The story
Aven, named after its neighbour Avenham Park, opened in October 2023 with a clear aim: to deliver a dining experience that Preston has never seen before. This intimate 32-cover contemporary fine dining restaurant on Camden Place has quickly made its mark, earning a Michelin Recommended status for its focused, ingredient-led Modern British cuisine.
The kitchen is led by Chef Director Oli Martin and Head Chef Sean Wrest. Oli brings 17 years of experience from Michelin-starred and AA Rosette kitchens across the UK, the South of France, and Australia. A MasterChef: The Professionals finalist in 2018, his philosophy is rooted in reconnecting with British culture, using and preserving ingredients at the peak of seasonality. Sean, who led Roots in York to its first Michelin Star in 2021, has also cooked at the Fat Duck and Maaemo. Together, they design menus around what’s available seasonally, cherry-picking the best from outstanding Lancashire suppliers and foraged wild ingredients.
The result is a series of intricate tasting menus. Lunch offers a set menu at £59 per person, while the evening brings a more extensive Tasting Menu at £79 per person. Sample dishes include a Tomato Essence, Oyster with Cucumber and Horseradish, Cod with Leek and Brown Shrimp, and Lamb with Jersey Royal and Asparagus. A dedicated vegetarian tasting menu is also available, featuring dishes like Hen of the Woods with Jersey Royal and Asparagus. Wine pairings start from £40.
Located by Winckley Square, the space is stylish and contemporary, designed for special occasions and intimate dining. The team, including Manager Samantha Haigh (formerly of Michelin-starred The Black Swan, Oldstead), provides attentive service in a relaxed and unpretentious setting. Aven is a confident addition to the Lancashire dining scene, proving that Preston is very much on the map for serious Modern British cooking.
Recognition
Ambience
Details
History
While Lancashire has long since ensconced itself on the northern culinary map, its administrative centre (a full-fledged city for over 20 years, after all) has awaited its moment in the spotlight. Step forward Aven, which opened in an odd backstreet site in the vicinity of its near-namesake Avenham Park in October 2023. Under the eagle executive eye of Lancashire-born chef-director Oli Martin (ex-Northcote et al), this city-centre venue is a tiny room (seven tables) done out in impeccable decorative style, with dark olive panelling offsetting brilliant white door frames, glass panels partitioning the space, and menus presented in little envelopes bearing the name of the booking. Set four-course menus are the mainstay, with an evening taster adding another two courses, as well as a vegetarian alternative. An opening soup of fermented mushrooms is piled with diced Jersey Royals, maitake, peas, braised radishes and bites of smoked eel, under ruffles of tasty chicken skin. To follow, a commendably imaginative fish course offers a sliver of opalescent monkfish in brown butter, topped with soft baby leek and pickled magnolia petal. The star dish at our meal was a piece of splendid chicken breast with braised and puréed turnips, wild garlic pesto and a strong chicken jus – an object-lesson in the savoury arts. The bemusing presentation of dessert saw its elements marooned in a little cluster at one edge of a huge platter, as though awaiting rescue: fine honeycomb, apple-peel tuile, cultured cream, surprisingly delicate pine parfait. That said, there is enough creative energy here to make Aven one to watch. Slick professional service adds to the gloss, while a modestly proportioned wine list is big on pairings, opening with recommendations by the small glass from £8.
3 Rosette Award for Culinary Excellence
Location
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