Lainston House's flagship restaurant offers a fresh take on flavour with Tom Hamblet at the helm.
This November, The Avenue restaurant will relaunch with Tom Hamblet as Head Chef
Exclusive Collection is delighted to announce the relaunch of The Avenue, the flagship restaurant at Lainston House near Winchester. Following an extensive refurbishment, the restaurant will reopen on 27 November with MasterChef: The Professionals champion Tom Hamblet at the helm in the kitchen. The esteemed Russell Sage Studio has led the redesign of The Avenue, blending contemporary elements with the restaurant’s historic charm and taking inspiration from the hotel’s Hampshire surroundings and mile-long avenue of lime trees, which the restaurant is named after.
The eight-course tasting menu at The Avenue will be priced at £125. Tom’s exquisite snacks and laminated brioche with garden herb butter will be followed by a choice for the starter, main course and dessert, interspersed with extra courses designed by Tom to surprise and delight diners. Highlights from the menu include Scallop, anchovy, seaweed pickle, ajo blanco; Venison loin, beetroot, onion caramel, duck liver sauce; and Whipped cheesecake tart, pear, fig leaf, blackberry and pastis sorbet. ‘Squeeze them ins’ conclude the meal, such as Lainston apple juice and ginger pâte de fruit and Salted nut nougat.
I’m thrilled to be taking the head chef role, continuing to explore the region’s rich culinary heritage to create an unforgettable flavour-focused dining experience that helps put Hampshire on the map as an unmissable dining destination.
Tom Hamblet
Tom’s fresh perspective, commitment to sustainable practices, and innovative techniques to bring out the best in all ingredients, mean The Avenue will offer diners the chance to experience elegant, bold, and locally inspired dishes in the stunning setting of the 17-century Lainston House estate.
Tom will also be giving guests the opportunity to cook with him in his Season Cookery School classes at Lainston House, teaching recipes inspired by his dishes from MasterChef: The Professionals and his residencies over the past year.
From the 27 November 2024, the restaurant will be open Wednesday to Sunday, dinner only, with three-hour sittings at 6.30pm and 8.30pm. Alongside the main restaurant, guests can also choose to dine on the Chef’s Table (7pm sitting, tasting menu) or opt for private dining in Tilia Room (6.30pm sitting, set menu).
Hampshire’s Lainston House is for the explorers, the food-lovers, and the do-differently-ers with a wealth of experiences including unforgettable overnight breaks, exploring the outdoors, and wood-fired cooking classes. The hotel has 50 beautifully designed rooms and suites and offers two exceptional dining experiences for guests.
Embrace a fresh take on flavour at The Avenue, a fine dining restaurant set within the historic walls of the hotel, with MasterChef: The Professionals 2023 winner, Tom Hamblet at the helm. Or for something a bit different, experience exceptional flavours fuelled by fire in an historic converted well house and wood-fired restaurant, The Wellhouse. True foodies can feast on immersive pursuits of seasonal provenance at Season Cookery School, with classes in state-of-the-art kitchens or a rustic kitchen garden, perfect for any budding chef looking to upskill or try something different.
Lainston House is part of Exclusive Collection, a B Corp certified independent hospitality group.
