Restaurant in Bagshot, United Kingdom
Surprise tasting menu, serious Modern British credentials.
The Latymer at Pennyhill Park Hotel delivers a surprise tasting menu built on named British produce, with consistent recognition from La Liste and Opinionated About Dining. Booking is currently Easy, weekend lunch is the recommended format, and the hotel setting makes it one of the most practical special-occasion options in Surrey. A strong choice for anyone within reach of Bagshot who wants serious Modern British cooking without travelling to London.
The surprise tasting menu at The Latymer operates on a limited-seat basis inside Pennyhill Park Hotel, and that scarcity is the first thing to understand before you book. Dinner runs Wednesday through Friday from 6:30 PM, with lunch and dinner available Saturday and Sunday from noon. There are no Monday or Tuesday services, which means your window to visit is narrower than at most destination restaurants in the region. If you are planning a special occasion, that constraint actually works in your favour: the dining room feels considered rather than pressured, and the pacing reflects it.
Chef Steve Smith has built a programme that sits comfortably in the top tier of Modern British cooking outside London. Opinionated About Dining has ranked The Latymer in its Classical in Europe list every year from 2023 through 2025, reaching #356 in the 2025 edition, and La Liste awarded it 85 points in 2025 (83 in 2026). For a hotel restaurant in Surrey, that is a meaningful signal: this is not a kitchen coasting on the comfort of a spa resort, but a serious operation that competes nationally. The 4.6 rating across 130 Google reviews reinforces that the experience holds up across a broad cross-section of diners, not just critics.
The format is a surprise tasting menu, which means you commit to Smith's choices rather than ordering from a list. Ingredients sourced from named British producers — Brixham sea bass, Aynhoe deer — anchor dishes that use classic flavour combinations executed with precision. The approach, according to recognised guides, prioritises balance across texture and temperature, with nothing unnecessary on the plate. For a special occasion, that restraint matters: you are not getting theatrical spectacle, but cooking that rewards attention across the full length of a menu.
If you are thinking about returning, the surprise format creates a genuine multi-visit case. Because you do not know what is coming, two visits across different seasons will deliver substantially different experiences without the diminishing returns you get from returning to a fixed menu. A first visit on a weekday dinner (Wednesday to Friday, 6:30 PM start) gives you the full focus of a shorter service window. A second visit on a Saturday or Sunday lunch is the more relaxed option: natural light, a longer afternoon, and no need to drive back late. The lunch format at a hotel restaurant of this calibre is often the better value entry point in British fine dining, and The Latymer's weekend lunch service makes that case worth considering. For context on how The Latymer sits within the wider category of hotel-based destination dining in the UK, [Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons, a Belmond Hotel in Great Milton](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/le-manoir-aux-quat-saisons-a-belmond-hotel-great-milton-restaurant), [Gidleigh Park in Chagford](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/gidleigh-park-chagford-restaurant), and [Restaurant Andrew Fairlie in Auchterarder](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/restaurant-andrew-fairlie-auchterarder-restaurant) are the natural peer group.
Booking is currently rated Easy, which is relatively rare for a restaurant with this level of recognition. That will not last indefinitely. If a special occasion is on the calendar, book four to six weeks ahead for a weekend slot to give yourself options. Weekday dinners are more accessible, but Wednesday and Thursday in particular tend to be quieter, which can work well for a more intimate meal. No specific booking method is listed in the current data, so contact Pennyhill Park Hotel directly to reserve.
The Latymer is part of [our full Bagshot restaurants guide](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/bagshot). For a complete picture of the area, see also [our full Bagshot hotels guide](https://www.joinpearl.co/hotels/bagshot), [our full Bagshot bars guide](https://www.joinpearl.co/bars/bagshot), [our full Bagshot wineries guide](https://www.joinpearl.co/wineries/bagshot), and [our full Bagshot experiences guide](https://www.joinpearl.co/experiences/bagshot).
For Modern British cooking at the leading of the national category, comparisons inevitably reach London: [CORE by Clare Smyth in London](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/core-by-clare-smyth-london-restaurant), [The Fat Duck in Bray](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/the-fat-duck-bray-restaurant), [L'Enclume in Cartmel](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/lenclume-cartmel-restaurant), and [Moor Hall in Aughton](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/moor-hall-aughton-restaurant) all sit above The Latymer in ranking terms, but they are also harder to book, further to travel, and in most cases more expensive. The Latymer's argument is not that it beats those rooms , it does not claim to , but that it delivers a serious tasting menu experience with easier access, an Easy booking difficulty, and the option to stay overnight at Pennyhill Park. For diners based in Surrey or southwest London, that is a genuinely practical case.
Within the group of hotel-restaurant pairings specifically, [Gidleigh Park in Chagford](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/gidleigh-park-chagford-restaurant) and [Restaurant Andrew Fairlie in Auchterarder](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/restaurant-andrew-fairlie-auchterarder-restaurant) are the closest structural comparisons: serious kitchens inside destination hotels, strong on produce-led tasting menus, positioned for occasions rather than casual weeknight use. The Latymer holds its own in that company. If you want comparable cooking in a more accessible format, [Hand and Flowers in Marlow](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/hand-and-flowers-marlow-restaurant) is worth considering as a counterpoint: a pub format rather than hotel dining room, different in tone but equally recognised.
For diners who want Modern British at this level but with greater flexibility in London, [Midsummer House in Cambridge](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/midsummer-house-cambridge-restaurant), [Opheem in Birmingham](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/opheem-birmingham-restaurant), [hide and fox in Saltwood](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/hide-and-fox-saltwood-restaurant), and [33 The Homend in Ledbury](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/33-the-homend-ledbury-restaurant) each offer a different regional angle on the same broad category. None of them directly replicate what The Latymer does, but they are useful alternatives if the Surrey location does not work. The [Ritz Restaurant in London](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/the-ritz-restaurant-london-restaurant) covers the luxury hotel dining occasion with more formality and a London postcode, which matters for some guests. For the occasion diner who wants a hotel stay built in and does not want to travel to Cornwall or Cumbria, The Latymer is the most practical option in its price tier south of London.
The Latymer runs a surprise tasting menu, which means dietary restrictions need to be communicated at the time of booking rather than on the night. Hotel restaurants at this level routinely accommodate dietary requirements with advance notice , contact Pennyhill Park Hotel directly when reserving to flag any restrictions. The kitchen's focus on produce-led, carefully balanced dishes suggests it has the technical range to adapt, but do not assume: confirm in advance.
No official dress code is listed, but the setting , a hotel restaurant with consistent La Liste and Opinionated About Dining recognition , points toward smart casual at minimum, and smart dress for evening visits. This is not a room where jeans and trainers will feel comfortable. For a special occasion dinner, treat it as you would any other serious fine dining booking in a hotel environment.
Booking is currently rated Easy, but that reflects current demand rather than a guarantee. For weekend lunches or Saturday evening, four to six weeks ahead is a sensible buffer. Weekday dinner slots (Wednesday to Friday) are more available and often bookable closer to the date. Special occasions with fixed dates , anniversaries, birthdays , should be locked in as early as possible regardless.
Weekend lunch (Saturday and Sunday from noon) is the stronger recommendation for a first visit. Natural light in a hotel dining room of this quality changes the experience, the pace is more relaxed, and you avoid a late drive back on country roads. Dinner from Wednesday to Friday has a focused, quieter-service atmosphere that works well for a more intimate occasion. If you are returning for a second visit, switching formats between visits is a practical way to get a different read on the menu and the room.
There are no direct peers at this level within Bagshot itself. The relevant alternatives are a 45-minute to one-hour drive: [Hand and Flowers in Marlow](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/hand-and-flowers-marlow-restaurant) for a less formal but equally recognised experience, or [Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons in Great Milton](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/le-manoir-aux-quat-saisons-a-belmond-hotel-great-milton-restaurant) for a higher-investment hotel dining occasion. In London, CORE, The Ledbury, and Dinner by Heston Blumenthal all cover the Modern British tasting menu category at higher price points and with harder booking.
Yes, and it is one of the better-positioned options in this part of England for exactly that use case. The surprise tasting menu removes the anxiety of ordering, the hotel setting means you can stay overnight and extend the occasion, and the recognition from La Liste and Opinionated About Dining gives you confidence in the quality before you arrive. For an anniversary or significant birthday dinner within reach of Surrey or southwest London, it is a practical and well-credentialled choice.
The surprise tasting menu format works well for solo diners , there is no ordering negotiation, and a tasting menu gives you a full experience rather than a single dish. Whether the room has counter seating or single-diner arrangements is not confirmed in current data, so contact Pennyhill Park Hotel directly to ask about solo configurations. The relaxed weekday dinner service (Wednesday to Friday) is likely the more comfortable option for solo guests than a busy Saturday lunch.
Group capacity is not confirmed in the current data. For parties of six or more, contact Pennyhill Park Hotel directly to discuss whether private dining arrangements are available, as many hotel restaurants at this level offer a private room option. The surprise tasting menu format is well-suited to groups where individual ordering preferences would otherwise complicate the booking , everyone receives the same menu, which simplifies the evening considerably.
| Venue | Price | Value |
|---|---|---|
| The Latymer | — | |
| CORE by Clare Smyth | ££££ | — |
| Restaurant Gordon Ramsay | ££££ | — |
| Sketch, The Lecture Room and Library | ££££ | — |
| The Ledbury | ££££ | — |
| Dinner by Heston Blumenthal | ££££ | — |
Key differences to consider before you reserve.
Given the surprise tasting menu format, check the venue's official channels before booking to flag any dietary requirements. Tasting menus at this level — La Liste Top Restaurants, OAD Classical Europe ranked — typically accommodate restrictions with advance notice, but a surprise format makes prior communication more important than at à la carte venues.
This is a formal hotel dining room inside Pennyhill Park — dress accordingly. A jacket for men and evening-appropriate attire for women is the safe assumption for dinner service. Saturday lunch arguably allows a shade more latitude, but arriving underdressed at a La Liste-ranked restaurant inside a luxury hotel carries real risk.
Book at least four to six weeks out for dinner, and further in advance for Saturday. Wednesday through Friday dinner runs 6:30–8:30 PM only, which limits capacity considerably. Given OAD and La Liste recognition, demand consistently outpaces availability — last-minute bookings here are not a realistic strategy.
Lunch is only available Saturday and Sunday (from 12 PM), making it the rarer slot and a practical choice if you want daylight hours in the Pennyhill Park grounds. Dinner across Wednesday to Friday offers more scheduling flexibility through the week. The menu format is the same regardless — both work well depending on your travel logistics from London or within Surrey.
There are no comparable fine dining alternatives in Bagshot itself — The Latymer is the only OAD- and La Liste-ranked restaurant in the immediate area. For Modern British at a similar level without the drive, CORE by Clare Smyth and The Ledbury in London are the natural comparisons. If proximity to a hotel stay at Pennyhill Park is the draw, The Latymer has no local equivalent.
Yes, and it's one of the stronger cases for a celebration outside London. The surprise tasting menu format under chef Steve Smith, La Liste recognition in both 2025 and 2026, and the Pennyhill Park hotel setting combine to make the occasion feel considered rather than generic. The limited evening hours (6:30–8:30 PM) suit a focused, unhurried dinner rather than a long night out.
Solo dining at a hotel restaurant tasting menu can feel isolating, and The Latymer's format — surprise courses, formal setting, Pennyhill Park surroundings — is better calibrated to couples or small groups than solo guests. That said, if the OAD Classical Europe ranking and Steve Smith's cooking are your primary motivation, solo is entirely workable; just confirm counter or preferred seating when booking.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
