DINERS are being given the chance to experience an 18th-century feast in the King’s favourite room at Dumfries House…if they can spare almost £400 for the privilege.
The candlelit experience in the pink dining room at the stately home near Cumnock in Ayrshire will set you back at least £375, and you won’t be dining in the presence of the monarch himself.
It comes after it emerged the royal family would be charging £250 for a seven-course dinner at Balmoral during November and December.
The private dining experience at Dumfries House which will include a three-course meal, authentic to the 1700s and served by a traditional butler, in the royal chamber.
Menus will be based on 18th-century dishes, such as poached salmon, fish soup, and manchet bread for starters, followed by roasted venison and beef, parmentier potatoes and a juniper sauce, and lemon and pistachio syllabub, bread and butter pudding, and apple and almond trifle for dessert.
Guests will eat at the King’s table beneath a 35kg Murano glass floral chandelier, which was reassembled after being found in the basement in more than 100 pieces nearly 20 years ago.
Evan Samson, who leads the front-of-house team at Dumfries House, said: “For a select number of guests, the 18th-century dining experience will be authentic to the 1700s, with traditional butler service – including the meal being served ‘family-style’ – and a menu researched and prepared by our chefs that reflects the culinary fashions typical of country houses in that age.”
Dumfries House is the headquarters of The King’s Foundation, which Charles established to train the next generation of skilled craftspeople – including in fashion and textiles – in heritage techniques.
Proceeds from the experiences will be used to support the work of the charity, which provides practical education courses for more than 15,000 students every year.
More information can be found here.
