To celebrate French Mother’s Day, we had the pleasure of hosting a truly unique occasion at Brasserie Blanc Winchester.

It was a day dedicated to the heart of the family, Maman, and we were honoured to be joined by Raymond Blanc himself for a celebratory four-course meal that captured the very essence of our culinary patrimoine.

The afternoon was a beautiful reminder that the best memories are always made around the table.

A Menu Inspired by Maman Blanc

The journey began with an incredibly personal touch: Soup Pistou ‘Façon Maman Blanc’. This Raymond classic is a tribute to his own mother’s cooking, setting a nostalgic and warm tone for the afternoon. 

At Brasserie Blanc, the celebration of motherhood is close to our hearts in more ways than one. In our Winchester kitchen, the day held extra significance as it was led by our Head Chef, who is not only a mother herself but has been a vital part of the Brasserie Blanc family for 10 years. Seeing her craft dishes dedicated to Maman while Raymond shared stories of his own made the afternoon feel truly special.

For the main course, the Provençale Crusted Spring Lamb Rack, which was accompanied by aubergine caviar and vibrant spring vegetables – adding une touche d’élégance to the traditional Mothering Sunday roast.

An Afternoon with Raymond Blanc

The atmosphere was alive with a warm, celebratory energy. Dressed in glamorous gowns, The Knightingales provided the ultimate vintage soundtrack, their smooth renditions of Sinatra and Nat King Cole classics blending perfectly with the hum of happy chatter and the constant clinking of glasses.

The absolute highlight of the afternoon was, of course, our Chef Patron, Raymond Blanc. Between courses, Raymond moved effortlessly between the tables, sharing stories and raising a glass with guests. His boundless energy completely filled the room, making everyone feel less like diners in a restaurant and more like old friends at a family dinner party.

With Raymond’s books and our commemorative ’30 Years of Brasserie Blanc’ leaflets beautifully displayed throughout, it was the perfect opportunity for guests to dive into our heritage – and take a little piece of BB history home with them.

Celebrate the French Way at All Our Brasseries

While Raymond hosted the festivities in Winchester, the spirit of Maman was felt across every single one of our sites. Nationwide, our guests enjoyed the same seasonal Lamb specials and raised a toast with Champagne Lanson at our special anniversary pricing of £10 a glass – which you can still get a taste of until the 30th June 2026!

From the first pour of an aperitif to the final coffee at 3pm, it was a day of rare and lasting warmth.

Join the Festivities 

If you weren’t able to join us in Winchester this time, don’t worry – our 30th-anniversary celebrations are only just beginning. Next up, you can catch Raymond Blanc in person at our exclusive Southbank evening this Thursday 4th June, closely followed by our flagship event in Oxford on Thursday 11th June. 

If you can’t make it to the main headline events, you can still celebrate at your local site; on the 11th June, all of our brasseries nationwide (excluding Threadneedle Street and Chancery Lane) will be hosting their own parties with live music. 

Plus, we’re keeping the birthday perks going all month long. When you download our Le Club by Brasserie Blanc app and order a main course, you can try our new Cointreau Sour cocktail and get the second one entirely on us.

More of a Champagne lover? Toast our 30th year with Champagne Lanson for just £10 a glass, or get the whole table celebrating with a bottle for £50.

Don’t miss out on our June events and exclusive offers – book your table today!

À bientôt.

Photography: David McKibbin