CELEBRITY CHEF STUART GILLIES' INSIDER GUIDE TO SEVENOAKS
Restaurateur Stuart Gillies Turns His Discerning Palate to Sevenoaks, for our Ultimate Food and Drink Guide
Celebrity Chef, Stuart Gillies was CEO of The Gordon Ramsay Group for seven years and before that, earned international acclaim as chef at Michelin-starred restaurants including Daniel in New York, Hotel Lord Byron in Rome and The Connaught alongside Angela Hartnett. And when he’s not popping up on TV screens in shows like Saturday Kitchen, Hell’s Kitchen and Great British Menu, he’s now busy running his two restaurants, Number Eight in Sevenoaks and Bank House in Chislehurst with his wife Cecilia.
Launched in 2022, Number Eight benefits from their 40 years' experience at the top of the hospitality world and relationships with the best, luxury artisan suppliers for their family-run dining experience. The Modern European and traditional British dining destination provides relaxed and accessible luxury to everybody, including children and even welcoming dogs.
The cosy restaurant and bar offers seasonal à la carte menus, weekly changing set menus of classics, weekend Sunday roast and brunch menus, as well as children's menus. Dishes include Crab Fettuccine, prawn sauce, onions and chilli and Grilled Chart Farm Venison Pavé, blackberry jus, rosemary potatoes and buttered savoy.
​ Like the dishes, the interior is focussed on comfort and elegance, with floor to ceiling windows, parquet floors, warm tan leather and velvet blue banquettes plus a marble-topped bar. There is an outdoor terrace for sunny, al fresco dining and a semi-private dining area for up to 14 guests in The Gallery, which doubles as an intimate space to showcase work by up and coming artists. ​ The menu reflects Stuart’s years, cooking and tasting his way around the world from Stockholm and Rome to New York and London. He has turned these refined taste buds to the historic market town around Number Eight’s beautiful, 16th century building to bring us his guide to eating and drinking around Sevenoaks.
Stuart Gillies is a celebrity chef and owner of Bank House, 11 High St, Chislehurst BR7 5AB
and Number Eight, 8 London Road, Sevenoaks TN13 1AJ
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COFFEE
MALABAR COFFEE HOUSE
Malabar Coffee House is a local, family-run business, which shares our Number Eight terrace during the day. They serve great tasting, small production Fair-Trade coffee and giant pastries, which are a treat when I’m working alone in Sevenoaks in the early mornings.
Malabar Coffee House, 81 High St, Sevenoaks TN13 1LE
BREAKFAST
SOPRANO
Soprano café is cosy and reliable. It has a friendly team and is good value. However, for my afternoon treat, my absolute favourite is Dulce cafe, which serves pots of tea and has a lovely selection of locally made cakes and biscuits. It's the perfect afternoon spot for a manager meeting.
Soprano, 8 Dorset St, Sevenoaks TN13 1LL
LUNCH
BEAUX BAGELS
When I’m in a rush, Beaux seems to feed the whole of Sevenoaks with its delicious bagels - they constantly have a queue out the door. However, it’s takeaway only. For a sit down, light lunch, the Basil Café makes fresh quiches and salads, which I love.
Beaux Bagels, 24A London Rd, Sevenoaks TN13 1AP
DINNER
TALLOW
It has to be Tallow restaurant, just between Sevenoaks and Tunbridge Wells. I was last here with [TV wine expert] Olly Smith for lunch and we both thought it was delicious.
Tallow, 15A Church Rd, Southborough, Tunbridge Wells TN4 0RX
DRINKS
SQUERRYES WINERY
Squerryes wine room and Westerham Brewery, which are joined under the same roof. They have a great selection of some of the best the area has to offer, grown locally.
Squerryes Winery, Beggars Lane, Westerham TN16 1QP
INSIDER TIP
THE STAG THEATRE
The local Stag Theatre in the heart of Sevenoaks, which is brilliant. Not remotely as local and simple as you might expect, it has some amazing tribute acts and shows, which are well worth booking ahead.
The Stag, London Rd, Sevenoaks TN13 1ZZ
