Sapphire Tewkesbury, a fine dining Indian fusion cuisine, very kindly invited myself and a plus one to their VIP relaunch. Here are my thoughts including information you may need to know if wishing to pay a visit.
- 117/118 High Street, Tewkesbury, GL20 5JY
- What 3 Words: valley.televise.taking
- Telephone: 01684 295 226
The Sapphire Tewkesbury Story
Their website states that they are more than just a restaurant – that Sapphire is a celebration of cultures and culinary traditions. That the chefs have meticulously combined the rich, aromatic spices of Indian cuisine with the fresh, vibrant tastes of the Mediterranean to create a menu that tells a story of harmony and innovation. Each dish is a tribute to the artistry of fusion cuisine, honouring the depth and diversity of these two remarkable culinary heritages.
To expect nothing but good vibes & great food.
Our Experience at Sapphire Tewkesbury
Honestly, that’s exactly what we got!
From the off this felt like a luxury experience. Everyone was dressed so smartly and the service impeccable. Plus the interior is just stunning too. There were great little touches to make the experience how you want – like the option to have the blinds open or closed, and a lamp on each table that you could change the brightness. There was also some lovely background music.
We were impressed with the range of options – as well as obviously the presentation and taste. We shall definitely be back as there’s so much more to try!
What You Need to Know About Sapphire Tewkesbury
Location
Sapphire is located in the heart of Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire. A market town near the Cotswolds, famous for its re-enactment of The Battle of Tewkesbury (part of Europe’s largest Medieval Weekend) and The Abbey Church of St Mary the Virgin, Tewkesbury (more commonly known as Tewkesbury Abbey).
Tewkesbury offers some limited (maximum two hours stay in one place, a lot are 45 minutes) free parking in the day, and various carparks – many of which are free after 5:30pm.
Opening Hours
Open all week – Monday-Sunday from 12-11pm
Drinks
For the sober-curious or those like me just enjoying sobriety you will be pleased to know there are mocktails available – as well as soft drinks, juices, waters, bitter lemon and ginger ale.
We tried the Blue Lagoon and Strawberry Mojito. Both were very sweet.
Obviously if you did want to drink alcohol they offer a range of spirits, bottles and cocktails.
Appetizers
You won’t want to settle with just having poppadoms here as there is such a spectacular range of appetizer options: Although saying that even they came with a fantastic little salad which had pomegranate seeds in.
You will note that there is no separate vegetarian/vegan menu but that the dishes are clearly labelled and available throughout.
Other choices of appetizers at Sapphire Tewkesbury includes:
chicken balls, dynamite chicken, dynamite shrimp, chilli lime shrimp cups, calamari batter fry, steak bites, ham crispy lumpia, feta cheese roll, chicken grilled strips, Bengal Piyaji, cauliflower cheese, fish fry, lamb chops, butter garlic mini lobster, mini lobster puree, Adana kebab, chicken/paneer pakora, prawn cocktail sandwich, Afghani paneer tikka, and crispy chicken bites.
I tried the Bengal Pijayi – which are crispy spinach and onion bajji. They were delicious and had a nice light sauce too. My husband went for the steak bites – which were also delicious (I had these as part of my main meal).
Main Meals at Sapphire Tewkesbury
Honestly there is just so much choice when it comes to the main meal at Sapphire Tewkesbury. Actually I was quite impressed with how quickly I decided. Also that it was different to most places and offered me something that was a mix of familiar and new.
Clay Oven Mains at Sapphire Tewkesbury
Actually I went for a Mix Grill from the Clay Oven Mains menu. This included grilled chicken strips, mini lobster, lamb chops, Adana kebab, steak bites and a lovely side salad. It was really delicious – I was really amazed at the lamb chops! This was actually my first time ever having tried any lobster (which is why I picked it).
Other Clay Oven Mains are:
Chicken parmesan, chicken strips, Adan kebab, tandoori chicken, lamb chops, mini lobster, beef tender Shashlik, chicken Shashlik, and king prawn and crispy chicken sizzler.
Traditional Curries
All favourite traditional curries are available upon request – chicken, lamb, prawn, king prawn and seasonal vegetables.
Other Main Options
There is also a range of Seafood, Beef and Chicken options.
As well as Biryani options – which include lemon garlic chicken, Mongolian beef, garlic shrimp and seasonal vegetables.
Sapphire Feast (serves 2)
For £45 there is a non-veg and veg option.
Sapphire Tewkesbury Sides and Salads
We opted for the saag paneer mix bhaji as our sides. These came in nice size bowls and of course were delicious. Usually I have a mushroom bhaji as my main – this one was very tomatoey. Also available are: chips, massala chips, roast potatoes, saag aloo, tarka dgall, house salad, and Sapphire salad.
Rice
Boiled, pilau, mushroom and egg fried.
Bread
Naan, peshwari naan, keema naan, garlic naan, cheese naan, chapatti.
We had the peshwari naan. Some places these have sultanas in – here they did not. They were cut into nice easy to manage slices. Again tasting very nice.
Private Dining Room
There’s an exclusive Private Dining Room, offering a sophisticated and intimate setting, perfect for any special occasion.
- Private room for 10, 15, 20 people (minimum 10)
- Private room for lunchtime 15 to 20 people (minimum 15)
- Lunch time office meeting minimum people. 10, 15 or more (minimum 10)
- Private party lunchtime minimum people 15, 20 or more (minimum 15)
Deposits & Cancellation
- Minimum deposit of 50% is required at least 5 days before the event.
- At least 24hours notice is required for any deposit to be returned.
The only other thing to note is that I used the toilets which are accessed by some stairs, therefore it is best to double check any accessibility arrangements.
Disclaimer: We were invited along to the VIP Relaunch of Sapphire Tewkesbury for complimentary food. We paid for all of our drinks and left a tip due to our very satisfied experience. Opinions are honest and my own. All information is believed to be correct at time of publication.