Coworth Park Ascot Unveils the TIDE Terrace

45 minutes on the train from Waterloo and we were suddenly whisked into a new-found world of croquet, polo and Saltburn-like splendour—so much so that I half expected to see Jacob Elordi waltzing his way through the perfectly-manicured grounds. Striped deck chairs sat overlooking sun-dappled wildflowers, blushed roses wound their thorny arms around wooden verandas and lawns rolled for miles, dotted with rippling lakes and floating swans. When Alice fell down a rabbit hole and into Wonderland, it’s said that she fell somewhere beneath Oxfordshire—if it wasn’t for the absence of the Mad Hatter, I’d have easily guessed that this dreamlike location was here, Coworth Park. Because although this countryside hotel was crafted by The Dorchester Collection, it could have easily been written by Lewis Carroll.

Woven goes Al Fresco

Five-starred Coworth Park, located in Ascot, is home to Woven by Adam Smith. This Michelin-starred restaurant is powered by the culinary mind of its namesake, Chef Adam Smith, as is all of the hotel’s catering and room service—from afternoon teas to turn-down treats. For the summertime (only until the end of August), Woven has burst open the doors and flooded out into al fresco territory with its TIDE terrace. And with this open-air activation comes a dedicated menu — incorporating the finest seasonal British produce, as Woven always does – all made to pair with a glass (or a few) of the terrace’s sparkling wine partner, Rathfinny. “TIDE is all about capturing a moment in time, the height of the British summer,” says Adam Smith, “It’s a chance to celebrate the season’s finest ingredients, cooked simply and enjoyed in one of the most beautiful spots on the estate.”

Into the Meadow

Adam is right, TIDE is set in one of the most beautiful spots on the estate—overlooking the wildflower meadow. However, where we took a seat to sample the TIDE menu Cicchetti-style was actually in said wildflower meadow. No finer place to experience a menu inspired by the ebbs and flows of English estate life – right? Even better, an open kitchen as open as it gets, with Adam Smith and his team cheffing it up before our eyes under a gazebo. Back to the table, it’s all in the details, the plates are emblazoned with wiggling cerulean octopuses and napkins tied with 3D woven lobsters. All cohesive with the nautical navy and white colour scheme of the terrace, foreshadowing the fresh seafood that’s set to come your way...

We began with a baked Cornish crab custard, with poached crab claw speckled throughout. The catch? A Thai green curry element that elevated the entire pot, transforming what could’ve been nothing more than a seafood panna cotta into a balanced and fragrant starter.

It was with the mains that the sharing began and, although classed as modern British cuisine, a number of the dishes carried Mediterranean influences that harked back to Tuscan summers or trips to the Côte d’Azur. Take the ‘Panzanella’ salad — a simple mix of chopped Isle of Wight tomato, grilled prawns and leafy garlic — which was easily one of the most moreish and effective dishes on the menu. Sometimes just a few fresh ingredients, executed well and laced with garlic, is all you need.

The Native Lobster Paccheri Pasta arrived completely blanketed in earthy circles of black truffle. Taking a first bite, you expect the intense musk of truffle to smack all of your senses — only to be greeted instead by delicate tarragon, light Parmesan and just a nutty hint of truffle against the juicy and generous pieces of lobster.

For me, however, the proof was in the pudding — the summer pudding, that is. Topped with a whip of elderflower cream, the sponge oozed with tart berry juices and its jammy centre hit the perfect note of sweetness. A comforting, fruity full stop to end our meadow meal.

The TIDE Terrace at Coworth Park will be open until the end of August from 12-5pm, Friday to Sunday. 

Book your place overlooking the wildflower meadow via dorchestercollection.com/ascot/coworth-park/dining/tide