Visit Knowle’s debut Dining Club brought together food lovers and locals alike for an evening that was as sociable as it was delicious – and left everyone talking about what’s coming next.
Guests arrived at Loki, where a complimentary welcome drink and a buzz of anticipation set the tone. Nobody knew which restaurants they’d be visiting or in what order, and the guessing game alone made for a lively start to the evening. Loki Manager Tom Steventon said “The atmosphere in Loki was absolutely buzzing. We loved being involved in this and we’re looking forward to the next one”.
Splitting into three groups, diners embarked on a rotating tour of three of Knowle’s fantastic restaurants – Bon Gusto, Cheals and Eros where they had a choice of dishes. Starters were enjoyed across all three venues before groups switched for mains: those at Bon Gusto were treated to chicken breast stuffed with blue cheese and asparagus wrapped in parma ham served in a creamy dill sauce, guests at Eros were blown away by the moussaka, and diners at Cheals savoured sublime braised shoulder of Cornish lamb served with cauliflower, buttered leeks and crispy polenta with caper and mint sauce. A final rotation brought everyone to their last remaining restaurant for dessert, before the whole group reconvened at Warren’s Bar for a complimentary after-dinner drink – the perfect ending to compare dishes, routes and highlights.
Matt Cheal, of Cheals restaurant, said: “Last night was a real success – everything ran smoothly, and the atmosphere was just right. It was a really well-rounded evening for everyone. Well done to Jenna and the team.”
Dimitris, from Eros, said: ” Yesterday evening came together brilliantly, and everything was exactly as planned. The whole event felt relaxed, well-coordinated, and enjoyable for everyone involved. Huge credit to Jenna and the team for putting together such a smooth and successful night”.
The evening drew praise not just for the food, but for the way it brought people together. One guest, Mary, said: “I loved talking to so many new people. Every time we moved restaurants, we had an opportunity to mix with different people in our group – it was such a sociable evening.” Another guest added: “I hadn’t been to Eros before, so I was really pleased to try it. I’ll certainly be coming again.”
Knowle boasts a fantastic array of independent restaurants, from fine dining to relaxed quick bites, alongside a great mix of bars – there really is something for everyone. The night was designed to showcase exactly that variety, giving guests a taste of what’s right on their doorstep.
Jenna Porch, Visit Knowle Events Director, and Office Manager at Tirebuck Recruitment said: “We love Knowle and we love Knowle’s restaurants – we wanted to shine a light on them and show just how much this village has to offer. To see everyone enjoying the food, the venues and each other’s company was exactly what we hoped for.”
The event has already sparked demand for a follow-up. Visit Knowle has confirmed that a second event is in the pipeline, to be known as the Knowle Dining Club – watch this space for details.
Image: Tom (Loki), Sue (Visit Knowle), Vini (Bon Gusto), Dimitris (Eros), Matt (Cheal’s), Jenna (Visit Knowle), Rohan (Cheal’s) and Macy (Cheal’s)