Aldwark Manor Estate to open Chartwell restaurant in May

Aldwark Manor Estate has announced that its new fine dining restaurant Chartwell will open to guests on 8 May 2024. The £3m addition to the luxury hotel in North Yorkshire will bring the “timeless glamour” of the 1940s to life. The inspiration for the new restaurant’s name stems from Sir Winston Churchill’s country home, Chartwell, and will embody the essence of fine food and wines, paying homage to the former Prime Minister’s legacy. Aldwark Manor Estate already 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, said: “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. A private dining room is located on a mezzanine floor overlooking the main restaurant. It is named Pinafore, one of the private event rooms at The Savoy where Churchill founded The Other Club, a British political dining society and the name of a secret lounge at Chartwell. The 24-cover restaurant will open for dinner from Wednesdays to Saturdays and will showcase tasting menus highlighting locally sourced, seasonal ingredients. Chartwell’s 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 Auguste Escoffier. The seven and ten course tasting menus are named after champagnes and cigars, two of Churchill’s favourite indulgences. Dishes on the menus include Yorkshire beef, caviar, eel and scallop, whilst vegetarian options include Yorkshire leek, truffle, artichoke and parmesan Kuzu dumplings. Gitton added: “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.”