‘Farm to table’ dining comes to Tottenham Court Road

Now imagine you are in the heart of London with the city bustling past the windows.

The Orangery at Tottenham Court Road is offering a unique urban “farm to table experience” thanks to the largest on-site hydroponic farm in the capital.

70% of the farm’s produce is used in the modern British dishes in the restaurant. (Image: Peter Lowbridge) Its owners are heralding this immersive restaurant as a new era of dining where hyper-local, pesticide-free, sustainable produce is served up in delicious modern British dishes.

Set up in partnership with Square Mile Farms, it combines advanced hydroponic technology with vertical farming techniques to grow 35,000 plants and achieve a yield that’s equivalent to 1.1 acres of traditional farmland.

The farm yields the equivalent to 1.1 acres of traditional farmland. (Image: Peter Lowbridge) But the super efficient farm uses 90% less water than traditional methods as plants grow faster in the controlled, nutrient-rich, well-lit conditions and can be harvested 365 days a year.

Around 70% of the produce will be used in The Orangery Restaurant, an all day dining hub serving everything from breakfast to dinner and pre-theatre meals to Londoners going out in the West End.

Menu highlights include leek and shallot tart; farm cavolo nero and crispy herb oil; Herefordshire beef with baked Celeriac; Scottish halibut with farm chard and sea herb butter, and Northern Pasta Co radiatori, with organic seed Farm pesto and Lincolnshire Poacher.

The kitchen’s focus is on the finest British produce from premium meats and fresh seafood to artisanal cheeses and heritage grains.

Diners are surrounded by the produce that ends up on their plates. (Image: Peter Lowbridge) The walls of the restaurant display the crops, while the Chef’s Table is located in the hydroponic farm on the lower ground floor – a one-of-a-kind private dining experience with a tasting menu where you are surrounded by the very produce on your plate.

Not only that, but The Orangery is running gardening clubs, community harvests, talks and educational ‘farm tours’ for local schools and colleges to inspire the next generation to think about environmentally conscious food production.

The remaining 30% of the fresh produce will be donated monthly to schools, communities and charities across Camden.

The Orangery TCR is now open at 81 New Oxford Street, WC1A. www.orangerytcr.com