Chilterns 10th Anniversary

Chilterns Bailliage 10th Anniversary Dinner October 18th 2025.

It only seems like yesterday that we set up the Chilterns Bailliage in spring 2015. We spun off from the Wessex Bailliage as a number of us lived in the Reading area, which meant less travel to go a lunch or dinner. Initially we had about 20 members, and this grew quickly to the mid-40s we are today. The initial challenge was of course recruiting new members to make the Bailliage sustainable. We had plenty of restaurant choices as there are many great venues along the River Thames from Windsor through to Oxford. We were blessed.

Barney Quinn, Bailli Chilterns and Regional General Manager Vicky Punchaye at the Roseate, Reading

Our first event was at Forbury’s Restaurant in Reading, sadly no longer here, for our 10th anniversary, again in Reading, we were in the Roseate.
Since that first lunch in October 2015, we have run over 70 events and had two excellent European wine and dine tours.

"We believe it’s the variety of venues—from cosy curry houses to majestic estates -combined with our friendly, relaxed spirit that has made the Chilterns Bailliage so successful."

Chiltern’s members attending a World Chaine Day Lunch at The Pot Kiln in Yattendon, April 2025

We have always been an active Bailliage with a good range of different types of lunches and dinners, whether it be a casual dining event in a lovely curry house, through to majestic events at Cliveden, Danesfield House or the Fat Duck.

We think it is the variety that has made us successful, as well as being a friendly, relaxed and welcoming group. We continue to strive for that variety which again is shown in our 2025 programme.

At the anniversary dinner on Saturday 18th October, I was able to provide a few statistics about Chilterns. Andy McGuinness, Jenny and I are the original 3 committee members who are still on the committee. The venue that has hosted the most events is Danesfield House with 5. The chef who has cooked for the most events is Nick Galer who has cooked for 5 events in 3 different venues. Only one person has been to all events in the 10 years of our programme, and that is Jenny Quinn, what an achievement!

Photographs by Gabriela Fok, Pauline Conway, Darryl Thomson.

Written by
Barney Quinn

Date posted
18th October 2025

This news item is from the Chilterns Bailliage, see more Chilterns News.

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Chilterns 10th Anniversary

Chilterns Bailliage 10th Anniversary Dinner October 18th 2025.

Barney Quinn, Bailli Chilterns and Regional General Manager Vicky Punchaye at the Roseate, Reading

"We believe it’s the variety of venues—from cosy curry houses to majestic estates -combined with our friendly, relaxed spirit that has made the Chilterns Bailliage so successful."

Chiltern’s members attending a World Chaine Day Lunch at The Pot Kiln in Yattendon, April 2025

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