The Brickmakers

To clarify, 4.5 Stars.
Now, I’ve done reviews about pubs before but honestly I feel a bit strange doing a review about The Brickmakers. Why? Because it’s the amalgamation of a standard English pub with a very nice restaurant and that to me as the American foreigner I am, is strange. I’ve been to The Brickmaker’s three times now; once due to my boyfriend’s family insisting on taking me there for lunch and twice on my request after my first experience. It is good. Now obviously the stereotype of British food is that they make almost everything into pies, which… isn’t proved wrong by the Pie of the Day on the menu but again the more I visit the more I realize that England’s food and food culture, just like every other country with a vast history, has been shaped into what it is today and has unfortunately, more history in their food than my country does in its Historical texts. Nevermind the stereotypes, on to the review.
The Brickmakers is excellent. A very nice traditional pub feel with wooden picnic tables outside for smoking, a bar well stocked with liquor, wine, and local ales you wouldn’t expect too much from the food from this pub but really it is very good quality food. Two of the three times I came I had lunch, once (of course being the true American I am) I had a burger, and it was a really good burger. To be honest, that’s high praise right there considering my favorite restaurant in my home town is very famous for making top notch burgers. It had all the right trimmings that, surprisingly, many pubs leave out like dill pickles and red onions. The last time I went I had their venison burger, which also receives high praise from me. I’m not a huge fan of venison because of the particular gamey taste but this one had very little and was amazingly satisfying.
Overall, nothing in this pub disappointed me. It is a bit pricey but if you’re travelling in England everything is and in my opinion it is well worth the price. It’s not necessary to eat there but I suggest you do, I’ve decided to make at tradition of eating there every time I go into Wickham for a visit. A good combination of a old fashioned free house and a new age of dining.