London North Eastern Railway (LNER) is celebrating its 100th anniversary by launching a pop-up restaurant featuring dishes served to train passengers over the past century.
The ‘LNER 1923 Restaurant’ will be held on the evenings of 6 and 7 November at The Cookery School at The Grand in York – the former HQ of LNER.
Diners will be transported back in time at this immersive supper-club style event, with dishes inspired by the past, present and future amid 1920s decor and music from the roaring twenties.
Courses will reflect the years 1923, 2023 and even 2123, with a futuristic dessert forecasting the potential onboard cuisine on LNER’s Azuma trains 100 years from now. The menu is as follows:
Starter – 1923 – A pairing of two dishes from actual 1920s LNER menu
Crème de pois vert et sole Devon – A chilled pea soup with watercress reduction and slow-cooked sole (or ‘faux fish’ watermelon steak for vegan/gluten free guests)
Drink pairing: 1920s cocktail, the ‘Bees Knees’, featuring dry gin infused with honey and lemon juice
Main – 2023 – Inspired by the current LNER menu and using high quality ingredients from across the east coast route
Confit chicken with chanterelle cream reduction, wilted cavolo nero and cream potato
Vegan/gluten-free option: Chestnut terrine with chanterelle cream reduction, wilted cavolo nero and creamed potato
Drink pairing: crisp white wine currently served onboard LNER trains
Dessert – 2123
Mushroom panna cotta, spirulina ‘moss’ with a rhubarb, pear and ginger gel cover, finished with amaranth micro blossom
Drink pairing: instant infused gin fizz, with homemade gin and British fruit and herbs
The event is free of charge, though LNER is requesting that people make donations to York Foodbank. Guests are advised to bring a small selection of non-perishable, unopened goods that will be collected by the charity on the day.
Reservations are available via Eventbrite. LNER tells Business Traveller that “tickets will be released daily” and that there is “unprecedented interest”.
Claire Ansley, customer experience and people director at LNER, said:
“For the past 100 years, LNER’s chefs have created culinary delights for our customers, always striving for excellence. Whilst our menu has evolved over the years, our commitment hasn’t wavered, and ‘The 1923 Restaurant’ gives us an opportunity to celebrate this and spotlight the culinary talent we continue to nurture. The menu will take guests on a mouth-watering journey through the decades whilst representing the evolution of the LNER brand.”
The 1923 Restaurant comes following research from LNER, which revealed that over a third of Brits (36 per cent) find long train journeys more appealing as it gives them a chance to relax and enjoy some good food. A further 32 per cent say onboard dining takes the stress out of their journey and makes it feel more leisurely.
Earlier this year LNER unveiled its first named and liveried Azuma train as part of its centenary celebrations:
