Latest news with #TomKerridge
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Tom Kerridge reveals the European destination with the best food - amid rumours he's set to replace John Torode on MasterChef
Could British superchef Tom Kerridge be the man to take hugely successful BBC cookery show MasterChef into a new era, following the highly controversial departures of presenting duo John Torode and Gregg Wallace? The odds on it happening are shortening by the day, but he wouldn't put a bet on himself - at least not for now. The 51-year-old tells MailOnline Travel: 'The phone hasn't rang yet! I doubt it will be me but whoever does get the role has a magical experience coming their way. It's a phenomenal show.' Kerridge is a busy man, and shoehorning one of Britain's biggest TV shows into a schedule that already includes running a six-restaurant empire - said to be worth more than £37million - that started with his two Michelin-starred pub The Hand and Flowers in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, wouldn't be easy. He already spends nine weeks a year filming another BBC hit, Great British Menu, and has just finished filming the follow-up to Tom Kerridge Cooks Britain, which bagged more than a million viewers per episode when it aired on ITV in the autumn. For the follow-up series, airing this week and in collaboration with M&S Food, he's pointed his compass at Spain, spending five weeks trundling a bright blue 1980s Mercedes truck north to south, east to west in Britain's favourite holiday destination - and saying hola! to some very unique producers. 'One of the characters we met - and I loved this guy so much - was called Juan. He's a rice farmer but he's also a former Spain's strongest man. 'The juxtaposition between this absolute giant monster of a man who's up at five in the morning training, and then he's spending this wonderful, tranquil time in the rice fields sowing his rice plants.' That Spain even has rice fields - Tom visited the Ebro Delta in the Catalonia region - was amazing to the chef, who grew up with a single mum on a council estate in Gloucestershire, with childhood holidays rare. 'The highlight of the whole series for me was probably those paddy fields. When you think of rice fields you always think of South-east Asia - but of course, Spain's most famous dish is paella!' He loved the 'amazing' anchovies in the Bay Of Biscay, saying the northern Spanish coastal towns felt 'like a really hot Cornwall' with their rugged coastline and cobalt horizons - 'and the working fishing ports were beautiful and brilliant'. The weather was universally hot, except for one day of filming in Seville in which the series celebrated the city's famous oranges, for which Kerridge conjured up citrus-inspired dishes. 'The region has more sunshine than any other part of Spain - except the day that we visited, when it was like a November day in Oldham, throwing it down with rain and freezing cold.' How's his Spanish? He laughs: 'Really rubbish. I haven't got a brain for languages. It's just not there. I love culture and I love meeting new people and learning new words... but they don't stay in my brain.' Exploring the world is something Kerridge, who's married to sculptor Beth Cullen, says he's still learning to do. His childhood summer holidays were mostly spent 'hanging around having fun with my mates' on the estate where he grew up - although two classic British bucket-and-spade destinations did feature. Tranquility: For new series Tom Kerridge Cooks Spain, the chef headed for the paddy fields on Spain's Ebro Delta - and found a former Spain strongman planting rice 'To be honest, I didn't really have many holidays [as a child]. We had a couple to the Isle of Wight, my mum, myself and my brother. 'We went probably two or three years in a row to a holiday camp, staying in chalets. It felt really important for me because we went on a ferry - it felt like we were properly leaving, we weren't just driving there.' There's big nostalgia for Weston-super-Mare in the Bristol Channel too, where the family would take day trips to the beach. 'It's only down the M5 from where I grew up in Gloucester. It was a big holiday town and I still have huge fond memories of Western, I think it's amazing.' He didn't get on a plane 'until I was 18' and holidays didn't feature while he was carving out the stellar career that's made him one of Britain's most famous chefs. 'I was in the kitchen as an 18-year-old and that was it. I don't regret it at all - I loved every minute of it. 'The first holiday that I probably went on was with my wife Beth. We went to a small little Greek island and it was it was magic. 'I just remember thinking, wow, holidays are amazing. I can't believe I've waited until I'm 25 to do this.' Kerridge took a retro 1980s Mercedes truck around Spain for his latest ITV series Tom pictured as a child, he grew up on a Gloucester council estate and says holidays were a rarity - and became even more scarce as he threw everything at making it as a top chef 'Now, we always try to go back to one of the Greek islands, I like Crete a lot. It's a four-hour flight, the weather is beautiful, the people are lovely. 'The vocabulary of Greek food is very, very simple too but you can always get something pretty tasty, whether it's grilled fish, simply roasted potatoes or just a Greek salad.' He's determined to make up for lost time on the holiday front and 'expand our horizons. With wife Beth and son Acey, nine, the family escapes two or three times a year now, he says, with winter sun, a European summer jaunt and an annual trip to Carrara in Tuscany, where Beth sources the marble for her sculptures, their general routine. 'In all honesty, I normally do what I'm told. I'm super busy so my wife books the holidays! We try and get some winter sun, we'll have Christmas with the family, then go away for New Year with another chef and his family. This year it was Thailand, which was phenomenal.' You won't find him by the pool though with a book though. 'I'm not very good at sitting on a sunbed and doing nothing. 'I'll be there for about six minutes and then I'll say "what are we doing now?". It drives my wife nuts.' Thankfully, he's got a partner in crime to turn to. 'I'm quite lucky that my son's nine - we're more like brothers, to be honest. The star took his first proper holiday with now wife Beth Cullen, a sculptor, when he was 25 and says while he can't sit still on beach breaks - he's got a partner in crime, son Acey, nine, to have adventures with Family favourite: The top chef is a big fan of Greece and Greek food, saying simple dishes such as salads, grilled fish and potatoes are done really well (Pictured: Crete) 'We'll say: "Let's go play somewhere with the ball. Let's go throw something at something. Let's go swimming. Should we go find a go-kart track? What about going on a jet ski?" 'Later in the day, Beth comes and finds us somewhere. 'By the time she's read her book and is ready for lunch, we've played seventeen games of table tennis, had a go at water skiing and flown a kite.' Speaking of lunch... when it comes to holiday food, Tom says he's not always expecting culinary alchemy - 'bog standard is fine' - but there's destinations he rates with his chef's hat on: 'Singapore is always amazing, Hong Kong is also brilliant and Asia is somewhere I'd like to go a lot more to. 'I'd love to do India and Sri Lanka. We try to expand our horizons and go and eat in as many places and visit as many places as possible.' He reluctantly admits he didn't like Portugal - saying a burger he ate at a water park was 'one of the worst things I've ever eaten' - but is forgiving. 'I think it was the wrong time of year, we went to the wrong place and it wasn't Portugal's fault.' Over the border in Spain for his most recent TV adventure though, it was, happily, a much better foodie proposition - with easy-to-recreate dishes in the new series including crispy tempura anchovies, a pork chop and white-bean stew and yes, paella. 'I loved seeing how rich and vast the country is with so many different varying areas. 'You've got foodie Meccas such as Catalonia, Andalucia and San Sebastian - it's a country that's so full of passion for food, for flavour and for life. 'It was great doing the Britain show and it's been magic now adding Spain too.'
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Tom Kerridge reveals whether he'd take over as host of MasterChef from Gregg Wallace and John Torode - and why he doesn't think favourite Andi Oliver will take the job
Tom Kerridge has weighed in on who could take over MasterChef from Gregg Wallace and John Torod e. The celebrity chef, 51, who has appeared as a guest on the show, said his 'phone hasn't rung' since the pair were let go. Gregg Wallace was this week banned from working at the BBC after executives ruled they did not 'have the confidence that you can change what seems to be learned behaviour' after a series of complaints. Days later reports claimed the BBC sacked John Torode after he allegedly 'used the N-word twice while singing along to a Kanye West song'. The host, 59, was reportedly singing the rapper's hit Gold Digger when he was allegedly 'caught using the racist term during after work drinks six or seven years ago'. Rumours have since been swirling around who could take over from Torode and Wallace to present the popular competition show, which first aired in July 1990. The upcoming series' - which have already been filmed - features former I'm A Celeb star and restaurant critic Grace Dent, who replaced Wallace to co-host with Torode. One possible contender was Great British Menu favourite Tom Kerridge - but he told MailOnline that 'nobody's made a phone call' to him yet. Kerridge said: 'There hasn't been a single thing. I'm only reading the same things in the paper as you, but I doubt it will be me.' The chef said his nine weeks on the Great British Menu makes him a difficult choice for the role, similarly to fellow chef-turned-presenter Andi Oliver. He told MailOnline: 'I'm on Great British Menu for nine weeks of the year, same as Andi Oliver. I know her odds are really short as well. 'I mean she hasn't let me know - in fact I haven't had a text off her today so who knows?' Kerridge admitted there is somewhat of an awkward silence between the UK's celebrity chefs while the void left by Torode and Wallace is filled. 'I have no idea who it's going to be, but I'm sure they'll make a great decision,' he said. 'MasterChef is a phenomenal show. It's amazing.' He added that whoever does take on the job will have a 'magical kind of experience coming their way' - but reiterated that he 'knows nothing' about the show's future. Speculation about the future of MasterChef comes after it was claimed that Torode was fired from the programme for saying the 'worst racial slur there is'. The TV host, 59, was reportedly singing Kanye West's hit Gold Digger when he was allegedly 'caught using the racist term during after work drinks six or seven years ago'. The Sun claims Torode used the word again whilst chatting to a friend on the MasterChef's production team, who didn't take offence. The Australian-born chef has insisted 'he had absolutely no recollection' of using a racist term while drinking with colleagues seven years ago. The person who raised the complaint is understood to have 'overheard the conversation'. The BBC has said the host's contract would not be renewed after a report found he had used an 'extremely offensive racist term' during drinks after filming the show. But the corporation has refused to say what the slur was - as has Torode - leading to feverish speculation online that it could be the N-word. It was yesterday described as the 'worst racial slur there is' by Richard Osman. The Beeb and production company Banijay believe the allegation is 'watertight' and will stand up in court if he tried to sue, he said. Another insider told MailOnline that there was 'relief' at MasterChef HQ that Torode is gone, saying he was 'horrible' to work with at times. A third source claimed they had found him to be a 'very rude and patronising man'. Torode has taken the stance that said 'he had absolutely no recollection' of using a racial slur and did 'not believe that it happened'. This is despite a witness claiming he had apologised immediately, 'was mortified' and 'didn't use the term as a slur' during drinks following a day filming MasterChef in 2018. Torode said this week, after his sacking, in a lengthy statement posted to Instagram: 'Although I haven't heard from anyone at the BBC or Banijay – I am seeing and reading that I've been "sacked" from MasterChef and I repeat that I have no recollection of what I'm accused of'. It was also claimed the BBC and Banijay had asked Torode to leave MasterChef citing mental health problems. The BBC yesterday declined to comment on the claims. But an insider said: 'The BBC and Banijay spoke to his reps before the announcement on Tuesday. 'The BBC never suggested he resign nor raised mental health'.
The Advertiser
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Advertiser
Fake reality TV dancers forever worrying about 'the Nationals'
Every parent knows what it's like to have to sit next to their kid while they watch some show that is wonderful to them but painful to the adult. And you end up watching the show so often that it becomes burned into your subconscious. Such is the case with The Next Step, which my daughter - who is now well into her teens - used to watch when she was little. Looking at this latest episode (from season 10 so the show obviously has some legs) I can see little about this series set in a pretend dance studio has changed. It is still based heavily around a fake reality TV vibe, where the actors deliver pieces to camera as their character. Sure, it's a show for kids, but this is a really, really lazy way to provide the viewer with information. Also, there is still the unceasing quest to make "the nationals" - which is some sort of dance competition that forever hangs over their heads. I swear they mention "the nationals" at least a half-dozen times in every single episode. It's like it is the only thing that matters for these kids. Still on the subject of dancing, though unlike The Next Step above, this an an actual reality TV show. The success of this show is a little surprising - there is apparently enough appeal in the concept of dancing celebrities that two different networks have screened it. It was first on 7 from 2004-15, then jumped to Ten for two years from 2019 and has now returned home to 7 since 2021. Maybe it's because the show provides relatively wholesome viewing in the reality TV genre - an area that has come to be sordid, tacky or absurdly niche (seriously, how long before we get a show called Outback Truckers Whose First Name Starts with a T?). The darkest it gets on Dancing With the Stars are the comments from the nasty judge - and every reality TV show with a judging panel has to have one. The show is not my cup of tea but I do have respect for the celebs that risk the potential for embarrassment and give it a crack. And, for the most part, the celebs are actually people you know. No Instagrammers looking to eke out the final seconds of their 15 minutes of fame here. The reality of this TV show isn't quite as revealing as the title would suggest, but it still offers a slightly different view of life in the cooking game. Host Tom Kerridge has been a chef for a number of years, switching over to the world of TV - as it seems more and more chefs do. He is pretty honest about the rough side of hospitality - perhaps more so than his guests. For instance, Kerridge is pretty open about the problems he - and by extension others - have with alcohol. He worked hard in the kitchen and then, when service would finish, he'd hit the bottle hard too. So much so that he admits if he didn't stop he would have been dead. All the other reveals - like exactly what everyone does in the kitchen - can't compete with that bombshell. Still, they provide some interesting info. Before watching this show I didn't realise there's one guy in the kitchen whose job it is to put together all the bits and pieces others have been cooking to make the dish that goes out to the customer. Every parent knows what it's like to have to sit next to their kid while they watch some show that is wonderful to them but painful to the adult. And you end up watching the show so often that it becomes burned into your subconscious. Such is the case with The Next Step, which my daughter - who is now well into her teens - used to watch when she was little. Looking at this latest episode (from season 10 so the show obviously has some legs) I can see little about this series set in a pretend dance studio has changed. It is still based heavily around a fake reality TV vibe, where the actors deliver pieces to camera as their character. Sure, it's a show for kids, but this is a really, really lazy way to provide the viewer with information. Also, there is still the unceasing quest to make "the nationals" - which is some sort of dance competition that forever hangs over their heads. I swear they mention "the nationals" at least a half-dozen times in every single episode. It's like it is the only thing that matters for these kids. Still on the subject of dancing, though unlike The Next Step above, this an an actual reality TV show. The success of this show is a little surprising - there is apparently enough appeal in the concept of dancing celebrities that two different networks have screened it. It was first on 7 from 2004-15, then jumped to Ten for two years from 2019 and has now returned home to 7 since 2021. Maybe it's because the show provides relatively wholesome viewing in the reality TV genre - an area that has come to be sordid, tacky or absurdly niche (seriously, how long before we get a show called Outback Truckers Whose First Name Starts with a T?). The darkest it gets on Dancing With the Stars are the comments from the nasty judge - and every reality TV show with a judging panel has to have one. The show is not my cup of tea but I do have respect for the celebs that risk the potential for embarrassment and give it a crack. And, for the most part, the celebs are actually people you know. No Instagrammers looking to eke out the final seconds of their 15 minutes of fame here. The reality of this TV show isn't quite as revealing as the title would suggest, but it still offers a slightly different view of life in the cooking game. Host Tom Kerridge has been a chef for a number of years, switching over to the world of TV - as it seems more and more chefs do. He is pretty honest about the rough side of hospitality - perhaps more so than his guests. For instance, Kerridge is pretty open about the problems he - and by extension others - have with alcohol. He worked hard in the kitchen and then, when service would finish, he'd hit the bottle hard too. So much so that he admits if he didn't stop he would have been dead. All the other reveals - like exactly what everyone does in the kitchen - can't compete with that bombshell. Still, they provide some interesting info. Before watching this show I didn't realise there's one guy in the kitchen whose job it is to put together all the bits and pieces others have been cooking to make the dish that goes out to the customer. Every parent knows what it's like to have to sit next to their kid while they watch some show that is wonderful to them but painful to the adult. And you end up watching the show so often that it becomes burned into your subconscious. Such is the case with The Next Step, which my daughter - who is now well into her teens - used to watch when she was little. Looking at this latest episode (from season 10 so the show obviously has some legs) I can see little about this series set in a pretend dance studio has changed. It is still based heavily around a fake reality TV vibe, where the actors deliver pieces to camera as their character. Sure, it's a show for kids, but this is a really, really lazy way to provide the viewer with information. Also, there is still the unceasing quest to make "the nationals" - which is some sort of dance competition that forever hangs over their heads. I swear they mention "the nationals" at least a half-dozen times in every single episode. It's like it is the only thing that matters for these kids. Still on the subject of dancing, though unlike The Next Step above, this an an actual reality TV show. The success of this show is a little surprising - there is apparently enough appeal in the concept of dancing celebrities that two different networks have screened it. It was first on 7 from 2004-15, then jumped to Ten for two years from 2019 and has now returned home to 7 since 2021. Maybe it's because the show provides relatively wholesome viewing in the reality TV genre - an area that has come to be sordid, tacky or absurdly niche (seriously, how long before we get a show called Outback Truckers Whose First Name Starts with a T?). The darkest it gets on Dancing With the Stars are the comments from the nasty judge - and every reality TV show with a judging panel has to have one. The show is not my cup of tea but I do have respect for the celebs that risk the potential for embarrassment and give it a crack. And, for the most part, the celebs are actually people you know. No Instagrammers looking to eke out the final seconds of their 15 minutes of fame here. The reality of this TV show isn't quite as revealing as the title would suggest, but it still offers a slightly different view of life in the cooking game. Host Tom Kerridge has been a chef for a number of years, switching over to the world of TV - as it seems more and more chefs do. He is pretty honest about the rough side of hospitality - perhaps more so than his guests. For instance, Kerridge is pretty open about the problems he - and by extension others - have with alcohol. He worked hard in the kitchen and then, when service would finish, he'd hit the bottle hard too. So much so that he admits if he didn't stop he would have been dead. All the other reveals - like exactly what everyone does in the kitchen - can't compete with that bombshell. Still, they provide some interesting info. Before watching this show I didn't realise there's one guy in the kitchen whose job it is to put together all the bits and pieces others have been cooking to make the dish that goes out to the customer. Every parent knows what it's like to have to sit next to their kid while they watch some show that is wonderful to them but painful to the adult. And you end up watching the show so often that it becomes burned into your subconscious. Such is the case with The Next Step, which my daughter - who is now well into her teens - used to watch when she was little. Looking at this latest episode (from season 10 so the show obviously has some legs) I can see little about this series set in a pretend dance studio has changed. It is still based heavily around a fake reality TV vibe, where the actors deliver pieces to camera as their character. Sure, it's a show for kids, but this is a really, really lazy way to provide the viewer with information. Also, there is still the unceasing quest to make "the nationals" - which is some sort of dance competition that forever hangs over their heads. I swear they mention "the nationals" at least a half-dozen times in every single episode. It's like it is the only thing that matters for these kids. Still on the subject of dancing, though unlike The Next Step above, this an an actual reality TV show. The success of this show is a little surprising - there is apparently enough appeal in the concept of dancing celebrities that two different networks have screened it. It was first on 7 from 2004-15, then jumped to Ten for two years from 2019 and has now returned home to 7 since 2021. Maybe it's because the show provides relatively wholesome viewing in the reality TV genre - an area that has come to be sordid, tacky or absurdly niche (seriously, how long before we get a show called Outback Truckers Whose First Name Starts with a T?). The darkest it gets on Dancing With the Stars are the comments from the nasty judge - and every reality TV show with a judging panel has to have one. The show is not my cup of tea but I do have respect for the celebs that risk the potential for embarrassment and give it a crack. And, for the most part, the celebs are actually people you know. No Instagrammers looking to eke out the final seconds of their 15 minutes of fame here. The reality of this TV show isn't quite as revealing as the title would suggest, but it still offers a slightly different view of life in the cooking game. Host Tom Kerridge has been a chef for a number of years, switching over to the world of TV - as it seems more and more chefs do. He is pretty honest about the rough side of hospitality - perhaps more so than his guests. For instance, Kerridge is pretty open about the problems he - and by extension others - have with alcohol. He worked hard in the kitchen and then, when service would finish, he'd hit the bottle hard too. So much so that he admits if he didn't stop he would have been dead. All the other reveals - like exactly what everyone does in the kitchen - can't compete with that bombshell. Still, they provide some interesting info. Before watching this show I didn't realise there's one guy in the kitchen whose job it is to put together all the bits and pieces others have been cooking to make the dish that goes out to the customer.
Edinburgh Live
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
Tom Kerridge shares relative's realisation after watching hit TV show as he 'understood'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Celebrity chef Tom Kerridge has shared his admiration for the television series The Bear, which he believes captures the essence of running a restaurant. In an interview with The Times, Kerridge, 51, expressed his affection for the show. He said: "I fell in love with The Bear right from season one. There's a huge amount of artistic licence in it, obviously, but it is the closest any show has come to showing the energy levels, excitement, stress and anxiety that running and owning a restaurant brings." He praised the way the series encapsulates the long hours and dedication required in the industry. Tom said: "It condenses into 30 minutes what 16-hour days can be like. It gets across the romance of restaurant life but at the same time is not afraid to show the repetitive processes that are essential to any well-run kitchen." Kerridge also revealed that the show resonated with his family, particularly his brother who gained insight into the chef's professional life, reports Gloucestershire Live. (Image: Getty) He recalled: "After that episode my brother, who isn't in the industry, rang me and said it was the first time he understood what my work was all about." The Bear tells the story of chef Carmen 'Carmy' Berzatto (portrayed by Jeremy Allen White), who finds himself back in Chicago to salvage his late brother's floundering restaurant. British chef Tom Kerridge has previously opened up about his personal struggles. Earlier this year he spoke candidly about his concerns regarding his health and lifestyle, particularly fearing he'd not see his 50th birthday if he didn't make significant changes. Delving into his journey on the 'We're Not Getting Any Younger' podcast with Lisa Snowdon and Andy Goldstein, Kerridge talked through his decision to give up alcohol as his 40s approached. He said: "We're like halfway there and you're like... well, it is halfway to death if I live to 80. But where I am at the minute, I ain't going to make 50. "I'm absolutely loving the way that I'm living, but I can't [carry on]. It is going to end and it will all end really really badly, so I just stopped. "On a quiet day, so I would work and I wouldn't have my first drink until we sent the last main course, so say 10pm, but then I'd have a pint of Negroni easily." Fast forward to today, and Kerridge proudly stands as one of Britain's most renowned chefs and food innovators.
Times
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Times
The fanciest sport hospitality packages
The game hasn't even begun and I am already one charcuterie board, a platter of prawns, a gallon of sushi, a beef wellington and several beers deep. My football-watching career has started on a high. It was a Chelsea game in the box — a gift for my brothers' 40th (not from me — I'm a good sister but not that good). I left thinking I could watch the beautiful game more often. 'What was the score?' someone asked. 'Who cares? I had a cheeseboard at half-time!' You can fine-dine at almost all sports, from darts to the FA Cup final. Here is a list of luxury dining experiences at the biggest and best upcoming sports events. • This article contains affiliate links that can earn us revenue Now the Six Nations have been and gone, it's time to move on. Luckily for rugby fans, this year's Autumn Nations is ripe for booking. The series will see England battle it out with four of the most exhilarating southern hemisphere teams. It'll be a wild watch and there is no need to do it hungry — you know the players won't be. Fret not — if the burger vans don't tickle your finely tuned taste buds, the Allianz hospitality packages are here for you. 'Today's hospitality offerings go far beyond a simple meal and a seat. Guests are choosing packages based on the culinary style, the exclusivity of the setting, and the opportunity to engage with sporting legends, both past and present,' says Laura Jefferies, head of marketing at Twickenham Experience. The chef Tom Kerridge (who owns the only pub with two Michelin stars) will be cooking in the Lock restaurant during the Australia, New Zealand and Argentina games. Expect free-flowing fizz and a four-course English-inspired menu. The chef Ollie Dabbous — who has two Michelin stars — can be found creating culinary excellence for the Australia game in the East Wing restaurant. You'll be dining all day, from arrival appetisers to amuse-bouches to a four-course menu — with complimentary drinks. The same package will be available with the chef Tommy Banks — a judge on BBC's The Great British Menu — subbing in to steer the East Wing helm during the New Zealand game. 'On a single match day up to 45,000 plates of food are served within hospitality, with a team of 300 chefs across 41 kitchens and 2,250 hospitality staff, who each undergo training, to ensure the highest standards across every facility,' Jefferies says. Autumn Nations at Allianz Stadium is November 1-November 23. More information at and • Read more luxury reviews, advice and insights from our experts You could find yourself easily distracted at the races. If you don't have blinkered focus on the horses, your eyes may wander to the outfits and your nose may lead you to the food. Royal Ascot does not hold back when it comes to treating guests to gourmet cuisine — there are 29 Michelin stars shared between the chefs in residence — 'the most ever at Royal Ascot, or any sporting event globally,' according to Jonathan Parker, the managing director of 1711 by Ascot. Among the runners and riders are Raymond Blanc, who will mark his ten-year residency anniversary at Ascot, returning to the Panoramic Restaurant (which, as promised, serves its four courses overlooking panoramic views of the racecourse). Gazing at the horses in the parade ring is best done at the Parade Ring restaurant, where Simon Rogan will be presenting his five-course à la carte lunch. Lisa Goodwin-Allen, the Michelin-starred chef and winner of Great British Menu, returns for her second year at Royal Ascot, headlining the Queen Anne Enclosure's flagship restaurant, ON 5, which sits on the fifth floor and is glass-fronted to create the ideal view of the course. If you have been there, done that — you will likely want to do it again. But if you want to try the newbies on the Ascot block, the French chef Yannick Alléno is doing an alfresco pop-up with a small-plate concept that — given his 17 Michelin stars — is bound to be scrumptious. Likewise, Benoit Blin, the patisserie king, is also making his debut with a French-inspired afternoon tea — available in multiple restaurants and private boxes, everywhere short of the horses' stables. Royal Ascot runs June 17-21. These offerings are available for all guests but need to be booked well in advance; Test cricket may be as English as it gets. Free-flowing Pimm's, polite chitchat in the stands, intermittent sun bouncing off the players' whites. All in all, you're in for a lovely summer's day. Given that the match can last five days, it is more than justified to be entertained by other activities alongside the play. And what better activity is there than eating? 'At the Kia Oval our aim is to match the calibre of the cricket on the pitch with the fine dining we provide to the spectators,' says the director of operations, Alex Lewis. There is a myriad of casual-dining options spread all over the Oval grounds, including the fancy food truck Bob's Lobster serving lobster rolls at the Pommery Champagne bar on the concourse right next to the pavilion. But those seeking the classiest escapades will head to the Duchy Suite. The days starts here with a three-course gourmet lunch curated by the fabulous chef Ollie Dabbous. There's also a Pommery champagne reception, a brilliantly quirky afternoon tea — including Cacklebean egg mayo and cress sandwiches and canales cooked in beeswax — free-flowing complimentary drinks and, of course, padded seats on the Laker Balcony so you can plonk your well-fed self comfortably down as you buckle in for the long match head. Next chance to nab all that is the England v India Test, July 31-August 4. The Duchy Suite is £1,299 + VAT; The smell of burning rubber and highly tuned engines as the mighty cars go hell for leather up the track need not fill your nostrils at these races. Instead, your noses (and taste buds) can be redirected to the equally impressive food. With many hospitality packages to choose from, you could opt for a Lawn Garden party, the award-winning sustainable restaurant Farmer, Butcher, Chef, or the exclusive member-only clubhouse, the Kennels. For trackside viewing with gourmet dining, you have a few options. The Moss restaurant, named after Sir Stirling Moss — who not only had his first race at Goodwood but also won here more than any other driver — overlooks the starting straight. Clark is positioned on the famously dramatic Molecomb Corner with views of the hill climb from both inside the restaurant and the trackside balcony. And last but not least there is Goodwood's fine-dining experience at Surtees — named in honour of the only person to win world championships on both two and four wheels, John Surtees. Not only are the views of the action unparalleled, but the Michelin-starred chef Ollie Dabbous (who I'd hazard a guess at being a sports fan) will be preparing cuisine to match. The Surtees package includes unlimited drinks, a live DJ, VIP parking as well as a personalised concierge service. 'Whether it's a private paddock tour, a helicopter flight or photo moment on the balcony of Goodwood House, Surtees is the ultimate way to experience the Festival of Speed,' says Amy Yeates, the hospitality director at Goodwood. Goodwood Festival of Speed is July 10-13. The Surtees package is £2,100pp +VAT; Dating back to 1860, The Open is the oldest golf tournament in the world. It is also one of the most popular — so much so that tickets sell out almost instantly. Those for 2025 are sadly long gone. As are the hospitality packages, which included the silver-service fine-dining Engravers package — including breakfast, four-course à la carte lunch, complimentary bar and afternoon tea. Next year will approach in the blink of an eye — so it is best to start getting ahead of the game. The equivalent option on the 2026 line-up at Royal Birkdale would be the premium package. Although not silver-service, the experience holds its own. Guests get access to many wonderful restaurants — including Clarets, where you can dine on gourmet cuisine while looking out over the 17th green. The Retreat serves a charcuterie-style lunch overlooking the 7th green. Complimentary beverages will be served to guests in Clarets, the Retreat, the Platinum Lounge and Links, which all have top-class views of the top-class golf. The 154th Open at Royal Birkdale is July 12-19, 2026. Prices for the signature package start at £1,000 per person for the weekdays and £2,300 for the weekends; It wouldn't be the British summer time without Wimbledon. Dating back to 1868, this sporting spectacle is the oldest tennis tournament in existence. There is only one thing I can think of to improve this classic English event — fancy food. It's not all strawberries and cream. Whilst the talented players serve on the pitch, the equally talented chefs are serving off the court. For the snazziest of service, you are looking at Le Gavroche at The Lawn. Michelin star mastermind, Michel Roux, will be offering a five-course tasting Menu Exceptionnel with wine pairings, followed by the famous Le Gavroche Cheese Trolley and the Assiette du Chef (selection of five desserts). There will be a complimentary bar for continuous whistle wettening — whether it is with Vintage champagne or bespoke cocktails. Of course, that is just the beginning — this package includes seats with uninterrupted views of Centre Court, a private terrace and access to The Lawn's English-style garden with live music, a whisky and cigar bar as well as a huge outdoor screen so you don't have to miss out on a single second of action while having fun.
