THE FOOD REVIEW: The HangOut Bar & Grill at Donnington Valley Hotel & Spa in Newbury

Donnington Valley Hotel & Spa has opened its outdoor bar and grill for the spring and summer season and it hopes that its laidback atmosphere and varied menu will tempt customers to visit.

The HangOut is located on the hotel’s outside terrace. It’s contained under a large tent with palm plants and flowers dotted all around. It’s a really chic and trendy place.

There are some seats out in the sunshine too, giving guests the choice to get their tan on if they want to.

All the food is prepared outside on the grill, so you can watch the friendly chefs prepare your order while you wait.

I went to The HangOut with my sister on a Saturday lunchtime. We were able to enjoy our meals while DJ Club Kudo played a lively set of upbeat house music — a Saturday afternoon exclusive. It really got us in the summer mood!

We started our meal with two cocktails, a matcha mojito and a strawberry daiquiri (both £7.50).

The mojito tasted really fresh and flavourful, and - like any good mojito - it wasn’t too sweet. The daiquiri was really fruity and tasty, which masked the booziness. Both were perfect for enjoying in the warm weather.

We then enjoyed a bunch of different nibbles for our first course. The menu has a great selection of small plates that are a top choice to indulge in if you’re visiting with a group.

We had Buffalo cauliflower (£7.50), brisket bon-bons (£8.50) and mac and cheese croquettes (£8.50).

The bon-bons were soft and tender meaty nuggets that came with a pot of gravy — a definite recommendation for anyone who’s a fan of strong American smokehouse flavours.

Another Americana-type dish, the crispy croquettes were filled with perfectly cooked cheesy, gooey mac and cheese. Definitely best eaten hot (as recommended to us by our waiter) with lashings of sweet chilli sauce.

The real highlight of the nibbles was the cauliflower, which was a pleasant surprise.

The dish came as a small pile of deep fried cauliflower florets, golden in colour and with a small pot of house aioli. The vegetable inside was unbelievably soft and the batter offered a nice little hint of spice. It really melted in the mouth.

I can imagine any of these small plates (especially the Buffalo cauliflower) being the right companion to a couple of beers in the summer sun.

For the main course, I had the ribs and wings combo (£25) while my sister had piri-piri chargrilled chicken (£22.50).

The ribs and wings came on top of a pile of chips, alongside some coleslaw, hot sauce and blue cheese sauce.

To put it simply, the ribs were fantastic. Lathered in a sweet and smoky barbecue sauce, the tender meat on the baby back ribs just slid off the bone.

I was expecting the fried chicken wings to be coated in hot sauce, but instead they came with the sauces on the side. This might be nice for some, but I would have preferred the sauce on the chicken.

My sister’s choice of the piri-piri chicken came with a Caesar salad on the side, and she ordered a side of chips too (£4). It was cooked well and had some nice flavours.

We finished off our lunch at The HangOut with a vanilla pannacotta (£8) and a Knickerbocker glory (£9.50).

The pannacotta was served on a slice of pineapple and was surrounded by a fruit sauce and mango chunks. It was a really funky dessert, with the tanginess of the fruit pairing well with the smooth vanilla pudding.

The HangOut’s friendly vibe and cool setting are its greatest strengths. I can definitely imagine visiting again with a group of friends, enjoying some cocktails or beers and enjoying one of the many delicious small plates on offer.

It’s a restaurant that lives up to its name and has the potential to become a hotspot this summer.