DINING & ENTERTAINMENT
DINING
On board the Britannic Explorer, we celebrate the Great British terroir
Dining on the Britannic Explorer is a moveable feast. During off-board private dining experiences and within on-board curated menus, we focus on local provenance and produce, and a farm-to-fork approach.
Sample the finest English delicacies – from a delightful afternoon tea to an evening meal – with menus created by renowned Chef Simon Rogan, celebrated for his innovative approach and exceptional quality in his restaurants which collectively hold ten Michelin stars worldwide. Then, retreat to the Observation Car to let off steam for a night of revelry, chance encounters and spirited entertainment.
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DINING
THE BOUNTY OF BRITAIN
For breakfast on board, try home-baked British classics elevated with regeneratively grown native grains – like a fermented barley crumpet crowned with roasted ox marrow, cave-aged cheddar and preserved quince, alongside many more à la carte offerings.
The Britannic Explorer offers a symphony of culinary experiences for lunch and dinner, from casual, locally-sourced meals served al-fresco – shellfish barbecues on Cornish beaches, curated picnics in Welsh meadows – to elegant onboard dining, where every meal is a true reflection of Britain's culinary heritage. Each of the three routes will feature bespoke afternoon tea, lunch and dinner menus, showcasing the finest local specialities and ingredients.
BEHIND THE MENU
CULINARY TEAM
Curating the culinary offering on board, Chef Simon Rogan MBE is an award-winning British chef and restaurateur who pioneered the farm-to-fork movement in the UK. Known for his 3 Michelin star restaurant L’Enclume in the Lake District, he has unwavering respect for the surrounding nature, with a focus on hyper-local ingredients.
With a passion for showcasing the finest seasonal ingredients, Executive Head Chef Sven-Hanson Britt will lead the culinary team on board, ensuring an extraordinary experience across the trains’ two dining cars. Winner of MasterChef The Professionals in 2019, he is passionate about and regularly works with regenerative farmers in the UK, Brazil, US and France, and has created the train’s menus in line with Simon Rogan's farm-to-fork ethos.
AFTERNOON TEA
In 1840, the 7th Duchess of Bedford asked that a tray of tea, bread, butter and cake be brought to her room at 4pm, as dinner was served so late and she had started to grow hungry. Soon she began inviting friends, and the ritual quickly became a fashionable way to entertain.
It’s only right that our train, which celebrates British tradition, features a delectable Afternoon Tea offering. Each menu is tailored to the route travelled on, with regional ingredients taking centre stage – Welsh Bakestone cakes with dried wild Welsh plums on our Wales route and Cherwell Valley buttermilk Cornish scones with Guernsey cow clotted cream on our Cornwall route.
OBSERVATION CAR
The Bar
As we spirit you away to destinations anew, let off steam with a tipple or two at our Bar, located within the Observation Car.
The Britannic Explorer’s Bar is a stylish hangout furnished with ochre banquettes, amber glassware and soft glowing lights. Chicly-clad mixologists will – inspired by Victorian apothecaries – take bottles of botanicals and transform them into intriguing herbal teas, bespoke cocktails and soft drinks.
Savour a menu of innovative cocktails, alongside a carefully curated selection of artisan gins and craft beers, highlighting the finest offerings from the UK’s independent distilleries and breweries.
A GARDEN IN MOTION
Take your seat in one of our two restaurant cars, Malva and Samphire, for a unique train dining experience. Painstakingly crafted by studio Albion Nord, the interiors are inspired by Great British greenery – from the intricate patterns of a cultivated English country garden to the soft romance of a wildflower meadow.
Admire the potted herbs, striking botanical tapestries, limed oak joinery and unique woven finishes, complimented by a trellis-inspired mirror ceiling that lends a sense of spaciousness. Here, linger over seasonal delicacies as landscapes unfold.
ENTERTAINMENT
REVELRY ON THE RAILS
After days spent revelling in Britain’s beauty spots, our Observation Car plays host to an informal itinerary of entertainment – each one inevitably followed by spirited conversation with friends, old and new...
...and come nightfall, lavish festivities unfold with a rotating program of live performances, bespoke themed parties and irresistible seasonal celebrations.
