Harden's survey result
Summary
“A beautiful restaurant in the grounds of Woburn Abbey, with a big sweeping drive” – this well-known old Tudor building was revamped in spring 2017 and “the makeover has improved the dining room immensely: the cold old decor is now light and bright…” matching standards generally, with “superb food from Phil Fanning’s brigade”. How long will Michelin make him wait before giving him his star back?
Summary
“In a beautiful setting and housed in an old Tudor building on the Woburn Estate – the drive up to the restaurant alone makes you feel you are somewhere special”, when you arrive at this well-known ultra-“romantic” destination. It lost its Michelin Star a year ago, but the survey’s feedback on Phil Fanning’s “professional yet unstuffy” dining room is constantly full of praise and says that if anything it has “raised its game” of late. In late spring 2017, it also underwent a significant refurb.
Summary
“An absolutely fantastic setting” – a Tudor building on the Woburn Estate – adds to the charms of Phil Fanning’s well-established dining room, especially for romance. It inspired surprisingly limited feedback this year (and also saw the loss of its Michelin star in October 2016), but the few reports we have are full of nothing but praise of “superb” cuisine.
Summary
With its “individual, relaxed service” and “unique” tasting menus, there’s an “amazing experience” to be had at Phil Fanning’s well-known dining room – and oh, “what a setting!” (a “fantastic” Tudor building on the deer-strewn Woburn Estate). However for a minority, both food and ambience can on occasion fall short.
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.
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.
Paris House Restaurant Diner Reviews
"We took friends out to lunch and opted for the Market 18 menu which was excellent value (needless to say the wines really bump it up) but at around half A la Carte prices the food was a bonus. Have to say that although choices were limited to 2 options per course, everything was very very good; one item was Oxtail with Bovril gravy - I have never liked Bovril but, know what - I will try it as a jus sometime! 3 of us were in heaven with the fabulous fresh bread and Marmite Butter - evoked childhood tea-time memories. The Fish was Hamachi which was not familiar to us but the two diners eating it enjoyed it thoroughly - I thought it reminiscent of ceviche and wonderfully fresh and spring like. Really enjoyed the refurbishment - feel the building suits contemporary rather than tired and stuffy country house as it was before. Strangely the food also seems uplifted! Staff were very pleasant and really attentive and hats off to Chef and the kitchen team and hope they enjoy great success."
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, 7 pm-8:30 pm |
| Saturday | 12 pm-1:30 pm, 7 pm-8:30 pm |
| Sunday | 12 pm-1:30 pm |
