The Cliveden Dining Room
British Cuisine · Taplow, Berkshire
Restaurant in Berkshire, United Kingdom
Book with PearlThe Read
Country House Creative
Chef
Christopher Hannon
Dress
Formal
Why go
Book The Cliveden Dining Room for a polished Berkshire celebration, especially Sunday lunch, when the country-house setting does the most work. It suits British cuisine, dressed-up family meals, anniversaries, hotel-stay dining better than casual drop-ins or experimental tasting-menu hunting.
About The Cliveden Dining Room
The Cliveden Dining Room is a formal Berkshire dining room serving British cuisine under chef Christopher Hannon. It is best framed as a polished choice for dinner through the week, with Sunday also offering a 12–3 PM lunch service alongside the evening sitting.
The decision comes down to occasion and timing. Book it when the group wants British cuisine in a formal setting rather than a casual meal. Dinner is available Monday to Saturday from 6–9:30 PM, Sunday adds lunch from 12–3 PM before dinner from 6–9:30 PM.
Choose Sunday lunch if you want the daytime slot
For diners planning a daytime meal, Sunday lunch is the lunch service: 12–3 PM. Otherwise, The Cliveden Dining Room is an evening option across the week, with dinner listed from 6–9:30 PM every day.
The cuisine signal is British rather than broadly international. That makes it a direct pick for diners seeking a formal British dining room in Berkshire. If the table includes diners considering other polished dining options, compare it with The Astor Grill, Buckland Manor, The Arden Restaurant, The Merchant House, or Thornbury Castle before committing.
Worth booking for British cuisine in a formal setting
This is not a casual-dress choice. The dress code is formal, so plan accordingly for both dinner and Sunday lunch. The safest approach is to dress for a polished dining room rather than a relaxed meal.
The main confirmed details are clear: British cuisine, chef Christopher Hannon, formal dress, the weekly hours. The Cliveden Dining Room also has a confirmed Relais Chateaux Award for 2026. Beyond those facts, check the venue's official channels for current menus, booking details, any service updates.
For wider planning, compare The Cliveden Dining Room with other dining in Berkshire, as well as Buckland Manor, The Astor Grill, The Arden Restaurant, The Merchant House, Thornbury Castle.
Located inside
HotelCliveden HouseFull hotel guidePlanning details
- Location
- Cliveden House & Pavilion Spa, Taplow, Berkshire SL6 0JF, United Kingdom
- Website
- clivedenhouse.co.uk/dine-with-us/the-cliveden-dining-room
- Phone
- +44 1628 607100
The take
The Take
The Vibe
The Cliveden Dining Room occupies a distinctly classical and historic frame: a Palladian country house approached along a tree-lined drive through National Trust grounds. The architectural setting shapes the experience, and the dining room reads as formal and scenic rather than trend-driven. The copy positions the kitchen as the instigator of the room’s relevance rather than a decorative afterthought, noting the restaurant’s EP Club recognition for “Creative Cooking.” Under Chef Christopher Hannon the food asserts a contemporary take on British technique, which meshes with the residence’s long history and gives the room a composed, cultured atmosphere.
Best For
This is a destination for considered dining—an occasion-oriented spot that suits special evenings and celebrations where the setting matters as much as the menu. The piece explicitly frames the restaurant alongside other country-house destinations and describes it as positioning itself in a higher tier of creative British cooking. That context makes it appropriate for date nights and milestone dinners where guests expect formal service, historic surroundings and a kitchen that stakes a clear culinary point of view.
Ordering Tips
The description highlights the kitchen’s creative British focus and names signature dishes to watch for: beef Wellington, Orkney scallops and a peanut butter parfait. With Chef Christopher Hannon leading the cooking and an EP Club award for “Creative Cooking,” prioritize those featured signatures when they appear on the menu to gauge the kitchen’s balance of classical technique and inventive touches. The writing indicates the food is the reason to visit, so order items that illustrate the restaurant’s British-creative remit.
Venue details
Ambiance
Sumptuous space with softly hued decor, billowing drapes, ostentatious crystal chandeliers, portraits, velvety fabrics, and huge windows filling the original drawing room with natural light.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Sourcing
View
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Formal
- Noise Level
- Quiet
- Service Style
- Formal
- Meal Pacing
- Leisurely
- Capacity
- Medium
Signature Dishes
- beef Wellington
- Orkney scallops
- peanut butter parfait
Planning details
Location
Cliveden House & Pavilion Spa, Taplow, Berkshire SL6 0JF, United Kingdom · Directions
Recognition and awards
Also consider
Where to book if this is not the right fit
For a more relaxed alternative, try The Astor Grill. For a British cuisine comparison with a country-house feel, look at Buckland Manor or Thornbury Castle.
Restaurant context
How it compares for Berkshire celebration dining
The Astor Grill is the easier choice for a more relaxed meal, while The Cliveden Dining Room is the stronger pick when the booking needs hotel polish and a formal country-house mood. Choose The Astor Grill for lower-pressure dining; choose Cliveden when the occasion needs ceremony.
Among British cuisine peers, The Merchant House is the cleaner food-first cross-shop, while Buckland Manor and Thornbury Castle are closer matches for diners who want the full heritage setting. Cliveden sits in the special-occasion lane: less casual, more setting-led, better suited to guests who care about the room as much as the plate.
The Arden Restaurant works if availability or location works better for the group. For value, compare menus and the total cost of the outing before deciding; for ambiance, Cliveden is the safer celebration bet.
Explore Berkshire
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full The Cliveden Dining Room guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare The Cliveden Dining Room
| Venue | Location | Cuisine | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Cliveden Dining Room | Berkshire | British Cuisine | 2026 AA 3-Rosette Restaurants2026 Relais Chateaux Restaurants2025 Relais Chateaux Award |
| The Astor Grill | Taplow | No published awards | ; |
| The Arden Restaurant | Burnham | No published awards | ; |
| The Merchant House | London | British Cuisine | No published awards |
| Buckland Manor | Buckland | British Cuisine | 2026 AA 3-Rosette Restaurants2026 Michelin Plate2025 Michelin Plate2025 Relais Chateaux Award2024 Michelin Plate |
| Thornbury Castle | Thornbury | British Cuisine | 2026 AA 3-Rosette Restaurants2025 Relais Chateaux Award |
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How The Cliveden Dining Room Berkshire Review & Booking compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Cliveden Dining Room good for a special occasion?
Yes, it can suit a special occasion if you want British cuisine in a formal Berkshire dining room. The dress code is formal, the restaurant is led by chef Christopher Hannon. For another option to compare, consider The Astor Grill.
What should I wear to The Cliveden Dining Room?
The dress code is formal. Aim for dressed-up rather than casual for both dinner and Sunday lunch. The Arden Restaurant is another polished option to compare if setting and formality matter to your choice.
How far ahead should I book The Cliveden Dining Room?
The hours are dinner Monday to Saturday from 6–9:30 PM, plus Sunday lunch from 12–3 PM and Sunday dinner from 6–9:30 PM. If you are comparing alternatives, The Merchant House is another option to consider.
Is lunch or dinner better at The Cliveden Dining Room?
That depends on timing. The only lunch service is Sunday from 12–3 PM. Dinner is available Monday to Sunday from 6–9:30 PM. Thornbury Castle is another destination-led option to compare if you are deciding on an evening meal.
What are alternatives to The Cliveden Dining Room?
For alternatives, compare The Astor Grill, The Arden Restaurant, The Merchant House, Buckland Manor, Thornbury Castle, depending on the style of meal you want. Other dining in Berkshire can also be considered generically, but check each venue's current details before booking.
