Clementine’s on the Lawn is pitched as a temporary restaurant in the grounds of Blenheim Palace, but that undersells the glorious dining options in the huge glass conservatory
placed on the south lawn of the stately home.
Named after Clementine Churchill, wife of Sir Winston Churchill, the restaurant offers breathtaking views of the South Lawn, the Palace, and nearby woodland. On offer is an array of locally sourced and inspired dishes, from Sunday roast to light snacks, with a children’s menu, all promising to be bursting with flavour. You’ll be able to sip on refreshing cocktails, mocktails, or champagne with your food, too.
We couldn’t resist the idea of afternoon tea in such juicy surroundings, so we ventured to Oxfordshire to put Clementine’s to the zest…
Arriving at Clementine’s on the Lawn
We took a stroll through the beautiful grounds of Blenheim Palace, past the Temple of Diana (the goddess of hunting, not the princess) and Churchill Memorial garden, making our way to Clementine’s through a winding route past the palace, the water terraces and alongside the great lake, before turning towards the formal gardens. The route was initially well signposted, but the directions got a little sketchy as we meandered along; with the help of the map we’d been given as we entered the grounds and just a tiny amount of backtracking, we arrived.
The conservatory is a hybrid between a pavilion and a lavish gazebo, but that doesn’t describe the grandeur of the place — for a temporary structure, it’s very impressive, and able to take 180 diners at a time. A decking path opens into a covered outside seating area and then into the dining area. It is a light, bright and airy space which, thanks to the large windows on three sides of the structure, offers excellent views of the Baroque palace and south lawns in one direction and the open meadows and woodlands on the other side. Happily, despite the outside temperature being well into the 30s, the restaurant was cool, with a gentle breeze drifting through.
We were greeted promptly and seated at our table just as swiftly, and drink orders were taken. We opted for a lemongrass tea, a latte, and a bottle of sparkling water, although the latter arrived unchilled, which was rather an oversight on a hot day. We sat back to admire the views of Blenheim Palace, which were slightly obscured by Clementine’s framework which sits at eye level when seated. This minor frustration aside, circumvented with a bit of shuffling and an upright seating position more becoming of the palatial surroundings, it really was a beautiful place to sit and relax.
Afternoon Tea at Clementine’s on the Lawn
Our food arrived shortly after the drinks, and we were given a quick rundown of what was on the three-tier stand before we tucked into the delicious-looking tower of treats. We started on the savoury layer, which included a tiny finger roll stuffed full of egg mayonnaise, a beef and horseradish slider, a gravlax blini and a coronation chicken wrap. The standout was, surprisingly, the coronation chicken, which my companion particularly enjoyed.
With the dairy-free option, there were open sandwiches, one with vegan feta and olives and one with hummus and yellow peppers, and an avocado wrap alongside the egg mayonnaise finger roll. Each element was lovely; the flavours were well balanced, the bread was fresh and light, and, importantly, there wasn’t so much that you felt stuffed before heading further up the tower.
Next, it was time to break out the scone — there was only one per person, but it was a decent size, accompanied by Cornish clotted cream and strawberry jam, and we had been assured that they weren’t limited, and if we wanted another, we could just ask. If we’d not had the rest of the desserts to tackle, we may well have, as they were delicious.
The final layer of the traditional afternoon tea comprised a piece of Victoria sponge, a macaron, a tiny chocolate tart and a miniature lemon posset, while the dairy-free option contained a slice of lemon tart, a slice of chocolate and caramel tart, a chocolate brownie, and chocolate and hazelnut torte.
My dining companion enjoyed his selection, commenting that the Victoria sponge was excellent. I did enjoy my dairy-free selection, but I was a little disappointed in the lack of variety of flavours — if you’ve got dietary requirements, you’ll need to like chocolate!
We retired to the veranda for a final post-tea drink, relaxing on a comfy sofa as we watched the world go by in front of Blenheim Palace, made even more interesting as they prepared for a Lionel Richie concert. Sadly, we couldn’t stay long enough to hear him sing.
Clementine’s on the Lawn Verdict
There’s a lot that’s right with Clementine’s on the Lawn at Blenheim Palace; the location is glorious, and the food is excellent too. The staff were, without exception, all delightful and very reactive, happy to help with any request. They weren’t very proactive, though, with little checking in on diners, leading to long periods without drinks. Usually, that could be resolved with some quick eye contact, but as you’ve got surroundings so glorious that the tables face outwards, this wasn’t quite so easy.
Still, it’s a minor blip on an otherwise faultless performance. It’s got the location, venue, food and staff locked down perfectly (with some small caveats) with very competitive prices — afternoon tea was £32 per person, with a glass of Nyetimber Classic Cuvee English sparkling wine adding another £9.50.
Finger sandwiches, tea and cake, white table cloths and an English country house — what more can you ask for on a beautiful summer’s day?
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