A CHILDHOOD dream came true in December when Daniel Crump opened his own restaurant, The Greyhound, in Windsor End, Beaconsfield Old Town.

It had been his wife Margriet’s dream too since the couple met while working on a six-star cruise ship “and his dream became my dream”.

“I always wanted to work in a restaurant,” Daniel explains. “I became a weekend kitchen porter at age 14, then saved all my wages and converted our garage into a restaurant.

"The kids would come after school and buy milkshakes, pizza, hot chocolate.

"Inevitably it was shut down because of food hygiene rules, but all the mums wrote to the paper because they liked having somewhere for their kids to hang out.”

A decade of experience followed in front-of-house roles in top restaurants including Michelin-starred Petrus and Restaurant Gordon Ramsay.

Margriet meanwhile was building up expertise as a sommelier. Finally, the couple looked for the perfect place to call their own and found The Greyhound, a 17th-century coaching inn.

They spent eight months transforming the building, keeping original features but adding a contemporary, comfortable restaurant downstairs with bar lounge upstairs.

Sean Norton, a semi-finalist on Masterchef The Professionals in 2018, joined them as head chef bringing experience from high-end restaurants and a modern take on British classics.

They are aiming high. The menus include a la carte, tasting menu, vegetarian tasting menu and vegan tasting menu, as well as a lunch deal and Sunday roasts.

There are also ‘snacks’ for those coming to the upstairs bar for a drink - and these are surprising treats. I tried ‘bacon and egg crumpet’: an amazing concoction of bacon jam, confit egg yolk and crispy onion on a small fresh baked crumpet.

Worth a return visit in itself.

Our meal began promisingly with fresh sourdough bread and hay-smoked butter and a flavour-packed mushroom mousse amuse-bouche.

A starter of unctuously tender pork belly with caramelised onion, hispi cabbage and pickles was a perfect marriage of elements.

I love fruit with rich meat when well conceived, and my main dish of venison fillet and croquette was enlived with spiced pear, blackberries and mulled wine sauce, absolutely delicious.

My companion was equally satisfied with her butternut squash, sage gnocchi and goats curd.

Dessert looked impressive, but more importantly, tasted amazing, especially the ice cream made with fresh mint making a tingly light foil to the richness of a chocolate crémeux and coconut cream.

Margriet has ensured the wine list is as ambitious as the food.

Even the coffees get star attention, with an elaborate V60 drip coffee option.

Staff here receive an hour’s training every day (with an exam every month!), so our charming waitress Hannah was able to explain every detail about the technique and the delicate flavour it produces as she brewed.

They aim to take service to a high level. If someone is handed the menu and says, “Oh no, I forgot my glasses”, staff will hand them a smart box of spare specs. That really is attention to detail.

The Greyhound Pub and Dining at 33 Windsor End, Beaconsfield HP9 2JN is open lunchtime and evening Wednesday to Saturday, and Sunday lunchtime. Tel 01494 671315.