Behind the Scenes with Our Executive Head Chef, Ben: Crafting Flavours, and Honouring Local Produce
At The Old Vicarage in Southwell, Nottinghamshire, we pride ourselves on offering a dining experience as refined and memorable as the weddings we host. With over 15 years of expertise, our culinary team transforms seasonal, locally sourced ingredients into artfully presented dishes that elevate your special day. Whether you’re envisioning an intimate wedding breakfast, indulgent canapés, or a lively evening spread, our menu is designed to delight every guest.
Your wedding breakfast is the most anticipated meal of your day, and we ensure it’s nothing short of spectacular. Priced at £95 per person, this dining experience is a journey through flavours and textures, expertly crafted to reflect the changing seasons of the English countryside. Our Executive Chef works closely with you to create a bespoke menu that meets dietary requirements and showcases your personality as a couple. From starters like lobster and ricotta tortellini to mains such as braised Nottinghamshire beef or lime and pistachio-crusted salmon, every dish is meticulously prepared and beautifully presented.
Desserts are a decadent finale, with options like salted caramel brownies or a classic Bakewell tart. For those who find it impossible to choose just one dessert, our assiette upgrade allows guests to savour a trio of sweet creations for an additional £7 per person.
Canapés: a perfect introduction
Set the tone for your celebration with our delicate canapés, served during your drinks reception. Choose from a selection of four options at £13.50 per person, including mini Yorkshire puddings with port-braised beef and crab wanton stack, lemon and chive mayonnaise and micro coriander. These small bites are designed to impress and provide a delightful preview of the culinary journey ahead.
Evening Food: a feast for all
As the evening unfolds, our menu transitions to hearty and satisfying dishes perfect for keeping the celebration going. From Texan-style buttermilk fried chicken to gourmet pizzas with bespoke toppings, we ensure there’s something for everyone. Priced from £18 per person, our evening menu provides a comforting yet indulgent conclusion to the day’s festivities.
Beverage Pairings: elegance in every sip
Our team have been redesigning and streamlining our bar menu, including some thoughtful pairings to complement your menu with our carefully curated drinks offerings. Whether it’s a bespoke cocktail crafted by our bartenders, a glass of fine wine, or a champagne toast in our beautiful gardens, our team ensures your drinks are as memorable as your dishes. Non-alcoholic options are equally thoughtful, with an extensive selection of mocktails and premium mixers like Fever-Tree tonics.
Flexibility and Personalisation
At The Old Vicarage, we understand that every wedding is unique, and so are your dining preferences. Our culinary team works with you to personalise your menu, ensuring it aligns with your vision and caters to any dietary requirements. This flexibility, combined with our dedication to quality, has earned us a reputation as one of the leading dining experiences in the wedding industry. As we have a full time chef, we are able to make adaptations to dishes, where possible.
Our goal in 2025
In 2025, we’re excited to introduce a more immersive and dynamic approach to our culinary offerings, particularly in our canapés. Our aim is to experiment with vibrant garnishes, textures, and unexpected colours, transforming each bite into a visually stunning and flavourful experience. This will not only delight the senses but also invite guests to engage with their food in new ways.
As always, we’ll continue to champion locally sourced, seasonal ingredients. This supports our commitment to sustainability while also highlighting the best produce from our region. By using fresh, high-quality ingredients, we can create dishes that are both delicious and reflective of the changing seasons. Our focus on sustainability will deepen, with a dedicated effort to incorporate even more eco-conscious practices into our menu, such as reducing food waste and sourcing ingredients from regenerative farming methods.
Through these changes, we aim to elevate the dining experience, ensuring that every dish, particularly our canapés, is a memorable part of our guests’ special day - one that celebrates both culinary innovation and our deep connection to the land.
We’ve also made significant improvements to our kitchen and storage facilities, which have directly enhanced the quality of food we’re able to create. While our kitchen may not be the largest, we’ve streamlined operations to ensure maximum efficiency. We’ve invested in new fridges and freezers, complementing our existing walk-in fridge, to better store ingredients at optimal temperatures, ensuring freshness and consistency in every dish. These updates not only improve the kitchen's functionality but also contribute to elevating the overall dining experience for our guests.
We’re in the process of updating our menus for 2025, bringing fresh adaptations and exciting new twists to our dishes. Keep an eye out for the launch at the beginning of the year, as we evolve and refine our offerings to create even more memorable culinary experiences for our guests.
Your menu at The Old Vicarage is more than a meal; it’s an integral part of your wedding story. Let us help you create moments that you and your guests will savour forever.
Comments