F1 fans – this review is for you…

Actually, it’s for anyone who’s looking for an exciting experience and loves good food. I didn’t know much about F1 before this day, but can safely say this was one of the most exciting review invites we’ve had in a while.

Escapade is a hotel made up of 60 individual residences and a clubhouse with driver-focused gym, pool, sauna, restaurant, roof terrace, and more. All these elements of the place were gorgeous, both designed and curated to perfection.

But of course, we’re Bitten – so we’re going to focus on the food!

The restaurant – The Gallery – is situated on the edge of the Silverstone Circuit and overlooks a stretch of Silverstone’s most notable set of corners. Talk about dinner and a view!

A quick hot lap before sitting down for lunch…

A special treat before lunch was being taken for a spin in a Mclaren 570S GT4, currently the fastest car in the super line up, which we were told is extremely limited edition and only held there at Silverstone. Driver Charlie Kennedy was in charge of whizzing us all round the track, and it was truly an experience to remember. (Incredibly grateful we did this before lunch though..)

The Gallery

We were kindly invited to sample dishes by new head chef Matt Tsistrakis. WHAT a treat. Every dish was beautifully curated, both visually and in terms of flavour. Presentation was 10/10 and each dish brought something a little different to the table, Matt’s genius shining through throughout the meal.

The staff were warm, friendly, and knowledgable – the perfect combination of professional but not too stiff that you feel you can’t relax. Despite being a fairly fancy place, we all felt at ease, which isn’t always the case with tasting menu places. It had a fun and exciting vibe to it, which I hope remains.

Mocktail of the year

I can’t write this review without shouting out their mocktails. A lot of people were driving/working after this lunch so didn’t want to say yes to every wine offered (though of course, very tempting and the wine I did try was paired very well with the food), so we were offered ‘mocktail pairings’ as an alternative.

I’m often sceptical of mocktails, as a lot of the time they just feel like a glorified (and overpriced) fruit juice, in which case I’d rather just get a cheeky DC or stick to water. The Gallery has changed my mind! The mocktails were so delicious I almost didn’t believe they were mocktails, they felt exactly like a proper good cocktail would and it really added to the experience for the non-drinkers.

My personal fave was the one pictured below – a deep and rich berry flavour with a hint of fizz to lighten it up, it worked SO well with the duck dish, which is often (and rightly) accompanied by berries, so it tracks.

From start to finish I was impressed over and over again…

And for a 7-course menu, I didn’t feel overfed. Portions and timing between dishes were both spot on. Only note is I would’ve liked a jug of the lobster bisque to take away, it was the most perfect velvety, creamy concoction and I need it again immediately. I’ve been trying to pick a favourite dish out of them all but am struggling.

The Gallery at Escapade Silverstone is up and running and ready for your bookings

And you don’t have to wait for a race weekend to visit. Open all year, it’s the perf spot for a birthday meal, anniversary, or just for those ‘treat yourself’ moments. It’s not a cheap meal out, but I’d also add it’s rather good value compared to similar food experiences around Oxfordshire.

With Christmas round the corner, you could make the F1 lover or foodie in your life very happy with a meal booking here, or perhaps choosing one of their festive experience packages.

The Gallery at Escapade Silverstone
Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone, Towcester NN12 8TN

Bitten were invited as guests, all views are our own