Dine like a King in Charles’ favourite room at Scottish mansion
Diners are to be given the chance to experience an 18th century feast in the King’s favourite room at Dumfries House.
Charles takes most of his evening meals in the Pink Dining Room while staying at the Scottish stately home in Ayrshire.
The room – with its pale rosy hue – is the best preserved in the mansion, which was saved for the nation in 2007 by a consortium led by Charles as the Prince of Wales.
The King is a particular fan of the pink-tinted rococo plasterwork on the walls and ceiling, inspired by the Roman ruins of Palmyra in Syria.
Menus will be based on 18th century dishes, such as poached salmon, fish soup, and manchet bread for starters, followed by roasted venison and beef, parmentier potatoes and a juniper sauce, and lemon and pistachio syllabub, bread and butter pudding, and apple and almond trifle for dessert.
Evan Samson, who leads the front of house team at Dumfries House, said: “For a select number of guests, the 18th century dining experience will be authentic to the 1700s, with traditional butler service – including the meal being served ‘family-style’ – and a menu researched and prepared by our chefs that reflects the culinary fashions typical of country houses in that age.”
The origins of the grand room are outlined on the Foundation’s website.
“Dining rooms were the hub of social life in the 18th century, so right from the start, it was more elaborately decorated than any other room in the house,” it says.
The bespoke dining experience follows a similar one at the Queen Mother’s former home the Castle of Mey in the summer where guests were invited to eat at the same table used by the King and the late Queen Elizabeth II, and tour the Queen Mother’s gardens.
Guests will be served produce grown in the education garden in the grounds, with dishes such as such as pan fried cod with onion puree and artichoke, followed by apple crumble and ice cream.
Dumfries House near Cumnock is the headquarters of The King’s Foundation, which Charles established to train the next generation of skilled craftspeople – including in fashion and textiles – in heritage techniques essential to many traditional UK industries.
More information can be found at dumfries-house.org.uk including stays at Dumfries House Lodge, which sits on the edge of the estate a few hundreds metres from the main Dumfries House.