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Ascot may be best known for racing and its grand social occasions, but there is plenty to explore beyond the racecourse. On London Road, Bluebells Restaurant offers modern European cooking in a smart, approachable setting, with distinct menus for lunch, dinner and Sunday lunch.
The restaurant describes its approach as “relaxed yet formal”, which captures the mood well. There is enough sense of occasion for celebrations and evening dining, without making a leisurely lunch or Sunday meal feel overly ceremonial.
A Polished Setting in Ascot
Bluebells occupies a whitewashed building on London Road, with an interior that brings considerably more character than the exterior might suggest. Dark green tones, rose-gold detailing and distinctive tiling give the main dining room a richer feel, while the conservatory offers a lighter alternative.
The overall effect suits its Ascot location. Smart without being imposing, the restaurant works equally well for a celebratory dinner or a longer lunch.
Seasonal Cooking at the Centre
Bluebells serves separate lunch and dinner menus from Wednesday to Saturday, both following a two- or three-course format. The cooking is modern European, with British produce appearing regularly and familiar ingredients handled with a more considered touch. As the menus change seasonally, individual dishes will naturally evolve.
Starters
Chicken liver parfait comes with whipped butter, blackberries, baby onions and roasted onion brioche, while beetroot-cured salmon tartare is paired with dark rye crumble, cured egg yolk and dill crème fraîche.
More substantial choices include an oxtail, chive and potato cake with courgette cream, horseradish emulsion and rosemary crostini. Broad bean and charcoal arancini comes with a Parmesan crisp, Greek yoghurt and red onion marmalade, while red pepper, garlic and spinach tortellini is served with broccoli, herb oil and sauce romesco. At dinner, Cornish crab with Isle of Wight tomatoes, pickled cucumber and mozzarella ice cream adds another seafood option.
Main Courses
At dinner, fillet of Torre Meadow beef is served with heritage potatoes, pickled kohlrabi, grilled peaches, parsley purée and black treacle jus. Cherry Orchard pork fillet comes with braised pig cheek, Savoy cabbage, celeriac mash, baby carrots and pancetta foam, while roasted rump of lamb is accompanied by aubergine, marjoram gnocchi, charred Romanesco and chilli and tomato sauce.
Fish dishes include pan-fried skate wing with pommes dauphine, crushed garden peas, roasted fennel and tartare sauce, and potato-wrapped cod with pearl barley risotto, monk’s beard, caperberries and lemon mayonnaise. Mushroom and hazelnut fritters with cauliflower, butternut squash, spinach, halloumi and jalapeño gremolata provide the vegetarian main. At lunch, feather blade of beef replaces the dinner menu’s fillet, while much of the remaining selection carries across.
Desserts
The dessert menu includes strawberry and vanilla mousse with basil and mint sorbet, and chocolate and coffee crème brûlée with praline truffles and amaretti biscuits. Summer berry and lemon trifle comes with orange and cinnamon shortbread and flaked almonds, while passion fruit cheesecake is paired with macarons, mango and chilli salsa, and lime and coconut sorbet.
Dinner also features a dark chocolate and cherry tart with honey and mascarpone ice cream. A selection of cheeses with flavoured wafers, celery, grapes and chutney offers a savoury finish.
Sundays Done the Bluebells Way
Sunday lunch shifts the focus towards traditional roasts, while retaining several starters from the seasonal menu. Main-course choices include roasted forerib of Torre Meadow beef with Yorkshire pudding, free-range chicken with sage and onion stuffing, and loin of Cherry Orchard pork with apple compote and crackling. All are served with roast potatoes and market vegetables.
The potato-wrapped cod and mushroom and hazelnut fritters provide alternatives to the roasts, followed by a dessert selection largely shared with the lunch menu. It is a familiar Sunday format, handled with the same attention to detail seen elsewhere on the menu.
A Wine List Made for the Table
The wine list has impressive breadth for an intimate restaurant. Champagne includes Louis Roederer, Veuve Clicquot, Bollinger and Ruinart, with Dom Pérignon and Louis Roederer Cristal among the prestige labels. Bluebell Vineyards in West Sussex represents English sparkling wine, alongside an alcohol-free option from Wild Idol.
France is particularly strong among the still wines. White Burgundy ranges from Chablis and Pouilly-Fuissé to Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet and Chassagne-Montrachet, while the Loire selection includes Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé. The wider list reaches Italy, Spain, Portugal, Austria, Germany, England and several New World regions.
Bordeaux leads the reds, with bottles from Saint-Émilion, Margaux, Pomerol, Pauillac and Saint-Julien. Burgundy and Rhône are well covered, while the Italian selection includes Barolo, Brunello di Montalcino, Tignanello and Sassicaia. Monbazillac, Botrytis Riesling and Tokaji 5 Puttonyos round out the list for dessert.
The Feel of a Meal at Bluebells
Bluebells occupies a comfortable position between a local favourite and an occasion restaurant. The surroundings bring enough formality to make dinner feel special, while the straightforward menu structure keeps the experience accessible.
Lunch offers a slightly lighter way to experience the kitchen, dinner brings the broadest choice, and Sunday has its own identity around the roast menu. This flexibility is one of Bluebells’ strengths, allowing the restaurant to suit different occasions without changing its overall character.
One to Remember in Ascot
Bluebells is a strong choice for diners looking beyond Ascot’s hotels and racecourse for an independent restaurant. Seasonal modern European cooking, a particularly substantial wine list and a well-judged setting give it enough substance for a special occasion without making the experience feel unnecessarily formal.
For lunch, dinner or a polished Sunday roast in Berkshire, it is an address well worth knowing.
Location: London Rd, Sunninghill, Ascot SL5 0PU
