The Peninsula London’s Brooklands: A Gastronomic Adventure in Style

Brooklands is a distinctive restaurant and bar created by Chef Claude Bosi, paying tribute to the rich history of British motoring and aviation. It stands out as a unique dining and entertainment destination, offering uninterrupted panoramic views of London’s skyline and drawing design inspiration from the iconic Brooklands racetrack, renowned for its groundbreaking contributions to speed, aviation, and adventure. The restaurant seamlessly combines Chef Claude Bosi’s creative European cuisine with The Peninsula London’s renowned service and style.

Brooklands racetrack, established in Surrey in 1907, holds the distinction of being the world’s first purpose-built motor racing circuit. It played a pivotal role in the history of British motorsport and aviation, serving as the birthplace of Concorde and a hub for significant engineering achievements.

The journey at Brooklands unfolds from the ground floor, beginning in a dedicated lobby adorned with timber accents and Bentley lights. This space showcases a rotating collection of rare memorabilia, including the legendary Napier Railton racing car and the original Concorde nose cone. The elevator playfully mimics a hot-air balloon ride, complete with a wicker-basket interior and a red burner light to create the illusion of ascent.

Upon reaching the top floor of The Peninsula London, guests encounter an array of architecturally designed spaces by Archer Humphryes. To the east, Brooklands Bar offers unparalleled vistas of London’s skyline and Buckingham Palace, while The Tasting Room, a cigar lounge and tabac, awaits. To the west, the Trophy Room provides an introduction to the racetrack’s legacy, leading to the well-lit rooftop restaurant and its expansive terrace.

The restaurant’s modern dining room exudes a sleek and dramatic ambiance, paying homage to the Concorde. An impressive scale replica of the Concorde, spanning the entire ceiling, dominates the space. This aluminum model appears to soar above diners’ heads, with projected lighting creating a sense of movement, and a floor-to-ceiling digital artwork depicting abstract patterns representing a journey through the atmosphere. The carpet beneath displays constellations as they would have been seen from the Concorde. Many pieces of furniture are faithful replicas from the original Concorde lounge, and the chairs are designed by French designer Pierre Paulin.

Adjacent to the dining area, the terrace provides an excellent vantage point for enjoying sunsets over Hyde Park, Belgravia, and Knightsbridge.

For exclusive gatherings, Brooklands offers the private Mach II dining room, named after Concorde’s remarkable speed. This intimate space features minimalist design with sycamore wall panels, gleaming white oak floors, and floor-to-ceiling windows offering panoramic views of London. Accommodating up to 22 guests, Mach II offers bespoke menus created by Claude Bosi for private events.

Brooklands takes pride in its Chef-led approach. Tasting menus are meticulously crafted using the finest sustainably sourced British ingredients and traditional French techniques. Chef Director Claude Bosi and Chef de Cuisine Francesco Dibenedetto collaborate closely to offer seven-, five-, and three-course menus, inviting diners on a culinary journey across the British Isles.

The restaurant’s team, led by Restaurant Director Samuel Vouilloux, ensures a memorable dining experience from lunch to dinner, exemplifying The Peninsula’s renowned hospitality. Signature dishes on the seasonal menu reflect a journey through the UK, featuring items like Exmoor caviar with Roscoff onion and duck jelly, Great Fen Farm celeriac nosotto with crab and coconut, Racan guinea fowl with sea beet and Scottish razor clams, and a dessert of Scottish cèpe, banana, and crème fraîche.

The forward-thinking ethos of Brooklands extends to its exceptional wine list, curated by Head Sommelier Gioele Musco. This innovative collection showcases French vintages, in line with Chef Bosi’s heritage, alongside a wide selection of New World wines. Musco leverages his experience to create inspired wine pairings that enhance the enjoyment of Chef Bosi’s cuisine.

Brooklands Bar is a captivating rooftop destination that combines elements of theatre and gallery. With its floor-to-ceiling windows offering breathtaking views of London’s iconic landmarks, this light-filled space serves as an ideal starting point or a fitting finale to the Brooklands experience. Many of its design elements draw inspiration from pioneering achievements in automotive and aviation design. The geodetic ceiling is a tribute to Barnes Wallis, a key figure in early 20th-century airframe structures. The carriage seating and leather wall paneling echo the style of the Rolls Royce Silver Ghost, while the glass chandelier takes cues from the turbine engines of that era. The bar is adorned with posters, pictures, and a library cabinet stocked with books, maps, and historic items donated by the Brooklands museum.

The bar includes a private space called The Napier Railton Room, honoring the world lap record holder. This room accommodates up to 16 guests and features meticulous craftsmanship in burnished aluminum, brass hinges, and copper rivets, reminiscent of a 1933 Napier Railton. The furniture pays homage to early leatherwork found in car upholstery, incorporating details from classic luggage trunks used on BOAC (British Overseas Airways Corporation) flights between London and Hong Kong.

The bar’s cocktail menu, curated by The Peninsula London’s Director of Mixology, Florian Thireau, strikes a balance between precision engineering and inventive creativity. The menu offers classic libations reimagined with modern techniques and fresh, daily-made ingredients, including shrubs, tinctures, and infused spirits. For example, the ALDRIN cocktail combines the texture and freshness of a vodka sour with orange blossom liqueur, peppermint, pine, lemon, and egg white, while DISCO adds a tropical twist to a Negroni, featuring peach and passion fruit notes combined with Campari, sweet vermouth, and pisco. The bar also offers innovative mocktails.

Brooklands Bar serves gourmet beers and ciders, aperitifs, fine wines and spirits, and the exclusive Mach II gin from Cambridge Distillery. Chef Bosi has curated an elevated bar fare menu, including options like the Lobster roll, Welsh rarebit, and pork rillettes, Leek tart with preserved black truffle, and Whelks with tartar sauce.

The Tasting Room and The Tabac provide guests with opportunities to enjoy cigars and fine spirits. The Tasting Room, hosted by Master of Cigars Manu Harit, offers a personalized cigar experience. Manu and his team take time to understand each guest’s preferences and offer cigar recommendations from Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica. Masterclasses are also held, and a bar menu focuses on rare and fine spirits, along with exceptional cigar and Champagne pairings.

The Tasting Room takes design inspiration from The Delage Car, the first car to win at Brooklands racetrack, featuring dark-stained walnut paneling and a coffered ceiling. Leather walls are equipped with extractors to ensure no smoke enters the restaurant and bar.

The Tabac draws inspiration from Hispano Suiza racing car designs, featuring mahogany, brass, and cedar details. It houses a humidor displaying over 2,000 premier cigars from around the world, making it the highest-quality collection in London. Additionally, the hotel boasts the world’s largest public cigar locker room, with 280 lockers maintained at precise humidity and temperature levels. This allows cigar enthusiasts to pre-order, shop for favorites at The Tabac, and store their private collections, making The Tasting Room at The Peninsula London a one-of-a-kind destination for cigar aficionados.