The Hudson

Overview

If you haven't yet paid a visit to The Hudson, you need to go immediately.

This absolutely beautiful establishment opened its doors in November 2018, and since then, there hasn't been a Friday afternoon where it's not been filled to the brim with locals enjoying a drink and a good yarn. There's a trendy, vibrant atmosphere set in sophisticated luxury – what more would you want?

Each section of The Hudson has a completely different feel to it, and caters for everyone. The bar is relaxed, inviting and bustling with all walks of life, while upstairs, you'll find a slightly moodier and inviting area to dine and enjoy one of the many gins or local whiskies on offer. The team have done a wonderful job of showcasing the original building's charm; having taken something old, adding a few sleek, modern touches and making it great again.

We had heard whispers of how incredible the menu is, and we're happy to say that our expectations were met and far exceeded. Each dish displayed thought, care and creativity, and it's made for sharing. We'd recommend doing what we did, and order a number of items to try it all.

We began with the market fish sliders, duck fat potatoes (the perfect accompaniment if you're having a beer) and our favourite, the beef croquettes — those really are a must-try on the small plates menu. For mains, we had the gnocchi, served with a tomato consommé that (seriously) tastes like margherita pizza, and it's the most amazing flavor combination we've had in ages. And the best part? It's vegan friendly. The real highlight though was the Wakanui beef cheek. It was knockout brilliant, melt-in-your mouth and we were down right starry-eyed. Incredible. Finally for dessert, we had the pistachio cake served with smoked cherry sorbet, whiskey infused chocolate truffles and chocolate truffles and our winner, "what a mess". What a beautiful mess. It's a gorgeous arrangement of Italian meringue, strawberry pink gin sorbet, walnut praline, lemon curd, berry coulis and prosciutto. Order it for yourself, and don't share – you'll thank us later.

The Hudson is an elegant addition to Chews Lane, backed by a knowledgeable and extremely passionate team. Enthusiasm and pride beam from the wait staff, all the way through to management, and it's fantastic. We're firm fans already and can't wait to return for more.