The jewel in Oxfordshire’s crown, Henley-on-Thames is an idyllic and quintessentially British market town nestled on the banks of the River Thames, bounded by the beautiful Chiltern Hills. Home to the Royal Regatta, Henley is synonymous with the sport of rowing, producing some of the country’s most decorated athletes. Just 40 miles from London and with a thriving independent scene of shops, cafes, restaurants as well as boutique hotels and places to stay, Henley is the perfect location for group activities.
At Pavilion, its our mission to build bonds through our love of food! We are here to help tailor the perfect event for you, creating memories that last, bond, or ignite performance, as well as having a great time with your friends or colleagues. Whatever your requirements, we can help you create the best experience for your event.
Our experiences can be completely bespoke to you! Here are some examples of our events to get you started.
Group Cookery Classes
Our cookery school is the perfect place to develop new skills, create delicious food, and enjoy an experience that will last a lifetime. Suitable for all levels, our relaxed, fun and hands-on classes are the ideal activity for a team away day, birthday party, or even a hen & stag party. After you’ve created your feast, we’ll set up the deli as a private dining area for you to enjoy your meal, or soak up the sights and atmosphere from our outdoor seating in the centre of Henley Market Place.
With a whole host of exciting classes and cuisines to choose from, suitable for novices through to experienced cooks, why not get in touch and we can create something truly special for you.
Example classes include:
Rowing Team Day
We are delighted to be working with The Henley Rowing Club, Henley’s first rowing club and one of the oldest in the country, to offer a unique rowing and team building experience close to the famous Henley Royal Regatta course. After a morning rowing out on the iconic Henley-On-Thames, you’ll complete your day with a cookery class and feast at Pavilion!
With the adrenaline still flowing after your time on the river, you’ll certainly be ready to eat, and what better way to continue your team day than with a private hands on cookery class and dining experience.
With a range of cuisines to choose from, if this sounds like the perfect team experience for you, get in touch today!
Field to Fork Experience
We are delighted to be partnering with the fantastic team at Bosley Patch for our ‘field to fork’ cookery experience.
With a deep belief in the importance of organic principles, Bosley Patch grow an array of stunning produce that is chemical free with wildlife very much mind. Under expert guidance you’ll hear all about the art of growing, learn what makes this produce so delicious, and gain an insight into the importance of buying local, seasonal, fresh produce.
With an abundance of stunning seasonal product to choose from, you’ll be guided through picking your own ingredients ready to use later in the day. After a relaxed alfresco lunch and refreshments, you’ll then head over to Pavilion Cookery School just 5 minutes away in the centre of Henley where our Head Chef Tania will show you how to take your veg to the next level with a hands on cookery class, after which you’ll get to enjoy the fruits of your labour.
Chefs Table Experience
Do you love the buzz and theatre of a professional kitchen, but would prefer to watch, sit back and enjoy a menu created just for you? In this intimate dining experience, your chefs will be your host for the evening, guiding you though the menu, ingredients and provenance of everything created, giving you an unfiltered view into the inner-workings of a professional kitchen. With drinks pairings to match the menu, we can create a unique experience to suit you needs.
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Menu options change seasonally and include:
Afternoon Tea Experience
Who doesn’t love afternoon tea?! An English tradition that dates back to the 1800’s, under the guidance of our chefs you’ll create a classic afternoon tea from scratch including sweet & savoury scones, fruit preserves, incredible cakes and mouthwatering sandwiches. Once you’ve finished creating your very own afternoon tea, then it’s time to pop open the fizz and enjoy! And what better setting to enjoy the fruits of your labours than on the iconic River Thames, where you’ll take a chauffeured boat along the river and course of the Henley Royal Regatta!
Experience also available without river cruise.
Example Menu:
Henley and Oxfordshire Food & Drink Tours
We are truly fortunate to have some of the country’s most incredible food & drink producers just a stone’s throw from Henley.
Starting this April, we’ve teamed up with some of the very finest, including Blue Tin Produce, Nettlebed Creamery, Hundred Hills and The Henley Distillery to give you a unique behind the scenes tour where you’ll get to meet the makers, the ultimate foodie experience.
To cap it all off, you’ll finish the tour at our cookery school where you’ll get to bring it all together!
Join the luxury chauffeured minibus departing from Pavilion in Henley Market Place.
Visit the award-winning Blue Tin Produce where you’ll meet Jed & the team to learn all about their fantastic quality rare breed Dexter beef and Gloucester Old Spot pork, get a tour of the smokehouse along with tastings, plus a visit to their wonderful farm shop.
Learn all about how artisan organic cheese is made at the Nettlebed Creamery, where you’ll get to meet the makers as well as taste their incredible cheese.
Experience the ultimate vineyard and winery tour and tasting at one of the country’s finest producers of English sparkling wine, Hundred Hills.
Taking place in the hub of The Henley Distillery, you’ll then gain a unique insight into the history of gin and its distilling process. Learning all about traditional, artisan methods, a Head Distiller will share their knowledge and experience with you as you discover the processes which create their multi award-winning hand-crafted gins.
To cap off your experience you’ll end the day at Pavilion Cookery School, where our Head Chef will expertly guide you though ways to best use all of the incredible produce you’ve seen and tasted throughout the day in a hand-on cookery class. Of course, you’ll get to enjoy the fruits of your labour at the end of the class along with a tipple or two to cap off your experience.
