We are delighted to announce that our new caterers for the 2025 Season will be award-winning chef Will Devlin in partnership with Payne & Gunter who come together to bring their passion for British seasonal produce to Garsington.
Will’s menu champions the farm-to-fork ethos with an award-winning and creative approach. Coupled with Payne & Gunter’s depth of experience in delivering first-class events, the Boundary Room Restaurant promises to be a destination for inspiring dishes to compliment your opera experience. As before, you will also be able to choose from a range of picnics, afternoon teas, canapés and other culinary delights to enhance your visit, all delivered with a fresh approach by Payne & Gunter.
Will Devlin is the founder of Acre, a family of restaurants and hospitality event spaces in Kent and Sussex including The Small Holding and Birchwood. Will’s commitment to farm-to-fork dining with a sustainable and environmental ethos is matched by his culinary expertise in the kitchen where he crafts beautiful and nuanced menus that impress guests with their creativity. The Small Holding was one of the first restaurants in the country to be awarded a Michelin Green Star for sustainable gastronomy, which it has retained for the last three years. The 36-cover restaurant is set in one acre of land, permitting a unique connection between farm and table. Growing, foraging, and cooking the best ingredients is at the core of The Small Holding, with daily changing menus, using home-reared and home-grown ingredients from the farm, which is less than 10ft from the kitchen.
Payne & Gunter’s existing clients include the BRIT Awards, the Longines Global Championship Tour London and LIV Golf, who sit alongside a portfolio of venues that include The Natural History Museum, Old Billingsgate and Hampton Court Palace.
Nicola Creed, Executive Director of Garsington Opera, said, “We are absolutely delighted to be embarking on a partnership with Will Devlin and the Payne & Gunter team. We are incredibly fortunate to have our home in an exceptionally beautiful setting and this new partnership enables us to offer a quality dining experience to match the renowned opera productions on our stage.”
Will Devlin from The Small Holding and Acre, commented, “I’m delighted to be working with Payne & Gunter to deliver our summer series of event dinners at Garsington Opera, bringing a taste of our farm and restaurant at The Small Holding in Kent to Buckinghamshire.”
Bethan James, Managing Director of Payne & Gunter, commented, “Payne & Gunter is thrilled to work alongside Garsington Opera for the Opera Festival, one of the cultural highlights in the summer calendar. Our shared pursuit of artistic excellence will elevate the experience, bringing bold and inspiring dishes that captivate, inspire, and engage seasoned opera lovers and newcomers alike.”
Full details of the menu will be released before the end of January and you will be able to add your dining requirements to your ticket bookings at the point of payment.
Members will receive their ticket allocations to review between the end of January and mid-February, which will contain instructions on how to book tents, tables and dining.
Once Affiliate Booking and Public Booking opens, dining bookings can be made during the checkout process when purchasing opera tickets.