Maison

The story

Maison Farnham: Modern Cuisine in a 15th-Century Home – Michelin Recommended

A Home, a History, a Restaurant

Maison is the realisation of a dream for chef Ben Piette and his wife Lornette. The restaurant occupies the ground floor of their own home, Wrecclesham House, a 15th-century building that has stood for over 500 years. Ben fell for the place the moment he discovered its original bread oven and a priest hole – as if the house had been waiting to be shared. True to their promise, “what’s in the house, remains in the house,” they restored, reclaimed and reused the fabric themselves, shaping the space with their own hands. The result is a dining room woven into the beams and bricks of history.

Chef Ben Piette’s Journey

Ben arrived in London from the south of France in 1997, aged 19, speaking no English. After catering school, he worked his way through kitchens in and around central London, eventually becoming Head of Hospitality at McLaren HQ, cooking for Ron Dennis and drivers like Lewis Hamilton. In 2010 he reached the semi‑finals of MasterChef: The Professionals. With Lornette, he opened his first restaurant, London House, which was featured in the Michelin Guide for a decade. Now, at Maison, he has total creative freedom, cooking organically and asking diners to trust what he puts on their plate.

Farm to Table, Season by Season

Ben champions British producers, working closely with Tom and Grace from Frensham Market Farm to complete a genuine farm‑to‑table ethos. The menu changes with what’s in season – monthly, weekly, even daily – ensuring every dish reflects the best ingredients at that moment. This hyper‑seasonal approach, rooted in modern cuisine, is the heart of the experience. Michelin recognised this dedication, awarding Maison a Recommended status in 2026.

The Experience

Dinner is served Wednesday to Saturday, with optional pre‑dinner drinks at 18:30 and service at 19:30. The atmosphere is relaxed and welcoming – Ben and Lornette have created a space where fine dining sheds its stiffness. “Ignore the past stigma of fine dining,” the website says. “We are welcoming you into our home, where you can sit back, relax and enjoy some ‘banging’ food.” With on‑site parking and a setting in a centuries‑old house, Maison offers an evening that feels both special and personal.