Aven celebrates glowing review from Giles Coren at The Times

Aven in Preston — Aven off Winckley Square

A Preston restaurant is celebrating after a visit from one of the country’s top food critics.

Giles Coren has been food critic for The Times and Sunday Times newspapers since 2002 and visited Aven, on Camden Place near Winckley Square in Preston, after seeing it described as the city’s sole fine-dining spot.

Aven has been open in its current guise for around one year after a rebrand from its previous title of 263. It has earned a spot in the Good Food Guide and the Michelin Guide.

He would write: “There is, in all the length and breadth of the great city of Preston, birthplace of Andrew Flintoff, Sir Tom Finney and Nick Park out of Wallace & Gromit, only one fine dining restaurant?”

Across 1,400 paywalled words, Coren goes on to praise both the restaurant as well as the surrounding Camden Place and Avenham Park.

He concludes: “This was top, top cooking. These are supremely gifted and thoughtful chefs. This is proper northern hospitality: original, modern, sleek — no foie gras, caviar, lobster, airs or graces.

“It is serving mostly locals (or was when I was there) who won’t put up with the sort of frilly nonsense and piss-take pricing we grudgingly accept in London. I loved it. You will too. Go on, book an advance return, take a walk in the park, make a day of it.”

Sean Wrest, head chef at Aven, said: “For us, getting such high praise from Giles Coren is beyond exciting.

“This recognition is a testament to our amazing team, our local suppliers, and the loyal community who have supported us from the beginning. We want every guest to feel the magic of what Lancashire has to offer.”

A statement from co-owners Alex Blamire and Oli Martin said: ““Seeing Aven recognized on a national scale is really special.

“It’s more than just a win for us—it’s a win for fine dining restaurants across the UK as well as Preston’s food scene and all the passionate local producers we work with.

“Despite the challenges facing restaurants today, we’re excited to keep bringing something extraordinary to our guests.”

Dining at Aven starts at £49 per person and can be booked here. You can read what Karen Gormley made of Aven on her visit here.

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