The Michelin-Starred Chefs Fuelling Silverstone

As it turns out, Formula 1 isn’t just for motorheads eager to see Piastri or Norris rush past in a blur of McLaren tangerine tones, nor solely for gushing fans hoping to spot Charles Leclerc crossing the paddock, miniature dachshund in tow. This year, at the 75th anniversary of the Silverstone British Grand Prix, a tantalising line-up of Michelin-starred chefs and chart-topping entertainment is taking pole position as the festivities hit top speed.

While the presence of Michelin-starred names might suggest starched linens and multi-course menus, the reality is a more inventive trackside twist. Over on Silverstone’s Octane Terrace, the same culinary ingenuity behind high-end tasting menus is being reimagined as elevated street food—served from pop-ups that could tempt even the most seasoned foodie.

Here, we spotlight the chefs taking over the Octane Terrace—and the entertainment fuelling the weekend beyond the roar of the race itself.

The Silverstone Chefs Fuelling The Octane Terrace

Basing her dishes on local game and produce from the rolling British countryside, Lisa Goodwin-Allen is set to bring a flourish of rustic roots to the terrace. After swiftly rising through the ranks at Michelin-starred Northcote in Lancashire — becoming Head Chef at just 23 — she continued to work her magic in London, overseeing The Game Bird and The American Bar at The Stafford in St James’s. Now back at Northcote as Chef Patron-Director following its recent change of ownership, she’s no stranger to a pop-up, having served dishes like pressed Yorkshire chicken and Cumbrian mutton at the 2023 Signature Food Festival. A street-food twist on Lancashire game could well be on the cards for Silverstone.

With expertise stretching from gourmet at-home meals to Michelin-starred menus in North Yorkshire — not to mention a sideline in canned wines — whatever Tommy Banks serves up, we’re sure it will be a coolly creative combo of classic British produce and innovative gastronomic techniques. His signature dish at the (perpetually booked) Michelin-starred Black Swan at Oldstead features Crapaudine beetroot, cut into meaty steaks and slow-cooked in beef fat for four to five hours. It’s this subtly sweet creation that turned our own Yorkshire-raised writer, Pippa Lowe, into a beetroot convert after a lifetime of avoidance. So, what veg might the Great British Menu winner be transforming trackside?

Two-Michelin-Starred Chef Andrew Wong has set the standard for Chinese cuisine. Taking over the restaurant site his parents ran from 1985, Wong’s food is inspired by recipes from his family heritage as well as London’s influence on Chinese gastronomy for a blissful mix of tradition and invention. A. Wong restaurant's signature ‘Collections of China’ tasting menu—complete with a sculpted chrysanthemum tofu bloom—has won over Michelin inspectors and everyday guests alike. Now, his upcoming pop-up at Silverstone racecourse will grant F1 enthusiasts the opportunity to peek behind the curtain of his creative process. On the back of his three-month residency at Donovan Bar in Mayfair, fans can anticipate Wong’s fresh take on Chinese classics.

Paul Ainsworth’s grounded grub keeps the love of food and community he inherited from childhood days spent running around his parents' Southampton guesthouse at the heart of his practice. But Ainsworth does glamour just as well: the chef counts Gordon Ramsay and Gary Rhodes among his mentors and won the regional heats for the South West on The Great British Menu in 2011. Now, he and his wife Emma are based in Padstow as they follow in his parents’ footsteps at their Padstow Townhouse and The Mariners Public House in Cornwall. Whatever the weather, visitors should look out for Ainsworth’s little slice of the South West.

Last—but by no means least—Angela Hartnett’s relaxed and refined Italian-style cooking is heading to Silverstone. The Michelin-Starred chef is no stranger to the spotlight: her podcast Dish has brought celebrities like Florence Pugh and Shania Twain into her kitchen and Hartnett is set to open a brand new restaurant at the Royal Opera House. But before she takes on Covent Garden, the celebrity chef is setting up shop next to the F1 racecourse. Her level-headed approach and emphasis on fresh, seasonal produce is sure to be a perfect complement to the Grand Prix’s high-octane thrills.

Prices for the Octane Terrace start at £555 for a day pass on Saturday, or £1795 for the weekend, promising a good view of the fastest part of Silverstone's track. As well as being catered for by Michelin Star chefs, there's a good selection of bars and coffee stops to keep you well-oiled throughout your visit while Sigala will be on hand to provide the after-race entertainment.

The booking light's turned green so head to Silverstone Hospitality's website to reserve your place.