Harden's survey result
Summary
“Chef Jon and his front-of-house wife, Helen, consistently provide a very special experience (along with charming waiter and budding sommelier Matthew)” at the Howes’ small (only 24 covers) establishment, which – though less commented on – vies with Le Champignon Sauvage as the town’s top culinary draw. Fans say it’s “better than ever after the long lockdown”, with superb cooking featuring the stunning presentation of local and seasonal ingredients.
Summary
“On our foodie tour of the area’s culinary heavy hitters (four in four nights) Lumière was by far the best in every way! – the food itself, the artistry and invention of the cooking, the front of house…!” Jon & Helen Howe’s small (just 24 covers) venture “benefits from a feeling of intimacy and calm” and scored the top ratings in town last year. Jon Howe’s food is “out of this world” with “some very good flavour combinations, some very clever and precise cooking” – all “without pretentious twiddles”. Dishes are delivered by the “serene and endlessly helpful Helen in charge of a small team” and “you are made to feel your dining experience is uppermost in their minds rather than your visit being an opportunity for them to ‘showcase’”. “We liked it so much that we went back to Cheltenham just to eat there again!”
Summary
“On our foodie tour of the area’s culinary heavy hitters (four in four nights) Lumière was by far the best in every way! – the food itself, the artistry and invention of the cooking, the front of house…!” Jon & Helen Howe’s small (just 24 covers) venture “benefits from a feeling of intimacy and calm” and scored the top ratings in town this year. Jon Howe’s food is “out of this world” with “some very good flavour combinations, some very clever and precise cooking” – all “without pretentious twiddles”. Dishes are delivered by the “serene and endlessly helpful Helen in charge of a small team” and “you are made to feel your dining experience is uppermost in their minds rather than your visit being an opportunity for them to ‘showcase’”. “We liked it so much that we went back to Cheltenham just to eat there again!” (STOP PRESS, the restaurant closed for eight weeks in summer 2019 after Jon Howe broke his ankle walking, but is now up and running again).
Summary
“Up there with experiences we’ve had at the country’s top restaurants!” – chef Jon Howe conjures up “precise, innovative but grounded cooking” in a “small kitchen” at their “very small, intimate and calm venture”, while his wife Helen heads a “charming, unobtrusive service team”. Happy customers praise what is in effect “fine dining with tailor-made tasting menus, not only for dietary requirements/allergies but also for likes and dislikes”, which come “brimming over with invention and taste”.
For 31 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
Have you eaten at Lumière?
Restaurant details
Lumière Restaurant Diner Reviews
"Absolutely first rate. Delightful food prepared with care and originality, professionally and pleasantly served in a calm room. If anything, the cooking has got better since lockdown. We are lucky to have both Lumiere and Champignon."
Prices
 Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £20.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £2.00 |
 Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Service | 10.00% |
Clarence Parade, Cheltenham, GL50 3PA
Opening hours
| Monday | CLOSED |
| Tuesday | CLOSED |
| Wednesday | 7 pm‑8:30 pm |
| Thursday | 7 pm‑8:30 pm |
| Friday | 12 pm‑1:30 pm, 7 pm‑8:30 pm |
| Saturday | 12 pm‑1:30 pm, 7 pm‑8:30 pm |
| Sunday | CLOSED |
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