An Evening with Gyles Brandreth: Celebrating 100 Years of Winnie-the-Pooh

to
£195.00 per person

Join us for a truly enchanting evening in the setting of our beautiful chapel, in the company of the incomparable Gyles Brandreth; author, broadcaster, and entertainer, as we celebrate 100 years of Winnie-the-Pooh and the timeless charm of the '100 Aker Wood'.

This exclusive event brings together fine dining and sparkling entertainment, offering guests the rare opportunity to meet Gyles in person and enjoy his trademark wit, warmth, and irresistible storytelling. The evening includes a never-before-heard story, shared especially for our guests.

Gyles will join guests during the drink’s reception in our enchanting chapel, where photographs can be enjoyed before dinner is served. Following a sumptuous three-course meal, and once tea and coffee have been poured, Gyles will take to the floor for an engaging and entertaining talk, featuring storytelling, audience interaction, and a lively Q&A session. Guests will also have the opportunity to purchase books and have them personally signed, a perfect keepsake from a memorable night.

This event has a black tie dress code.

Event highlights include:

  • A welcome glass of Canard-Duchêne Champagne
  • A four-course fine dining dinner with coffee and petit fours. Dietary requirements can be accommodated – please contact us in advance.
  • Half a bottle of wine per guest, with non-alcoholic alternatives available
  • An in person viewing of an original 1920's J.K. Farnell 'Alpha' Teddy Bear - the same toy that was gifted to Christopher 'Robin' Milne, which later became known as Winnie-the-Pooh.
  • A raffle, offering guests the opportunity to win a selection of fantastic prizes. All proceeds will be donated to the Ashdown Forest Foundation, supporting the important work they undertake in preserving and protecting the Forest.
  • Special discounted accommodation is available from £225.00 per room

View the Menu HERE

Images courtesy of Gyles Brandreth.

Book Tickets Only Book Accommodation & Ticket Package

This event is a shared-table dining experience. Groups larger than 10 may be seated at multiple tables. Please note that tickets are non-refundable. 

For members of our ‘Elite Diners’ programme, we extend a 5% ticket discount*. To secure your discount code prior to booking, kindly reach out to the Reservations Department at 01342 824988. *Discount is applicable to Elite Diners members only and cannot be extended to non-members.

Gyles Brandreth has been fascinated by the world of Winnie-the-Pooh since he was a small boy being brought up in London a few streets away from the house of Pooh’s creator, A A Milne. In the 1980s Gyles began researching the life of A A Milne and became friends with Milne’s only son, the real Christopher Robin. That friendship led to him publishing an acclaimed biography of A A Milne, Christopher Robin and Winnie-the-Pooh who all lived in the Ashdown Forest: “Somewhere a boy and a bear”, published by Penguin. 

Gyles Brandreth’s best-selling books include biographies of Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, as well as the actor Sir John Gielgud and the Victorian music-hall star, Dan Leno. He is the author of seven Victorian murder mysteries, two volumes of diaries and an acclaimed childhood memoir, Odd Boy Out. As well as a writer, he is a broadcaster, podcaster, trustee of The Queen’s Reading Room charity, former MP, Lord Commissioner of the Treasury, and Chancellor Emeritus of the University of Chester, probably best known for his appearances on shows like Just a Minute, Countdown, QI, Celebrity Gogglebox, Would I Lie to You? and This Morning. As an actor he has appeared as Malvolio in Twelfth Night, Claudius in Hamlet and Lady Bracknell in The Importance of Being Earnest. Since 2017 he has been appearing on stage with Dame Judi Dench in a show celebrating her life and on tour throughout the country with his own one-man show.