Gusbourne Gusbourne x Håkon Solbakk of Speilsalen - Chef Series 2026

Book a visit Gusbourne x Håkon Solbakk of Speilsalen - Chef Series 2026

We’re delighted to announce the premiere of our 2026 Chef Series – and Gusbourne’s first-ever international collaboration – with Norway’s renowned Håkon Solbakk, Executive Head Chef of Britannia Hotel’s Michelin-starred Speilsalen.

Join us on Saturday 7th March in our Cellar Door, The Nest, for lunch or dinner as Chef Solbakk and his team present a stunning four-course menu blending Norwegian and British traditions, flavours and craftsmanship. Each dish will be paired with our finest Gusbourne wines for an unforgettable experience of culinary excellence.

Price: £175

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Calendar of all our tours, tastings and special events Further information and directions

Håkon Solbakk, Executive Head Chef – Speilsalen, Britannia Hotel

As Executive Head Chef, Håkon Solbakk leads Speilsalen’s culinary team in developing menus that combine technical precision, creativity and carefully selected Nordic ingredients. His work is characterised by curiosity, craftsmanship and a genuine desire to create memorable dining experiences for guests.

Through his role, Solbakk has been central to strengthening Speilsalen’s position as one of Norway’s most ambitious restaurants. From concept development and sourcing to presentation and the overall guest journey, quality, perfection and dedication are at the heart of his culinary vision.

“I am always looking to source the best produce and quality for my work, and Gusbourne fits right into that philosophy” – Håkon Solbakk

Thomas Andersen, Executive Head Sommelier – Britannia Hotel

Thomas Andersen is the Head of Wine, Wine Cellar Manager and Executive Head Sommelier at the iconic Britannia Hotel in Trondheim, Norway. Thomas has been working with wine and food for over 20 years and has a true passion for wine and food pairing, overseeing the wine programs for all six restaurants and bars at Britannia Hotel, one of Norway’s best wine cellars.

“Gusbourne pairs so well with Norwegian and Scandinavian cuisine, and the diversity, versatility and outstanding quality throughout their production is a true joy to be working with as a sommelier” – Thomas Andersen

IN DETAIL

For the first time, Gusbourne’s prestigious Chef Series takes on an international dimension as we welcome one of our distinguished restaurant partners from beyond the UK to our Kent estate. We are honoured to host Norway’s celebrated Chef Håkon Solbakk of Speilsalen, whose creative flair and precision have earned his restaurant global acclaim. Chef Solbakk will be joined by the Britannia Hotel’s esteemed Executive Head Sommelier, Thomas Andersen, whose impeccable knowledge of pairing world-class wines will truly come to life at the table.

The experience begins with a warm welcome and an elegant Gusbourne aperitif, served alongside a selection of beautifully crafted canapés. As the experience unfolds, take your seat to enjoy the theatre, skill and artistry of Chef Solbakk and his team as they prepare a four-course menu inspired by the finest seasonal ingredients and a shared passion for craftsmanship.

Throughout the meal, Gusbourne's very own Laura Rhys MS will guide you through this exceptional culinary journey, presenting a curated selection of Gusbourne wines chosen to complement and elevate each dish.

“I’m hugely excited to be working with Håkon, Thomas and the entire Britannia Hotel team on our first international Chef Series collaboration. It’s a pleasure to partner with such an iconic hotel whose values align so closely with our own, and I can’t wait to showcase Håkon’s beautifully crafted dishes alongside Gusbourne’s award-winning wines.” Laura Rhys, Master Sommelier

Choose from a lunch or dinner sitting and join us for this unforgettable collaboration as we launch our 2026 Chef Series in style.

Lunch: 12.30pm – 3.30pm
Dinner: 6.30pm – 9.30pm

Please note: due to the nature of this unique dining experience, we are only able to offer a vegetarian alternative to the set menu. If you require this option or have any questions about the menu, please let us know in advance.

Further information

Directions + Public transport + Parking + Accessibility + Children + Dogs + Cancellations + Visit us + Allergen information + Can i bring my own picnic? +

Directions

You’ll find us by turning off Kenardington Road at the junction with Snargate Road, where the Gusbourne driveway is immediately on the left. We are a 15 minute drive from Ashford – you will approach down Kenardington Road and the turning to Snargate Road will be on your left. If you arrive at a crossroads leading into Appledore, you’ve gone too far.

We are 10 minutes from Rye – you will approach through the village of Appledore, and on leaving the village, you’ll arrive at a crossroads where you’ll take a right towards Kenardington and Ashford. This takes you on to the Kenardington Road and after a minute or two’s driving, the turning to Snargate Road will be on your right. Directions can be found here.

Gusbourne,
Kenardington Road,
Appledore, Ashford,
Kent,
TN26 2BE.

Public transport

We are located just a short taxi journey from Ashford International, with trains departing every 15 minutes from St Pancras International and Stratford International. You can also take the Hastings train from Ashford for three stops to Rye station and take a taxi from there. Appledore station is not served by taxis or regular buses.

We would highly recommend booking a taxi for both journeys to/from Gusbourne in advance of your visit.

Our preferred taxi provider is ETM Cars. Our agreed set rate from Ashford is £30 and advance bookings should be made via info@etmcars.co.uk quoting Gusbourne.

Parking

You can park free of charge at the vineyard. It is only a short walk from the parking area to the tasting room. We do not have facilities for coach parking.

Accessibility

If you or one of your party have restricted walking ability, please contact us in advance of your visit, and we’ll make arrangements for you to be as comfortable as possible, such as using our golf buggies to take you around the vineyards. The tasting room has ramp access, and accessible toilets suitable for a person with restricted walking ability and for those that use a wheelchair some of the time. We welcome registered carers and assistance dogs free of charge when they are accompanying visitors with special needs.

We have worked with AccessAble so you can find out about our facilities before you visit. See the detailed access guide to visiting Gusbourne.

Children

Our hosted experiences include a guided wine tasting, with some also offering a tour of our working vineyards. As such, these experiences are not suitable for children. You are welcome to bring children on a self-guided tour around our estate free of charge, and The Nest serves soft drinks for drivers and under-18s.

If you would like any additional advice before bringing children to the estate, please email nest@gusbourne.com, or telephone 01233 884680.

Dogs

We’re delighted to welcome dogs to the vineyard and there are plenty of spaces where they can join you during your visit. If you’re taking a self-guided tour, your dog is free to enjoy our outdoor areas with you, and they’re also welcome in our outdoor hospitality spaces.

Inside our tasting room, The Nest, your dog is welcome to join you on the ground floor only. This is where we host our Sparkling Tasting Flights and Vineyard Platters during the cooler months. Because our Estate Tour, Icons Experience and other special events take place upstairs, dogs aren’t able to join those experiences.

For everyone’s comfort and safety, please keep dogs on a lead at all times.

Cancellations

If you have booked a ticket for a tour or wine tasting event and you do not arrive for your scheduled booking, then the tickets cannot be exchanged or refunded, unless at our discretion. Any request for a refund or transfer must be made in writing, directed to nest@gusbourne.com. If we cancel your booking in its entirety, you will be entitled to a full refund for the purchase price. Tickets will be exchanged or refunded at the price paid for them, but no further compensation will be paid. To read our full cancellation policy click here.

Visit us

We are a short 15 minute taxi ride from Ashford train station and have a selection of cab companies we can recommend booking for your journey. If coming by car, there is free parking available on site. To read more information on getting to Gusbourne, please visit the link below.

See full directions

Allergen information

If you have a food allergy, please make a member of staff aware as soon as possible.

Although every effort is made to provide allergen free dishes, owing to our kitchen layout we cannot guarantee cross contamination of any of the following 14 allergens: cereals, cereals containing gluten, crustaceans, eggs, fish, lupin, milk, molluscs, mustard, peanuts, sesame, soybeans, sulphur dioxide & sulphites, tree nuts. Our dishes are therefore not guaranteed as “free-from”.

For more information or details of menu ingredients please speak to a member of staff.

Can i bring my own picnic?

We kindly ask that only food and drink purchased at Gusbourne is consumed on site. This allows us to ensure the best possible experience for all our guests and helps us support our local food producers. Through the summer months, you can enjoy casual dining options on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. You can find out more here.