This June, Brasserie Blanc officially marked three decades of exceptional, seasonal French dining.

It feels like just yesterday that our founder, the two-Michelin-starred chef Raymond Blanc OBE, opened the doors to our very first site in Oxford back in 1996. Today, we have grown into a beloved family of 13 brasseries across the UK, but our heart remains exactly the same.

To mark this wonderful 30-year milestone, we’ve been hosting nationwide parties, including a truly magical evening on the 4th of June at our iconic Southbank brasserie.

Inside the Southbank Anniversary Celebration

With its grand, open architecture, low-lit warmth, and plush textures, Southbank provided the perfect backdrop for the night.

Guests were welcomed by a striking celebratory balloon arch before stepping inside to the sounds of live jazz from Oriana and the Charmers, who set a beautifully festive tone.

Raymond himself was there to welcome esteemed press, our wonderful suppliers, and some of our most loyal guests for an evening dedicated to the history and heart of the brasseries.

At every seat sat some beautifully designed literature detailing our 30-year story, complete with personal notes from Raymond. As a special touch, each guest was gifted a commemorative 30-year pin badge, which our entire team proudly wore alongside them throughout the evening.

The atmosphere was electric, filled with decades of shared memories, laughter, and captivating stories told by Raymond. It was a beautiful reminder of what we do best: bringing people together around the table.

A Feast for the Senses

Our culinary team pulled out all the stops, serving a curated four-course menu showcasing the very best of seasonal produce.

Guests were treated to an exquisite Salade et Essence de Tomates featuring heritage Isle of Wight tomatoes, followed by a delicate entrée of pan-fried, line-caught sea bass (Filet de Loup de Mer Poêlé).

The centerpiece of the night was a flawless Carré D’Agneau, a herb-crusted Cornish spring lamb rack, served alongside Wye Valley asparagus and Jersey Royals, paired with a continuous pour of crisp Champagne Lanson.

To ensure our plant-based guests enjoyed the exact same level of indulgence, our team crafted a stunning vegan menu.

This featured the vibrant L’Assiette du Jardinier, a beautiful spring garden still life of grilled baby courgettes and artichokes. Followed by a rich, flavourful Poivron Romano Farci with an almond and herb couscous.

The evening ended on a beautifully sweet note celebrating British summer fruits. Guests indulged in either a strawberry parfait and sorbet on a Sablé Breton, or a refreshing Fraises et Melon featuring gorgeous Gariguette strawberries.

A Show-Stopping Finale

Just as guests thought the night couldn’t get any more magical, the room dimmed for the grand finale.

A magnificent, bespoke Brasserie Blanc croquembouche was brought out, glowing with sparklers as the entire room came together to sing happy birthday.

Taking the microphone, Raymond shared some deeply heartfelt words of gratitude. He took a moment to give a special thank you to his long-standing colleague and friend, our brilliant Head of Food Development, Manoj Prasad, whose creative genius shapes our menus.

Raymond also extended his warmest thanks to some of our closest, long-term suppliers in the room, including the wonderful teams from Aubrey Allen and Champagne Lanson, whose dedication has helped shape our journey from the very beginning.

Reflecting on the milestone, Raymond commented:

“Our restaurants are very community-centric… the business grew and grew with extraordinary values about sustainability and seasonality which have only improved through better structure and better questioning.

We give you a promise of consistency, a promise that when you walk into Brasserie Blanc you get a feeling of warmth; of care; of kindness, both in the kitchen and restaurant.

To me, food should be a responsible luxury. Responsibility is very important, working with your local suppliers is very important.

Thank you to all the guests for supporting Brasserie Blanc again and again, thank you, we are very grateful.”

Rooted in Maman’s Kitchen

Gathering at Southbank reminded us exactly why this concept was born back in 1996 (originally as Le Petit Blanc). Guided by the memory of his mother, Maman Blanc, and her deep love for fresh, seasonal produce, Raymond set out to bring authentic, wholesome French cooking to the UK.

Stepping into our fourth decade, the incredible event at Southbank proved that our core values haven’t changed a bit. We remain fiercely committed to championing seasonal menus, sourcing local produce, perfecting French classics and delivering genuinely warm hospitality.

A Little Piece of Heritage to Take Home

As the evening drew to a close, we made sure our guests took a piece of our heritage home with them in the form of a rustic, bounty-filled gift bag.

Inside, guests found an incredible selection of fresh, seasonal market vegetables straight from Wellocks, including delicious Jersey Royal potatoes, vibrant heritage carrots, and a standout leek peeking out from the top.

Our friends at Aubrey Allen also provided a generous portion of Raymond’s absolute favourite, Comté cheese, complete with a bespoke tasting notes card.

To round out the treats, the bags were packed with a premium selection of celebratory refreshments. Guests were treated to a specially designed Brasserie Blanc 30-year Lucky Saint bottle, a crisp Camden Hells, a refreshing Crodino, and a fiery Goslings Ginger Beer, all complete with a handy Peroni bottle opener to ensure no one was kept waiting to enjoy them.

A Heartfelt Merci Beaucoup!

Thank you to everyone who raised a glass with us at Southbank, and to every guest, supplier and friend who has shared a meal, a laugh, or a conversation with us over the last 30 years.

Here’s to the next chapter. Santé!