If your idea of a Christmas party involves something a little more elevated than paper hats and prosecco, The Curious Taproom in Ashford might just be the festive upgrade you’re looking for. Set within the award-winning Curious Brewery, this sleek, glass-fronted restaurant and taproom offers the perfect blend of modern design, exceptional food and a touch of Kentish craftsmanship.
The brewery, named UK Brewer of the Year 2019, is known for its inventive approach to beer - crisp, elegant brews made with a winemaker’s precision - and the restaurant channels that same sense of curiosity into its food. This year’s Curious Festive Feasting Menu is designed for sharing and celebration. Snacks for the table set the tone: parmesan biscuits with walnut ketchup, beetroot tartare pani puri, and cured trout with lemon gel and horseradish snow.
For the main event, guests choose one feasting dish for the table: porchetta with Curious apple sauce and maple-glazed carrots, or braised shoulder of venison with honey-glazed parsnips and pickled pears. Sides like roasted pink fir potatoes and brussels tops with chestnuts arrive family-style, while desserts such as sticky Christmas pudding with hot toffee sauce and clementine and winter berry pavlova bring things to a sweet, festive close.
There are several spaces to choose from, each with its own charm. The Taproom holds up to 60 guests and comes with a private bar for a proper Christmas knees-up, while the Mezzanine, which overlooks the brewery floor, seats up to 20 and offers a VIP experience complete with customisable food and drink options. Larger groups can take over the entire brewery, making it one of Kent’s most unique venues for a company do or festive get-together.
And because this is a working brewery, you can add a guided tour and tasting which is the ultimate icebreaker before dinner. So, whether you’re planning a lively celebration or something more intimate, The Curious Taproom promises a Christmas party that’s full of good beer, good food and good cheer, and of course, served with a healthy dose of curiosity.