Ladies’ Lunch and a Masterchef: The Professionals Finalist. The Wykeham Arms, Winchester

The Wessex Bailliage’s much-loved annual Ladies’ Lunch was celebrated in splendid style on 17th June 2026, at The Wykeham Arms in Winchester. Set between Winchester Cathedral and the city’s famous college, this distinctive 18th-century coaching inn offered a setting rich in character, history and charm for one of the Bailliage’s most convivial informal gatherings.

Guests gathered in the private dining room on the first floor, where the atmosphere was relaxed, welcoming and full of good cheer. General Manager and Maître Restaurateur Jon Howard had arranged an excellent luncheon, while Head Chef Luke Emmess, a finalist in Masterchef: The Professionals, presented a well-balanced menu, designed around some of the dishes he created in the TV series. The lunch reflected the quality and care for which The Wykeham Arms, holder of two AA Rosettes, is so highly regarded

Fine food, attentive hospitality and lively conversation combined to make the occasion especially memorable.