeous grandeur of the leafy plants stands tall in the corners of each room with accents of gold and pink complimenting one another.

My mum and I were taken through to The Courtyard -- the pub’s new Al Fresco dining area.

I felt like I’d just been transported to the Mediterranean, the open feel, relaxed chairs and trickling sound of water was like a dream.

The atmosphere felt casual, relaxed and very special at the same time. We sat right by the olive tree, providing a gorgeous backdrop for a few shameless selfies too.

But we can’t forget the food too.

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I was immediately impressed by the calamari squid with garlic aioli (£9.50). The batter was light and crispy and the squid was soft to eat.

We also shared the scallops served on a bed of peas. I couldn’t fault the texture of the scallops but I think a bigger portion would be better value for money.

Our mains arrived quite a while later as it appeared the chef was rushed off his feet. Although there was a delay, it was great to see the pub bustling with so many people after the last two years of Covid.

After a couple of sips of prosecco our mains arrived. I went with my favourite dish, lamb (22.50) and my ordered the filleted sea bream with nut crust (22.5).

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The minted lamb was accompanied with a delicious assortment of root vegetables roasted perfectly. The meat was tender and the fat melted in the mouth. It was delicious and I’d highly recommend it.

The only thing is I wish there was more on the plate as the fondant potato was so tasty, but there was only one small piece.

My mum really enjoyed the fish main and noted a few times how delicious and flaky it was.

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Then the desserts arrived where we ordered the eton mess baked vanilla cheesecake(£7.50)  and coconut panna cotta (£7).

Each bite satisfied my sweet tooth, with the creamy texture of the panna cotta tasting well with the sharp mango flavoured sorbet. It was the perfect palette cleanser.

Overall, we really enjoyed our experience at The Bell and I would definitely return, just to experience the beautiful outdoor courtyard again.

Hopefully when the sun is shining next time!