Exclusive Collection is set to unveil two new hyper-local restaurant destinations this Spring – Hillfield Restaurant & Bar, an ode to Surrey produce at Pennyhill Park, and The Wellhouse at Lainston House, a more casual evening-only immersive dining experience focused on seasonal wood-fired cooking.
The developments form part of Exclusive Collection’s wider commitment to reinvesting back into the properties and creating truly original concepts that appeal to their local audience as well as hotel guests. All this whilst the doors have remained closed and ahead of the anticipated busy Summer months ahead.
Hillfield Restaurant & Bar, Pennyhill Park
Named after the earliest historic reference to the land, ‘Pennyhillfield’, Hillfield Restaurant & Bar is a truly hyper-local English brasserie showcasing the very best of Surrey’s finest produce. Located in the five-star luxury resort, set in 120 acres of glorious English landscape complete with popular spa will sit alongside the Michelin-starred restaurant, Latymer as a truly exciting and accessible destination restaurant.
At Hillfield, fine casual quality food and drink, experiences will be at the heart of the offering as the team look to celebrate provenance and traceability of produce from the Pennyhill Park estate, Surrey Hills and the wider county. There will be a particular focus on working with farmers who preserve and enhance the landscape with a commitment to high welfare and sustainability. Overseeing the kitchen’s ‘Farm to Fork – Nose to Tail’ philosophy will be Lewis Russell.
Open all day for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Hillfield will present recognisable dishes that celebrate the seasons in a relaxed and stylish setting. Less about hotel dining, Hillfield will offer a seasonal British brasserie perfect for hotel guests looking for a more relaxed and fun menu rather than fine dining, and perfect for local residents from the surrounding area looking for something authentic and accessible.
Breakfast will be available à la carte with a central juice station, whilst lunch and dinner services will offer a modern British brasserie-style menu including; Local Beef Short Rib Arancini, Venison Wellington, and Hillfield Hot Pot, there will also be a daily ‘Surrey Grill’ specials board, weekend brunches and traditional Sunday roast platters.
A dedicated cheese bar will also be on offer featuring a rotating selection of local artisanal cheeses and predominately British varieties. The ‘Hillfield Young Farmers’ menu will ensure the littlest of guests are not forgotten. Hillfield will be available at all times to non-residents and will also offer an all day in-room dining menu for hotel guests.
The Hillfield Bar will serve food and drink you crave when visiting your classic country local, albeit with a five-star twist. In addition to breakfast, hot and cold plates served all day, bar nibbles, pastries and cakes from the Pennyhill bakery alongside the hotel’s award-winning Afternoon Tea.
When it comes to drinks, in addition to barista coffee, expect the very best in English aperitifs, signature Surrey Spritzes, Hillfield house-made cordials, local beers and a wine list that includes the very best from English and European producers.
As part of the redevelopment, Pennyhill Park will also unveil a new alfresco dining spot, Lily Pond, tucked away behind the hotel’s pond with views across the glorious estate, this beautiful tranquil setting is perfect for that glamorous taste of countryside living.
Open from midday to 8pm daily, the intimate terrace will have a focus on wood-fired cooking including flatbreads, hot soups and warm meat sandwiches, accompanied by garden infused spirits, mixers and pitchers. Lily Pond will operate in the warmer months and can also be hired out for exclusive outdoor entertaining.
The Wellhouse, Lainston House
The second destination in the group, is the glorious Grade II listed 17th Century manor Lainston House. Part of the Exclusive Collection since 1983 the property offers a truly unique luxury escape to the Hampshire countryside and historic cathedral city of Winchester.
The hotel is home to The Avenue, an award-winning restaurant in the main house, renowned for its modern fine dining menu championing seasonal produce.
Also, on the estate is the historic listed outbuilding famous for its popular cookery school Season, where The Wellhouse will be unveiled, taking its name from the original use of the building.
The Wellhouse will bring a year-round, unique food, drink and social experience to Hampshire, celebrating the simplicity of wood-fired cooking where guests will be able to eat in the historic rustic-luxe surroundings inside, or in the idyllic outside setting in the vast kitchen garden.
With Phil Yeomans at the helm, The Wellhouse will take inspiration from the hotel’s impressive kitchen garden as well as the exceptional produce found in the county including meat, fish, dairy, wines and spirits, notably from River Test Chalkstream and River Itchen.
Combining kitchen innovation, tradition with a twist, fun, casual and personalised hospitality, and a unique sense of place, The Wellhouse will serve as a new destination for guests and the local community to experience a very authentic, social occasion.
Immersive eating and drinking where the simplicity of wood-fired cooking and home grown produce come together with the very best of local field, farm, forest and fly.
The restaurant will welcome guests and local community for intimate dates or fun filled sharing platters for large groups and will be open during the evenings only.
Whether on an intimate date or with a large group to mark a special occasion, local wines, ales and Lainston apple ciders, homegrown garden-inspired cocktails and signature serves will hero on the drinks list – including ‘shandygaffs’, a long forgotten and very traditional English shandy, whereby the ale is enhanced by the option to mix it with a ginger beer top and a shot of kitchen garden cordial.
The Wellhouse is more than dinner, it’s a great night out, a truly social occasion unexpectedly found in the grounds of a five-star luxury hotel.
With six award-winning restaurants including two with Michelin stars, afternoon teas at every property, wine tasting experiences, a cookery school and private rooms for celebration dining, Exclusive Collection is one of the UK’s most celebrated hospitality groups.