An original, unrivalled dining experience is coming to Bristol. Opening for its first dinner service on Friday 29th May on Windsor Terrace, BS3, The Historical Dining Rooms is a new-fashioned revelation in British dining, showcasing a range of seasonal tasting menus, serving fine dining dishes from as far back as the 12th century in a grand Regency dining hall.
Chef proprietors Leigh Pascoe, Tim Denny and Matt Duggan, the chef team behind The Star and Dove, renowned for its historically-influenced public house and tavern style of dining, are bringing food inspired by history with a modern and technical approach to this new dining destination for Bristol.
Leigh Pascoe said of the new restaurant: “The Historical Dining Rooms is about historical British inspiration, not replication. We have been working with experts such as Bristol-based forager Andy Hamilton, organic herb farmer Jekka McVicar, and food and dining historians Ivan Day and Dr. Annie Gray who have been massively influential and supportive in fuelling our obsession with constantly seeking out great forgotten dishes of times past. All this to produce what we believe to be a menu which adapts some of the finest moments in our culinary history, aiming to recreate them in a balance of all the senses. In fact, we hope the whole service, from locating The Black Door, ringing the Butler’s bell on entering the dining room, perhaps choosing a pre-dinner drink with wild ingredients, tasting new flavours and texture combinations, to having a specially selected tea or coffee blend to round off your dinner will create an extraordinary dining experience.”
He continues: “Dishes such as Leg of Lamb with Curried Crab with a White Wine Cream Sauce from c.1811 and Punch A La Romaine, a dish served on the Titanic as an after-dance drink, are not styled and served exactly how they would have been, but the idea and flavours are the same. Using popular and even forgotten or little known botanicals and herbs from our rooftop historical garden, taking wax and honey from our own bee hives, using our own in-house smokers, and working closely with local producers and suppliers, our passion for period cooking and its well documented processes will be played out as exactly as possible in our modern kitchen. But of course we now have the ability to texturise and better the original in a contemporary way. That approach we think, makes this a very exciting venture indeed.”
Dr. Annie Gray adds: “Looking back into the past of British cuisine, we have much to be proud of. It’s time we rediscovered our culinary past, not just because it was brilliant then, but because the flavours and texture of history are just as delicious now as they were 300 years ago.”
The 7-course Bill of Fare (sample here), vegetarian Bill of Fare (available upon request – sample here), and the choice menu (sample here) will be served from Friday 29th May onwards.
The restaurant will be open for service between 6pm – 9.30pm, Wednesday – Saturday, and 12noon – 4pm Sunday.
Call 0117 972 0366 or visit the website www.historical-dining-rooms.co.uk to book a table.
The Historical Dining Rooms is styled with period-influences to add to the experience. The main dining hall features Regency-styled decor for 26 covers, and a separate Library which seats 16 is also available for private hire.
Contact details
The Historical Dining Rooms
0117 972 0366
Entrance through The Black Door, Windsor Terrace, Bristol, BS3 4RY
info@historical-dining-rooms.co.uk
www.historical-dining-rooms.co.uk
Twitter – @HistoricDiningR
Instagram – @Historical_Dining_Rooms
Facebook – /HistoricDiningR