About Us

Parts of The Riverbarn are over 600 years old and it has operated as a business for the last 100 years. In the past it has served as the local shop and Post Office. The latter still provides essential amenities for the locality on two mornings a week. It’s possibly the smallest Post Office in Wiltshire!

It was run as a Gallery and Gift Shop in the past but it has now gained an excellent reputation for its extensive lunch and dinner menus and for its morning coffee and afternoon tea selection. It has increasingly become the place where more and more people choose to book for that special private function.

The wooden tables with puzzles and games create a cosy and friendly feel throughout the day but give way to create a more sophisticated air for dinner guests. Tables in the garden and a lawn which stretches down to the river, provide the perfect relaxing setting for outside dining in the warmer months of the year!

Due to popular demand the Riverbarn is now open on Thursday, Friday and Saturday Evening’s providing ‘fine dining’ in association with local suppliers. ‘AA Dining’ and ‘AA*** Highly Commended Accommodation Guest House’ awards underline the quality of what they offer. The Riverbarn is fully licensed with a range of fine wines and locally sourced beers, cider and organic juices.

Hosts Jill and Ian Sutcliffe, with sons Tom (Manager) and Jon (Chef), have gained this family business a considerable local following. Ted, their Chocolate Labrador, is also on hand to provide a warm welcome too!

What our customers say:

Debbie Millard,

I am still revelling in the memory of the amazing anniversary meal Paul and I had at the Riverbarn. I spent much of yesterday at work telling my colleagues about your amazing restaurant and I do hope some of my friends and colleagues will come across to see you. I had seen the article on The Riverbarn in the Salisbury Life magazine which was why we came to your restaurant in the first place.

From the minute we opened the door we knew we would have a wonderful evening – the atmosphere that poured out from Riverbarn was so tranquil – I watched Paul positively unwind from the minute we sat down. I also cannot begin to tell you what a pleasure and a relief it was for us both when Paul was offered a special vegetarian menu and to see the lovely options which you had. Not just mushroom soup and mushroom risotto, I’m sure one day he will be offered mushroom ice cream and mushroom gateaux! From the first drop of the White Onion soup (I loved the beautiful cups and saucers this was served in) to the last morsel of our desserts the evening could not have been improved upon – a million thanks are not enough to you all for all you did for us.

Neil Young,

What a truly wonderful find near to Salisbury in the picturesque village of Fonthill Bishop. Very comfortable accommodation and scrumptious food. Jill and Ian Sutcliffe have created a “jem” here – well worth a visit.

Paolo,

A cosy, warm, properly furnished room; a friendly staff; a very good location, near Salisbury, Shaftesbury and Stonehenge, along the main route but in a wonderful garden and countryside nearby.

Jillian,

“A really peaceful comfortable stay in the country”. I was in the area to attend a Colour Mirrors Conference at Ashley Wood and stayed here. It was lovely to wake up to the sound of birds and pheasants. The food was really excellent and many of the people on the course who dined here and complimented how good it was. Everything was perfect and I hope should I return to the area to be able to come again but better keep this a bit of a secret otherwise it will book up straight away!!

Ace Drummond,

“A warm welcome awaits you at The Riverbarn in Fonthill Bishop. You might be staying in the tastefully decorated accommodation or having a delicious meal in the cosy, quaint, relaxing restaurant, but I know you will not be disappointed by the Riverbarn. Whether you have a full dining experience or just a snack and drink, the Riverbarn is exceptional and honestly well worth a visit. Last weekend we ate the best paté and ploughman’s lunch we have had in ages, and the set menu looked fantastic. Efficiently run by a mum and sons team, it is friendly and endearing with customers coming back time after time, after time. New evening opening hours will only add to their following,”