This summer, Down Hall Hotel, Spa & Estate — crowned AA Hotel of the Year for England 2025 — invites guests to step into its enchanted kitchen garden for The Woodland Table, a new open-air dining experience that celebrates the rhythm of the seasons, the crackle of open flames, and the art of shared feasting.
Set deep within the rural Essex estate’s 110 acres, this soulful alfresco series will unfold across three Sundays — 20th July, 31st August, and 21st September — as part of the hotel’s Garden Gatherings. Beneath leafy canopies and open skies, guests will gather around rustic wooden tables carved from the estate’s own trees, with flickering fire pits, a live singer, and the scent of smoke and summer herbs setting the mood.
At the heart of the experience is a surprise four-course menu from executive chef Robert Pearce. Drawing inspiration from Down Hall’s newly planted two-acre walled kitchen garden and the wider estate, Pearce’s fire-cooked dishes showcase just-harvested vegetables, fragrant herbs, prime cuts, and sustainably sourced fish — all kissed by the grill and served on generous sharing platters. Highlights from previous menus include pork belly, lamb rump, charred miso-glazed celeriac and wood-charred Chalk Farm trout, with dessert offerings such as toasted pavlova and rhubarb compote.
The evening begins with seasonal cocktails and canapés, followed by the chefs sharing their inspiration for the menu while live music drifts through the air. Guests are seated communally at long tables for a warm, convivial atmosphere that encourages shared conversation and spontaneous connection.
Tickets are £90 per person, including four courses and a cocktail. The event is open to guests aged 12 and over. For those wishing to turn the evening into a summer escape, a Garden Gatherings overnight package is available from £200 for two, which includes event access, an in-room hamper and breakfast.
Available for private hire, The Woodland Table also offers a distinctive setting for wedding brunches, corporate away days, and celebrations.
To reserve your seat at one of this summer’s most atmospheric dining experiences, visit Down Hall’s event page or explore the overnight getaway offer here.