The Lowdown: Peers’ Dining Room at the House of Lords
Last time I checked I wasn’t a lord, so it’s not for me
Usually you’d be right, but for three weeks this month and next The House of Lords Catering and Retail Services is opening up its dining room to the general plebs... we mean public. That means you can really eat and drink like a lord.
How thoroughly democratic of them
Quite. The practice began in 2015 when it opened to the public in the spring. Such was the success that it’s been a regular thing ever since.
So what’s on the menu? Let me guess. Roast grouse, meat carving trolley, crepe suzettes and port. Lots of port
Nope, it’s not as old school as you might think. Ok, so there’s no small sharing plates but dishes include beef with salt-baked turnip; braised Middle White pork cheek and pig terrine; and peking pigeon breast with confit leg spring roll and peking consommé.
Very fancy
You haven’t heard the best bits yet. The kitchen is going all out to impress with a scallop and oyster dish that features sea vegetables and pickled melon rind; and a parsnip velouté with poppadom powder no less. And john dory comes with black garlic purée, celeriac, seaweed gel, macaroon and tide broth, which sounds more Heston than Lord Heseltine.
Food fit for a lord indeed. It’s a princely sum no doubt
In 2015 a three-course meal £35, today it will set you back £45, but that does include coffee and petit fours (you’ll have to fork out extra for the fine cognac). There’s a choice of four starters, five mains and three desserts, and there’s also a cheese trolley (naturally).
So when can we go?
Peers’ Dining Room is open for three weeks from 18 September, excluding weekends. You can check availability and book online here
Great, I’ll dust off my cravat.
You do that. The dress code is ‘dressed for dining’ as opposed to debating, but the restaurant does stipulate no sport shoes, so leave your Nike Air Max at home.
