Blenheim Palace has announced a variety of new and exclusive menus for groups throughout the year.
The Summer menu features Cotswold gin-cured salmon, twice-baked Oxford blue cheese soufflé with heritage tomato salad and new season potatoes, as well as Rectory Farm strawberries and cream for dessert.
If visiting in the winter, there will be ham hock terrine, piccalilli and sourdough, Blenheim Estate lamb shepherd’s pie, with cheddar mash and wilted greens followed by Bramley apple and raisin crumble with custard.
Created by on-site catering partner Searcys, all menus can cater for vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options.
Alun Roberts, executive chef for Searcys at Blenheim Palace, said: “The new menu has been created to offer a fantastic range of choices for all group visitors to the Palace. Sourcing locally and seasonally has inspired many of the options on the new menu.
“When catering for group visitors I wanted to design a menu that reflected the very best of Oxford and the Cotswolds to enhance the visit and showcase the amazing quality of produce the area has to offer.”
Visitors can also opt for a traditional afternoon tea, a cold-buffet style lunch or a morning coffee and patisserie.
More information
Group visitors are able to pre-book their own dedicated dining space in the Indian Room which seats up to 45 people.
The Indian Room is decorated with 19th century hand-painted French wallpaper which depicts a tiger hunt and the 19 panels were originally commissioned by the 5th Duke of Marlborough in 1826, restored to their former glory in 2017.
Cathy Penry, group sales executive at Blenheim Palace, added: “The Indian Room is such a wonderful space for our group visitors to enjoy their lunch, afternoon tea or morning coffee.”
Alongside the new menu, the palace is offering specialist talks which give an in-depth look at popular subjects of interest throughout 300 years of history and heritage at the site.
Talks for 2020 include Winston Churchill at Blenheim, The Palace at War (focussing on World War One & Two) and Conservation and Sustainability.
For more information about group visits, booking options and the full line-up of talks available, visit blenheimpalace.com.
