Festival Dining at Garsington Opera
This year, we’re delighted to be working with Chef Will Devlin in partnership with Payne & Gunter to bring their passion for British seasonal produce to Garsington. With a host of pre-performance and interval dining options, there is something for everyone in this year’s offering.
Our new catering partners, who specialise in delivering first-class events, will be looking after you and your guests once you arrive at Wormsley, but the way you book your catering will remain the same. To keep your experienced as simple and streamlined as possible, all tents, tables and dining can be booked and managed via the Garsington Opera Box Office alongside your tickets.
Full details of the menu can be found below, including a comprehensive wine list. Booking instructions can be found at the bottom of the page.
Introducing Will Devlin:
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.
“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.”
Will Devlin | Chef
Dietary Requirements
V Vegetarian | VG Vegan | NGCI Non Gluten Containing Ingredients | DF Dairy Free
The safety and wellbeing of our guests is at the heart of what we do and we take all reasonable steps to avoid any risk of cross-contact in our kitchens, however, we do use a variety of ingredients in our kitchens to which people may be allergic, so we would ask that you consult with our catering team should you have any specific allergies or food intolerances.
Some dishes on the menu can be adjusted to suit dietary requirements. Our catering team will endeavour to accommodate individual needs wherever possible. To discuss your options please contact the Box Office before making your booking on boxoffice@garsingtonopera.org or 01494 376037.
Pre-Performance
We are delighted to offer you a range of pre-performance dining options.
Our canapé platters are perfect to share with your guests before the opera, and can be served at the Champagne Bar or delivered to your pre-booked picnic tent. Canapés must be booked in advance.
Our selection of afternoon teas are served overlooking the famous Wormsley Cricket Ground and can be booked in advance or purchased on the day.
Canapés
£15 per person
Includes all of the following:
Summer Vegetable Flatbread (V)
Grilled Flatbread with Tenderstem Broccoli and Goats Curd Mousse
Hampshire Trout Croustade
Cured Hampshire Trout with Fresh Cucumber and Smoked Hollandaise Sauce
Confit Duck Tart
Slow Cooked Duck Leg Tart with Pickled Blackberry Ketchup and Crispy Cabbage
Summer Squash Fritter (VG, NGCI, DF)
Summer Squash Fritter with Chilli Ketchup and Nasturtium
Cream Tea (V)
£12 per person
Includes all of the following:
Buttermilk scone
Clotted cream
Strawberry jam
Classic English breakfast or speciality teas
Afternoon Tea
£25 per person
Includes all of the following:
Vintage cheddar and tomato relish sandwich (V)
Layered smoked trout, cucumber and dill cream cheese sandwich
Hog sausage roll with caramelised onion chutney (DF)
Buttermilk scone, clotted cream and homemade strawberry jam (V)
Carrot cake (V)
Chocolate and raspberry brownie (V)
Classic English breakfast or speciality teas
Upgrade to include Champagne:
£45 per person
Afternoon Tea with a glass of Deutz Champagne each
£60 per person
Afternoon Tea with a 1/2 bottle of Deutz Champagne each
Vegan Afternoon Tea
£25 per person
Includes all of the following:
Plant based Merguez spiced sausage roll with caramelised onion chutney (VG)
Roasted vegetable, spinach and hummus wrap (VG)
Cucumber, plant based herby cream cheese sandwich (VG)
Plant based scone, coconut cream and homemade strawberry jam (VG, NGCI)
Opera Carrot cake (VG, NGCI)
Dark chocolate and caramel cake (VG, NGCI)
Classic English breakfast or speciality teas
Upgrade to include Champagne:
£45 per person
Vegan Afternoon Tea with a glass of Deutz Champagne each
£60 per person
Vegan Afternoon Tea with a 1/2 bottle of Deutz Champagne each
Restaurant Menu
A delicious three-course dinner during the 90-minute interval including coffee, still & sparkling water and after-dinner truffles served in the beautifully dressed Boundary Room Restaurant overlooking the Wormsley Cricket Ground.
£96 per person
Starters
Scallop | Peas | Gooseberry (NGCI)
Cured Scallop Ceviche with Barbecued Peas and Pickled Gooseberries
Asparagus | Smoked Egg | Sheep’s Cheese (V, NGCI)
Grilled Wye Valley Asparagus with Smoked Egg Yolk Puree and Sheep’s Cheese Sauce
Jersey Royals | Elderflower | Lardo (NGCI)
New Season Jersey Royal Potatoes with Elderflower Dressing and Cured Lardo
Chicken | Onion | Leeks (NGCI, DF)
Sutton Hoo Chicken and Leek Terrine with Preserved Onions
Broccoli | Chilli | Sourdough (VG, DF)
Grilled Broccoli with Mushroom Ketchup, Sourdough and Chilli Glaze
Tomato | Radish | Broad Bean (VG, NGCI, DF)
Nutbourne Tomatoes with Radish, Strawberries and Broad Beans
Mains
Accompanying all main dishes are seasonal sides of potatoes and vegetables to be served in the middle of the table
Hogget | Lettuce | Peas (NGCI)
Roast Hogget Saddle with Grilled Baby Gem Lettuce, Sheep’s Curd and Peas
Halibut | Courgette | Basil (NGCI)
Poached Halibut with Roasted Courgette, Basil Sauce
Duck | Beetroot | Fig leaf (NGCI)
Creedy Carver Duck Breast with Roasted Beetroot, Fig Leaf Sauce
Turbot | Broccoli | Nasturtium (NGCI)
Grilled Turbot with Purple Sprouting Broccoli, Nasturtium Sauce
Beef | Potato | Onion (NGCI)
Roasted Beef Sirloin with Pressed Potato Terrine and Beer Braised Onion
Squash | Barley | Kale (VG, DF)
Roasted Summer Squash with Braised Pearl Barley, Crispy Kale and Fermented Chilli
Desserts
Raspberry | Lovage | Fennel (V, NGCI)
Fennel Burnt Cream with Lovage Marinated Raspberries
Chocolate | Chicory | Mushroom (V)
Chocolate Mousse with Chicory Root Caramel and Mushroom Ice Cream
Strawberry | Meadowsweet | Marigold (V, NGCI)
Marinated Strawberries with Meadowsweet Cream and Marigold Meringue
Summer Berries | Garden Herbs (VG, NGCI, DF)
Summer Fruit Salad berries with Garden Herb Sorbet
Cherry | Almond | Cicely (V)
Cherry and Almond Bakewell Tart with Sweet Cicely Clotted Cream
Cheese | Biscuits | Chutney (V)
Hand Selected British Cheeses with Oat Biscuits and Apple Chutney
Picnic Menu
When you book a catered picnic, you will be allocated a space in a shared tent overlooking the Cricket Ground. If you would prefer your picnic to be served at a Deer Park tent, upper terrace table or private venue, this should be booked alongside your dining.
Explore our tents, tables and private dining venues on our dining page.
Garsington Gourmet Picnic
Presented in a wicker hamper, served on china at your table
£84 per person
Includes all of the following:
Selection of sourdough, white baguette, crispbread, with cultured butter
English pea and broad bean hummus, zhoug dressing, toasted sunflower seeds (VG, NGCI, DF)
Chicken, pancetta and apricot terrine, caper and raisin relish, chicken crackling, tarragon crumb, pickled radish and red cabbage (NGCI, DF)
Citrus cured Chalk Stream trout, Jersey Royal potato salad, dressed sea vegetables with Exmoor caviar (NGCI)
Roast sirloin of beef, horseradish emulsion, grilled artichoke and watercress salad (NGCI, DF)
Isle of Wight tomatoes, pine nuts, black garlic, verjus gel, English mozzarella (V, NGCI)
Summer tabbouleh salad with fresh herbs (VG, DF)
Butterhead lettuce with apple dressing, aged parmesan and black pepper croutons (V)
‘Strawberries and cream’ – Compressed and fresh strawberries, matcha cream, mini meringues, strawberry compote, strawberry gel and dark chocolate crumb (V)
Cheese board – Local cheese selection, sour dough crackers, dried fruit, chilli jam and caramelised onion chutney (V)
Filter coffee, fresh mint tea, English breakfast tea
Dark chocolate truffle
Traditional Picnics
Presented in a cool bag, served on reusable table wear at your table
Traditional
£54 per person
Includes all of the following:
Selection of sourdough, white baguette, crispbread, with Netherend Farm butter
Traditional prawn cocktail, tomato concasse, Mary Rose sauce, compressed cucumber, crisp baby gem (NGCI)
Lemon and thyme roasted corn fed chicken, Jersey Royal potato salad, crisp baby gem, grain mustard vinaigrette (NGCI)
Isle of Wight tomatoes, pine nuts, black garlic emulsion, verjus jelly, English mozzarella (V, NGCI)
Summer tabbouleh salad with fresh herbs (VG, DF)
Classic fresh strawberry tart (V)
Filter coffee, fresh mint tea, English breakfast tea
Traditional Vegetarian
£54 per person
Includes all of the following:
Selection of sourdough, white baguette, crispbread, with Netherend Farm butter
Sweetcorn and cheddar fritters, compressed cucumber with spring onion and yoghurt dressing (V)
Saffron cauliflower, King trumpet mushroom, Clarence Court duck egg gribiche, Jersey Royal potato salad, crisp baby gem, grain mustard vinaigrette (V, NGCI, DF)
Isle of Wight tomatoes, pine nuts, black garlic emulsion, verjus jelly, English mozzarella (V, NGCI)
Summer tabbouleh salad with fresh herbs (VG, DF)
Classic fresh strawberry tart (V)
Filter coffee, fresh mint tea, English breakfast tea
Wine List
A selection of wines will be available for purchase on the evening from the Champagne Bar or at your table in the restaurant.
Pre-orders are strongly encouraged alongside your dining reservation. Pre-ordered drinks will be on your table ready for your arrival.
Champagne
Pre-ordered Champagne will be served pre-performance at the Champagne Bar unless otherwise requested.
| 1 | Deutz Brut Classic | £82.00 per bottle £16.00 125ml |
| 2 | Deutz Rose | £84.00 |
| 3 | Deutz Blanc De Blancs | £110.00 |
| 4 | Cuvée William Deutz 2013 | £195.00 |
| 5 | Deutz Brut Classic (Half Bottle) | £41.00 |
White Wine
| 6 | Estate Chardonnay, De Martino, Casablanca Valley, Chile, 2023 |
£28.00 per bottle £8.50 175ml |
| 7 | Blanco Sobre Lias Care, Cariñena, Spain, 2023 |
£28.00 per bottle £8.50 175ml |
| 8 | Palooza Blanc Aubert and Mathieu, Languedoc, France, 2023 |
£35.00 |
| 9 | Remole Bianco, Frescobaldi, Tuscany, Italy, 2020 |
£39.00 |
| 10 | Classic Sauvignon Blanc Rapaura Springs, Marlborough, NZ, 2023 |
£42.00 |
| 11 | Picpoul de Pinet, Domaine de Belle Mare, Picpoul de Pinet, France, 2024 |
£45.00 per bottle £10.50 175ml |
| 12 | Petit Chenin, Ken Forrester Wines, Stellenbosch, South Africa, 2024 |
£46.00 |
| 13 | Gavi di Gavi, Nicola Bergaglio, Piedmonte, Italy, 2023 |
£51.00 |
| 14 | Sancerre Blanc Domaine Bonnard, Loire, France, 2023 |
£54.00 |
| 15 | Pinot Gris, Bolney Estate, Sussex, England, 2023 |
£66.00 |
| 16 | Saint-Aubin 1er Maison Roche de Bellene, Burgundy, France, 2020 |
£71.00 |
| 17 | Chablis 1er Cru Les Lys Defaix, Burgundy, France, 2022 |
£76.00 |
| 18 | Chassagne-Montrachet Blanc, Joseph Drouhin, Burgundy, France, 2021 |
£89.00 |
White Wine Half Bottles
| 19 | Chablis Drouhin, Burgundy, France, 2022 |
£23.00 |
| 20 | Chateau Favray Pouilly Fume, Loire, France, 2023 |
£29.00 |
| 21 | Riesling Trimbach, Alsace, France, 2022 |
£33.00 |
Red Wine
| 22 | Carignan/Grenache VdF, La Lande, Languedoc, France, 2023 |
£28.00 per bottle £8.50 175ml |
| 23 | Rioja Crianza Heredad de Tejada, Vintae, Rioja, Spain, 2019 |
£32.00 per bottle £9.50 175ml |
| 24 | Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, De Martino, Casablanca Valley, Chile, 2022 |
£36.00 |
| 25 | Coonawarra Shiraz Wynns, Coonawarra, Australia, 2021 |
£42.00 |
| 26 | Côtes du Rhône Rouge Cuvée Laurent B, Domaine Brusset, Côtes du Rhône, France, 2023 |
£42.00 |
| 27 | Diamond Collection Merlot, Francis Coppola, California, USA, 2022 |
£45.00 per bottle £10.50 175ml |
| 28 | Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Beaune La Couleuvraire, Nuiton-Beaunoy, Burgundy, France, 2018 |
£52.00 |
| 29 | The Gentleman Cabernet Sauvignon,Teusner, Barossa Valley, Australia, 2021 |
£52.00 |
| 30 | Chateau Cantemerle, Haut Medoc, Bordeaux, France, 2015 |
£64.00 |
| 31 | Cote de Nuits-Villages, Domaine de Bellene, Burgundy, France, 2020 |
£66.00 |
| 32 | Saint Émilion Grand Cru, Dame Gaffelière, Bordeaux, France, 2014 |
£80.00 |
| 33 | Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Damodes, Joseph Drouhin, Burgundy, France, 2020 |
£92.00 |
Red Wine Half Bottles
| 34 | Côtes du Rhône Rouge Cuvée Laurent B, Domaine Brusset, Côtes du Rhône, France, 2023 |
£23.00 |
| 35 | Corney & Barrow Claret, Bordeaux, France, 2018 |
£23.00 |
| 36 | Chorey-Lès-Beaune Rouge, Maillard Père et Fils, Burgundy, France, 2019 |
£35.00 |
Rosé Wine
| 37 | The Pale Rose Chateau D’Esclans, Provence, France, 2023 |
£34.00 |
| 38 | Rose de Leoube Organic Chateau Leoube, Provence, France, 2023 |
£58.00 |
| 39 | Hundred Hills Signature Sparkling Rose, Oxford, England, 2018 |
£70.00 |
Sweet Wine
| 40 | Organic Late Harvest Riesling Urlar, Wairarapa, New Zealand, 2021 |
£27.00 37.5cl |
| 41 | Lucien Lurton Garonelles Sauternes, Bordeaux, France, 2022 |
£30.00 37.5cl |
Port
| 42 | Taylor’s Vintage Port, Douro, Portugal, 1977 |
£12.00 per glass |
In the event that stock of a wine becomes exhausted, a wine of a similar quality, price or vintage will be substituted.
Drinks
| Sparkling Water | £4.50 750ml | |
| Gin and Tonic | £15.00 | |
| “The Elixir of Love” Champagne Cocktail champagne, chambord raspberry liqueur, strawberry, lemon |
£18.00 | |
| Non-Alcoholic Beer | £5.00 | |
| Elderflower Presse | £3.50 | |
| Pimm’s | £30.00 per jug £6.00 per glass |
Corkage & Extras
Boundary Room Restaurant
Corkage will be charged at £25 per bottle when dining in the Boundary Room Restaurant.
Catered Picnics
All crockery and glassware is included if you are ordering a catered picnic from Payne & Gunter.
If you are bringing your own drinks to enjoy with a catered picnic, ice buckets with ice can be pre-ordered at a cost of £10 each.
Self-catered Picnics
If you are bringing your own picnic but require glassware or chilling, this can be pre-ordered. Glasses are charged at £4 per glass and ice buckets with ice are charged at £10 each.
PDF versions of the menu are available to download using the buttons below.
How to Book
For instructions of how to book catering, choose from the options below:
If you have any questions about catering or require assistance with your booking, please contact the Box Office on boxoffice@garsingtonopera.org or 01494 376037.