Overview
- Le Manoir confirmed on January 20 that Arnaud Donckele will succeed Raymond Blanc as Culinary Director, with Blanc staying on as lifetime ambassador.
- The Oxfordshire estate closed after New Year for a major refurbishment and is targeting a summer 2027 return.
- Donckele, who leads three‑Michelin‑star La Vague d’Or in Saint‑Tropez and Plénitude at Cheval Blanc Paris, will debut his cuisine in the UK while continuing his current roles.
- Plans call for a produce‑led bistro and a smaller fine‑dining restaurant shaped around the estate gardens and work with local farmers and producers.
- Belmond, part of LVMH, is overseeing the revamp; local reporting cites unconfirmed redundancies during the closure and says the private bus service is expected to restart on reopening.