The Fat Duck to get festive with launch of first Christmas menu

The three-Michelin-starred dining room has created a £375 a head "edible adventure", named The Fable Tree, that will focus on the role of the Christmas tree.

The menu will run throughout November and December, and is billed as a “celebration of Christmas and the stories that revolve around it”.

The Fat Duck says “all elements" of its current service style will remain, with multi-sensory plates presented in its “trademark playful style". Given the restaurant's current menu includes liquid nitrogen cocktails and a dish eaten wearing headphones, it seems unlikely the seasonal offer will feature a traditional turkey dinner.

"This is the most exciting thing we have ever done," says Blumenthal. “Nostalgia is a key element that lies at the core of what we do at The Fat Duck. Our role is to help our guests recall their happiest memories.

“Christmas is one of my favourite times of the year.  I love the sights, sounds and smells of the festive period, but I can’t stand the traditional Christmas dinner."

The Fat Duck opened in 1995 and has held three Michelin stars since 2004. It was named the best restaurant in the world by the World’s 50 Best Restaurants in 2005.

Recent accounts show pre-tax profits at The Fat Duck fell from £533,145 to £297,788 in the year to 27 May 2018, which director Peter Moody blamed on a “period of transition” for the business.

Booking lines for The Fat Duck's Christmas menu open at 12pm today (3 July) for November and on 7 August for December.