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Woburn Park, Woburn, MK17 9QP
Harden's survey result
Summary
“In a superb location up a rural driveway with deer grazing. What could be more tranquil?” than a visit to this picture-book mock-Tudor timber building (originally built in France in 1878). “Chef Phil Fanning is on top of his game” and offers a six-course tasting menu for £125 per person. “Truly a consistent treat” – “Everything about the restaurant is good and the sommelier Howie is particularly knowledgeable about the interesting wines”. “Why has it not achieved a Michelin star in recent times” – “Surely they’ve got to get their star back soon?”
Summary
“Of course it has a wonderful location… but the food more than surpassed this”. “In a wonderful parkland setting” (22 acres of the Duke of Bedford’s Woburn Estate), this striking mock-Tudor timber building (originally built in France in 1878) is nowadays the stage for chef/patron Phil Fanning’s highly ambitious cuisine. The main event is a “memorable six-course tasting menu” for £99 per person, which on practically all accounts delivers a “thoroughly professional and delightful” experience: “each course is exceptional, with complex assemblies of often more than 10 components, but all complementing each other”. “It is fortunate you can have a two-hour walk amongst the deer after your meal!”
Summary
“An incredible location, with a fabulous driveway through herds of deer” helps set an impressive tone at this striking mock-Tudor, timber building (originally built in France in 1878), which sits in the grounds of Woburn Abbey. It’s long been known as a foodie destination, and on current form, reports acclaim “perfection in food and setting” with “slick service and food that’s to die for”. “Why that one Michelin star is so elusive to regain is a mystery. (We have been eating at Paris House since it very first opened in 1983! After the happy days of Peter Chandler it went through a difficult phase. But Phil Fanning the chef stayed with it and eventually acquired the business. He hasn’t looked back. It remains a favourite and the food and wine are superb)”.
Summary
“It’s always a joy to go to this stunning restaurant in beautiful surroundings” – a gorgeous-looking, mock-Tudor, timber building (built in France originally in 1878), in the grounds of Woburn Abbey. There’s nothing but praise for Phil Fanning’s very accomplished cuisine, showcased in a six-course taster menu, and likewise the “unfussy” service. (“It can only be a matter of time before Michelin wake up and give them their star back!”)
For 34 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 Paris House?
Owner's description
Paris House was originally built in 1878 as part of The Paris International Exhibition called ‘The Streets of Nations’ and located on the Rue des Nations (next to the Quai d’Orsay) in Paris. It was boarded on each side by 28 pavillions representing 28 countries.
The house, designed by Gilbert Redgrave and built by William Cubitt & Son, was based on the Renaissance half-timbered architecture of the Cheshire region of England and was erected in prefabricated sections of the Tudor style and pegged together. The 9th Duke of Bedford fell in love with the building, had it dismantled, shipped piece by piece to its current home and rebuilt in the stunning grounds of Woburn Abbey.
Prices
 Drinks |
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|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £55.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £7.00 |
 Extras |
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| Service | 10.00% |
Restaurant details
The chef
Phil Fanning is Chef and owner of Paris House Restaurant. Commanding a respected standingamongst his peers and critics, Phil is known for innovative and creative use of Japanese ingredientsand cooking techniques to deliver exceptional British tasting menus. His style is distinctlycontemporary, without falling into the trap of being modern for the sake of being modern. Hetempers his classical French roots with far-reaching ingredients and an eye for theatrical mischief.
Each seasonal menu is expertly crafted to produce a high impact and sensational dining adventure.The seasonality and quality of ingredients Phil uses are at the heart of everything he creates at Paris House. His ingenious use of refined Japanese cooking techniques is pivotal in getting the best out of each ingredient and achieving maximum flavour in every dish. Whilst these on-trend Japanese techniques are used to great affect the resulting menu is unmistakably British.
With previous positions at Danesfield House, The Vanilla Pod & L’Ortolan, Phil was appointed Head Chef at Paris House under Alan Murchison in 2010 and was awarded a Michelin star and the Acorn Award within 10 months. He went on to buy the restaurant with his wife, Claire, in 2013.
Woburn Park, Woburn, MK17 9QP
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Opening hours
| Monday | CLOSED |
| Tuesday | CLOSED |
| Wednesday | CLOSED |
| Thursday | 12 pm‑1:30 pm, 7 pm‑8:30 pm |
| Friday | 12 pm‑1:30 pm, 6:45 pm‑9 pm |
| Saturday | 12 pm‑1:30 pm, 6:45 pm‑9 pm |
| Sunday | 12 pm‑2 pm |
