Hilston Park’s International Menu

Food as a Foundation for Group Experience

At Hilston Park, mealtimes are not a break from the programme. They are part of it. When school groups, corporate teams and private guests sit down together after a morning of activity, the dining table becomes one of the most important spaces on the estate.

Our catering team has spent years building a menu that reflects this. The Hilston Park International Menu was developed in response to the increasingly diverse groups we welcome throughout the year — students from different cultural backgrounds, dietary traditions, and lived experiences.

What the Menu Includes

The menu rotates across the week and draws from cuisines including South Asian, Mediterranean, East African, and British traditional. Every dish is prepared fresh on-site in our heritage kitchen, with no processed substitutes for dietary variations.

• Halal and vegetarian options available at every sitting
• Allergen information shared with group leaders before arrival
• Vegan and gluten-free alternatives prepared separately
• Hot breakfast every morning with multiple choices
• Packed lunches available for full-day activity groups

Why It Matters for School Groups

For many school trips, food is a logistical afterthought. Not here. When students from diverse backgrounds recognise dishes from their own culture on the table, it signals something important: that this place was designed for them too.

Teachers who plan school residentials regularly tell us that this is one of the details families ask about most before a trip. Having a clear, inclusive menu — with no additional requests needed — removes a significant source of pre-trip anxiety for both families and school organisers.

The kitchen team at Hilston Park went above and beyond to ensure every student had something they genuinely enjoyed at every meal. It made a real difference to how settled the group felt from day one.

How to Share Dietary Requirements

Before your group arrives, the Hilston Park team collects all dietary and allergen information through your group leader. This is reviewed by the kitchen and built into the daily menu for your stay. There is no supplementary cost for dietary variations.

For schools, we recommend sharing individual dietary sheets at the point of booking confirmation so the team has sufficient time to plan accordingly.