Aldwark Manor Estate’s new fine dining restaurant, Chartwell, will open to guests on Wednesday 8th May 2024.
The £3 million addition to the luxury hotel in North Yorkshire, promises to bring the timeless glamour of the 1940s to life, offering an unparalleled dining experience steeped in history and elegance.
The inspiration for the new restaurant’s name stems from Sir Winston Churchill’s iconic country home, Chartwell, and will embody the essence of determination, fine food, and exquisite wines, paying homage to the former Prime Minister’s enduring legacy.
Aldwark Manor Estate has strong links with World War II, as it was requisitioned by the Home Office at the start of the war to provide accommodation for the Canadian Air Force. Christophe Gitton, Estate Director, explains: “Sir Winston Churchill rallied the British people and led the country from the brink of defeat to victory, so coupled with the estate’s connection to the second world war, it seemed fitting to name our new restaurant after his treasured home in Kent.”
The Churchill theme runs throughout the new restaurant. There is a wine tasting room, Clem, named after his wife, Clementine, where guests can sample an array of unique, specially selected wines.
An opulent private dining room is located on a mezzanine floor overlooking the main restaurant. It is named Pinafore, one of the most charismatic private event rooms at The Savoy, where Churchill founded his renowned The Other Club, a British political dining society and the name of a secret lounge at Chartwell.
“My tastes are simple: I am easily satisfied with the best”, Sir Winston Churchill
As guests step into Chartwell, they will be transported to an era of sophistication and grandeur. The 24-cover restaurant will open for dinner from Wednesdays to Saturdays. It will showcase tasting menus highlighting locally sourced, seasonal ingredients, prepared with classical precision to ensure an unforgettable dining journey.
Chartwell’s skilled team of chefs, headed by Chris O’Callaghan who previously worked at The Fat Duck, Midsummer House, and Gravetye Manor, will present British cuisine with a contemporary twist inspired by the renowned Auguste Escoffier, infusing a touch of Savoy elegance. Expect a dining experience brimming with culinary masterpieces, crafted to delight a range of tastes, and celebrating Churchill’s love for the finer things in life.
The seven and ten course tasting menus are named after Champagnes and cigars, two of Churchill’s favourite indulgences. Champagne was Churchill’s greatest weakness (or strength, as he liked to put it), with his preference being Pol Roger, which will be added to the Chartwell wine list. Pol and Roger are the names of two of the first tasting menus available, along with cigar-inspired Romeo and Julieta. Dishes on the menus include ‘Aged Yorkshire Beef, Caviar, Smoked Eel, Celeriac’, ‘Barbequed Scallop, Cauliflower, Grape, Bisque’, ‘Passion Fruit Curd, Mango, Marigold’, whilst vegetarian options include ‘Roast Yorkshire Leek, Truffle, Artichoke, Grape’ and ‘Parmesan Kuzu Dumplings, Broad Bean, Tomato Dashi’.
Christophe Gitton continues: “We are thrilled to introduce Chartwell to our guests at Aldwark Manor Estate. Chartwell encapsulates the essence of Sir Winston Churchill’s remarkable legacy, offering a dining experience that is both timeless and unforgettable. Not only is the setting stunning and opulent, but the dishes created by our exceptional team of chefs will undoubtedly make us a top destination for food lovers.
“Join us on May 8th, as we raise a toast to history, heritage, and haute cuisine at Chartwell, the newest culinary gem at Aldwark Manor Estate.”
Chartwell will offer seven and 10 course tasting menus, priced at £95 and £130 respectively, with vegetarian options available. A wine flight is also available for both the seven and 10 course menus, with prices starting at £75.
Chartwell will enhance Aldwark Manor Estate’s existing dining and bar offerings of two other restaurants, Elements and Bunkers, and the Squadron Bar.
