Hampshire wine estate and London’s Quality Chop House reunite chefs for one-off British food and wine dinner

Hambledon Wine Estate in Hampshire will host a special collaborative dinner with London’s Quality Chop House this March. Taking place at Hambledon’s on-site restaurant within the South Downs National Park, the dinner will feature a five-course menu crafted by Rob McLeary, head chef at The Restaurant at Hambledon Wine Estate, and Shaun Searley, executive chef at Quality Chop House. Their aim is to showcase British seasonal produce and pair it with Hambledon’s acclaimed English sparkling wines.

Hambledon Wine Estate, founded in 1952 and widely regarded as England’s oldest commercial vineyard, has recently come under joint ownership of Berry Bros & Rudd and Symington Family Estates. It is known for its traditional method sparkling wines, which have received favourable comparisons to Champagne in recent blind tastings. The collaboration with Quality Chop House, a London restaurant with a history spanning over 150 years, marks a significant event for both establishments.

The dinner is also a reunion for McLeary and Searley, who first met over two decades ago as students at South Downs College. Their careers have since intersected at various points, including a stint together at London’s Paternoster Chop House. Both now lead Michelin Guide-recommended kitchens and have developed reputations for championing British ingredients and culinary heritage.

The event will be held in Hambledon’s oak-clad restaurant, which offers views over the surrounding national park. The menu, designed to reflect the chefs’ shared commitment to local sourcing, will be paired with a selection of Hambledon’s sparkling wines, including its Classic Cuvée and Blanc de Blancs NV.

The estate’s recent expansion includes a 40-cover restaurant, a courtyard dining area and a cellar door shop, as well as offerings such as vineyard tours and tastings. The area’s belemnite chalk soils are geologically similar to those of Champagne, making it particularly well-suited to growing traditional Champagne grape varieties like Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier.

This one-night-only dinner is a celebration of British food and wine, as well as the longstanding friendship and professional partnership between the two chefs.

Food Desk

Rob McLeary and Shaun Searley’s collaborative dinner takes place on 6^th March 2026 at The Restaurant at Hambledon Wine Estate, East Street, Hambledon, Waterlooville, Hampshire PO7 4RY. For further information or to book, visit here.

For further information about Hambleton Wine Estate, visit their website here.

For further information about Quality Chop House, visit their website here.