Wine evenings in The Cellar, Ryde
One room. Five courses. Five Bordeaux.One room. Seven courses. Five wines.
On Thursday 29 October, Chef Robert Thompson MBE’s kitchen cooks five courses to five wines from Bordeaux, from a Crémant with the snacks to a Sauternes with the pear tarte Tatin. One evening in The Cellar, around the table together.
A handful of evenings a year where Chef Robert Thompson MBE’s kitchen cooks to a wine flight, and a guest host tells you why each bottle is in the room. Thirty-six seats, communal tables, one seating.
£125 per guest, with matching wines. A vegetarian menu by request.
Evenings are announced to the list a month before they go public, and have sold out every time.
The next eveningThursday 29 October, 7pm
Bordeaux, around one table.
Five courses from Robert and the team, each poured with a Bordeaux chosen for it: a Crémant with the snacks, a Pauillac with the beef, a Sauternes with the pear tarte Tatin. One evening in The Cellar, enjoyed around the table together.
- When
- Thursday 29 October 2026, 7pm.
- Price
- £125 per guest: five courses with matching wines.
- Where
- The Cellar, Royal Maritime House, Ryde.
- Vegetarian
- A vegetarian menu by request. Tell us when you book.
The menu and the wines
- SnacksParmesan cheese gougère with autumn truffle. Bruschetta of cured pork loin, grilled figs and Pedro Ximénez. Croustade of yellowfin tuna with soy, yuzu, ginger and carrot.Crémant de Bordeaux
- Grilled fillet of sea bream, white Bordeaux beurre blancPoached oysters, roasted cucumber, chives, lemon and dill oil.La Réserve de Lucien Lurton, Bordeaux Blanc
- Cannelloni of roasted corn-fed chickenRisotto of ceps, Parmesan and truffle, cep and Madeira jus.Château Tour Baladoz, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru
- Roasted fillet of grass-fed beef, bone marrow and parsley crustGlazed shallots, watercress purée, pommes Anna and sauce Bordelaise.Château Batailley, Pauillac
- Tarte Tatin of Williams pearsPoached pears in Sauternes, Roquefort ice cream and pear crisps.Sauternes Classique Ginestet
A sample menu. Dishes can change with what comes into the kitchen.
How the evening runsNot a tasting with canapés
A full dinner, built around Bordeaux.
Paced for conversation. One evening, starting at 7pm. Five courses, each with a wine of its own.
Five courses
- 01Snacks
- 02Sea bream
- 03Chicken cannelloni
- 04Fillet of beef
- 05Pear tarte Tatin
Five wines
- 01Crémant de Bordeaux
- 02Bordeaux Blanc
- 03Saint-Émilion Grand Cru
- 04Pauillac
- 05Sauternes
This evening’s pairings. Dishes can change with what comes into the kitchen.
- The room
- The Cellar, beneath RT Café Grill, with the wine room visible through the doors. One evening, enjoyed around the table together.
- The format
- One sitting, starting at 7pm. Five courses, each poured with its own wine.
- The wines
- Five from Bordeaux: a Crémant, a Bordeaux Blanc, a Saint-Émilion Grand Cru, a Pauillac and a Sauternes.
How the evening runsNot a tasting with canapés
A full dinner, built around the wines.
Paced for conversation. One seating at 7.30pm. Seven courses, each introduced by the host. No second sitting: the evening is yours.
Seven courses
- 01First course
- 02Second course
- 03Third course
- 04Fourth course
- 05Fifth course
- 06Sixth course
- 07Seventh course
Five wines
- 01First wine
- 02Second wine
- 03Third wine
- 04Fourth wine
- 05Fifth wine
The shape of the evening, as a guide. The menu and the pairings themselves change with each host.
- The room
- Communal tables in the cellar dining rooms, with the wine room visible through the doors. Intimate but lively, and designed for talking across the table.
- The format
- One seating at 7.30pm. Seven courses, each introduced by the host. No second sitting: the evening is yours.
- The wines
- A five-wine flight chosen to sit alongside the menu. Some you will know, some you will not, and you will hear exactly why each is there.
The next eveningDates are released to the list first
The next evening.
When one is confirmed, it appears here with the host, the theme and the menu.
- Currently
- No date on sale. The next one will be announced to the list first.
- The last one
- Fruits of the Sea, with wine writer and broadcaster Helena Nicklin, sold its 36 seats before the public announcement.
Previous evening
Fruits of the Sea.
Seven courses drawn from the ocean, paired with five wines chosen and introduced by Helena Nicklin, co-host of The Three Drinkers and drinks writer for The Sun. Thirty-six seats, sold out.
What people book it for
An evening, not a tasting.
Wine Evenings suit a pair of curious drinkers, a group of friends who would rather learn something than simply order a bottle, and anyone who has been meaning to understand a flight properly. It is relaxed and conversational: no pretension, no jargon.
If you would rather have the room to yourself, The Cellar takes private parties of 8 to 36, and Thompson’s runs a tasting menu at lunch and dinner on selected dates.
The list
Hear it first.
One message when the next evening is confirmed, with the date, the host and priority booking. Nothing else.
Wine Evenings are limited to 36 seats and have sold out ahead of public announcement every time. Subscribers hear a full month early.
Rather not use the form? Email info@robertthompson.co.uk with “Wine Evenings” in the subject line, or call 01983 526118 and we will add you.
Before you book.
The questions we are asked most about Wine Evenings. Anything else, call the team on 01983 526118.
How much is a Wine Evening?
The Bordeaux evening on Thursday 29 October is £125 per guest for five courses with matching wines. The evening before it was £165 per guest for seven courses and a five-wine flight. Each one is priced when its date is announced.
Can I use a gift voucher?
Yes. Call 01983 526118 to book, and we’ll take the voucher in place of payment.
How many seats are there?
The Cellar seats up to 36 on communal tables, with one sitting each evening. The Bordeaux evening on Thursday 29 October starts at 7pm.
Can I book a table for two?
Yes. Seats are sold individually and you will be seated together on a communal table. It is a sociable format by design.
Can you cater for dietary requirements?
Tell us when you book. The menu is set and paired to the wines, but the kitchen can work around most requirements with notice.
Is there step-free access?
The Cellar is on the lower ground floor and there is no step-free access. Please speak to us before booking if that affects you.
Can we have a private wine evening?
Yes. For groups of 8 to 36 we can run a wine-paired dinner in a private room. .
Take a seat.Be first to hear.
The Bordeaux evening, Thursday 29 October, 7pm.
One email, a month before the seats go public.