Supper clubs were all the rage ten years ago – everywhere you looked, ambitious home cooks were welcoming strangers around their dining tables, and event spaces were being taken over by chefs wanting to try something different. They may have been confused for or overshadowed by ‘pop-ups’ in recent years, but the intimacy of a supper club is impossible to fake. No wonder their authentic, sociable appeal has quietly endured.
Vallis Farm Egford Hill, Frome
Vallis Farm, just outside Frome, is a hub of natural inspiration and joy, not least for those who love food. On 16 October, head to the farm for Burnt Sugar Collective’s fire-licked autumn feast, as Emma and Dom celebrate the bounty of the harvest. They’ll follow this up in December with a festive winter’s feast by firelight. Keep an eye out, too, for themed supper clubs from Somerset’s The Wild Pear.
The Good Bear Cafe Bear Flat, Bath
Though the theme of the monthly supper club at the cosy The Good Bear Cafe in Bath changes, there is a soft spot for regional Italian cooking, in no small part due to the fact that head chef Salvo is from Naples, while the cafe’s owner, Mauro, is from Sardinia. For £50pp, guests enjoy three courses and nibbles, and The Good Bear is fully licensed for accompanying drinks. Upcoming events include Umbria and the Apennines on 24 October, and One Night in Roma on 21 November.
Steves’ Supper Club Oakridge Lynch, near Stroud
Nope, that apostrophe is not in the wrong place, this supper club is run by not one, but two Steves. It doesn’t get much more intimate than this, with just eight seats at the table. The Steves will cook whatever is seasonal and local, but it’s always inspired. Bring your own booze and prepare to make friends. Supper clubs run approximately once a month and cost £56pp.
Chicken Lunch Club Montpelier, Bristol
If you find yourself in the middle of the Venn diagram between having an appreciation for interior design and a love of rotisserie chicken, Bristol’s monthly Chicken Lunch Club is for you. Run by Pieminister co-founder Tristan and his partner Tess, the viral Chicken Lunch Club serves a simple but delectable menu centred around the wood-fired rotisserie spinning away in the back garden. Join the mailing list to be emailed about upcoming dates.
Clevedon Supper Club Victoria Road, Clevedon
Lisa Clarke has been a private chef for over 40 years, while her husband, Ed Clarke, is a wine merchant. This means that when you visit their Clevedon home for dinner, every one of the beautifully plated six courses is paired with an equally brilliant wine. Each supper club is themed, and events run twice monthly, costing £165 per couple, including wines and Lisa’s homemade award-winning chocolates at the end.
Glove Factory Studios Bradford-On-Avon
The various supper clubs at idyllic bolthole Glove Factory Studios contain many memorable moments – among them, watching the sun set across the lake while feeling the warmth of the fire, passing flavour-packed seasonal plates along the table under the canopy and catching up with friends or making new ones. The Fire and Feast series runs throughout the year and costs £50pp.
