Aven in Preston

If you’re looking for great food, enthusiastic and attentive staff and relaxed atmosphere this is the place to go. We went for the tasting menu and wine flight. Every course was amazing from start to finish. My favourite was the cod with oyster and dill. The chefs came out and chatted to us afterwards too. An absolute gem that’s well worth a visit. We’ll definitely be returning.

Hopes were high before we arrived and every expectation was met and bettered. Joyous food, delicious, delicate, amazing service and wine parings. We enjoyed the tasting menu, three plus one vegetarian, and were blown away by the standard of the food, the wonderful staff and the relaxed ambience.

We dined here to celebrate a birthday, table of 4. We had an early table, 6.30 however stayed longer than we would have in any other restaurant. No rush or expectation to leave (although I assume if our table was needed later we would have needed to leave earlier). The greeting on arrival (a cold and very windy winter night) was warm and friendly and this continued throughout the evening. Drinks were served and poured throughout, the plates came quickly as taster menus often do and the description of the wonderful food was given with obvious knowledge and a shared love of what was being served. The food was amazing. Truly wonderful, the extra “butter pie” was totally worth it. We all agreed all the plates bought something special and even the bread and butter was a delight. Definitely worth experiencing, such an amazing gem. I don’t really want to promote it so it’s not overbooked but I can’t not share the nicest meal for a long time. Please do try the homemade limoncello when eating here. Thank you for such a wonderful experience and your attention to our celebration, and of course for your amazing service and out of this world food. We are very lucky to have Aven close by and look forward to dining with you again.

Based on Giles Corens’ review, in The Times in October this year, we (my wife and I) drove the 220 miles to dine at Aven – which sounded rash and stupid even to ourselves but living outside of a main city the train journey would have been intolerable both in time and the number of changes. But… WOW! Unbelievable. The drive was well worth it. Brilliant food, superb staff and Sam Haigh and the other waiting staff explained everything we ate and drank with as much or as little detail required. We both had the full tasting menu and wine flight. Both of us have intolerances - me fish, and her gluten. Normally poses a massive challenge for restauranteurs who often replace fish with cheese or nothing (really?) and gluten based items with nothing or salad (again really?). But Aven were stupendous rising to the challenge without breaking stride. Each course that had intolerance ingredients was personalised – even their signature bread, for my wife, was replaced with ‘the best gluten free bread I have ever eaten’ and she knows her GF bread. The highlight for me was the venison dish. I like venison but I loved this. So tasty, so tender and melted in the mouth. Never had venison like it before. Every course had something to commend it. I could go on (I know have already) but I can’t recommend Aven enough. Worth every mile that we travelled. We’re already talking about planning our next visit. If you live close by…lucky you!

What an exceptional restaurant this is, innovative and delicious food, warm and knowledgeable staff, reasonably priced, it’s faultless. I have regularly eaten in 1, 2 & 3 Michelin Star restaurants and the food and service at Aven is up there!

Excellent food, very atmosphere and staff! Would highly recommend

Excellent meal, fairly informal and very cosy setting. 5 small but exquisite ( and very rich and quite filling) courses. Well worth a visit.

Fabulous food and excellent presentation although not making sure the mussels have got rid of sand is a simple error. Very cosy place so noisy chatter from other diners made our dinner conversation tough.

Although we enjoyed our visit, the value was debatable, especially the wine flight, which started with a tiny amount of beer. The desert wine portion was so small it did not even reach the bowl of the flute. The restaurant was very noisy the day of our visit, so we could barely understand what the staff were telling us about the food. The service was good though.

This was such a lovely find! We had the tasting menu and the food and service were fantastic. We will definitely return!

Thoroughly enjoyed our meal and was so pleased that a restaurant of this quality and ambition has opened in Preston. Front of house team were delightful and the food they served quite memorable, reflecting the season and the desire to source ingredients from Lancashire. We ate early evening midweek on a very damp day so the place was rather quiet but you can't do much about that! Would happily go back.

Had to experience aven for ourselves after Giles Coren's no-holds-barred raving review in the Times ( it never happens). It did not disappoint. Eaten in some cool places, but this was spectacular on every front. Went for the full tasting menu, including their take on the Lancashire butter pie. Stunning. Each course is an exquisite, perfectly formed taste (and art) creation, including the three dessert plates. Don't fret that so many courses is overwhelming; you'll leave this cosy corner of Preston truly satisfied, wanting to go back and relive every taste sensation. Top marks to the tight team, you deserve it!!

The food was amazing, very well balanced menu. Top level cooking, great produce. The dining room had a classy but casual feel. The staff were very attentive and friendly, their knowledge of the menu was excellent. Would highly recommend 👌

Really great little restaurant that was perfect for a special occasion. The tasting menu was amazing and a few good surprises in there! Brilliant service as well.

Aven was recommended to my daughter by a friend - we were not disappointed. Our lunch courses were flavoursome and well-balanced. The staff were attentive and the atmosphere was conducive to an enjoyable visit. However, I would have appreciated the courses being presented hotter than they were.

What a gem! Understated yet knowledgeable service for food and wine combines with excellent quality ingredients prepared with significant skill. So good that we have booked for the special “Street Food” night next week already!

Amazing food complimented with thoughtful wine pairings. The atmosphere was relaxed and friendly with the staff being very attentive and informative. Thank you for a fantastic lunch and creating a really nice experience for us.

Amazing food complimented with thoughtful wine pairings. The atmosphere was relaxed and friendly with the staff being very attentive and informative. Thank you for a fantastic lunch and creating a really nice experience for my wife and I.

Went for the lunchtime seasonal taster menu at this quaint little place. All the staff were very polite and knowledgeable and each dish was served with a full explanation of what we were about to eat. I didn't try the wine pairing as I didn't want to be sozzled but the Chardonnay was sublime. Each course is quite small but elegant and bursting with so many flavour combinations it was a delight to try each new plate. The restaurant is petite and simply decorated but this makes for a relaxed atmosphere. We had the four course menu plus the cheese course (between two) and felt fully satisfied by the end. Upon being seated we were given a sealed envelope addressed to us which contained my wife's vegetarian option and my fish option. We loved every course and were presented with things we never would have chosen for ourselves. A thoroughly excellent experience all round and I would love to compliment the waiting staff who were lovely and the kitchen staff for preparing such a fine dining experience for us both. Long may this continue.

An amazing dining experience. Incredible food served (attentively and with warmth and care) in an unpretentious and unassuming location. Perfect. We were so well looked after and the taster menu (nine courses) was a genuine treat. Delicious, surprising and strong flavours sourced from the locality. A very stylish space with an impressive level of attention-to-detail. Highly recommended.

Excellent lunch, thoroughly enjoyed the tasting menu and the delightful variety of flavours and textures. Every single course was really delicious and the service was very attentive and friendly. Would definitely return!

This was our first visit since the restaurant changed names. We had a warm welcome and congratulated on our anniversary, which was a nice greeting. We were seated and given the drinks list. Food came shortly after. I thought the first course was a canapé as it was quite small and very crumbly, difficult to eat without a knife and fork. All the courses were tasty and we especially liked the monk fish but I think when tasting menus class the bread as a separate course and this happens a lot, I feel a bit cheated…….. However we did enjoy our food and had the extra cheese course at the end, although I wasn’t too keen on their crackers which reminded me of flattened, thin brandy snaps. the servers were very pleasant and efficient. We will visit again.

What a beautiful hidden gem. We had a very attentive hostess who went above and beyond. The food was delightful. The beer pairing was a great idea.

Wow!! What an incredible menu. Food, service and wine all absolutely perfect. Highlights were monkfish, chicken & truffle and strawberry. Sanuli was a particularly wonderful waitress and it’s always lovely when chef Oli Martin delivers tomatoes to your table. Will recommend to friends and family and will be back. Thank you team Aven

We really had great time here. Lovely staff, quality food, nice interior. Price is good too.

Superb, can not fault this venue. I will be going back.

Tucked, hidden away even, in one of Preston's nicer areas, just off Winckley Square and Avenham Park, and in an unassuming terraced house, is this little gem of excellence. Tastefully decorated, quiet, and smelling of deliciousness, Aven takes up where where 263 left off - and there's been no loss of quality. The food, whether a full-blown 6-10 course tasting menu, or a 3 course set, has on each of my 5 or so visits, always been worth the journey. Judged by their output alone, the kitchen team are beyond reproach: they're outstanding. The only thing needing a little improvement is the younger waiting staff, who tend to be a little wooden, over-formal & long-winded in their introductions to the dishes - but that's a mostly trivial matter. I wish the team here every success and look forward to my next occasion.

Everything about Aven was amazing. From the welcome, the hospitality, the food (to die for) the atmoshere and of course the service and whole experience, was incredible. A perfect treat for my mothers day gift. Nothing was too much trouble and the choice of wines too were excellent. I would definitely recommend Aven 👌

Perfection. The intimate scale of this restaurant means that every single aspect (Service, Food, Wine and Ambiance) is of the highest possible standard. In the original Michelin motor guide a three star rated restaurant fit the definition of a restaurant that you should not only visit if you are passing (1 star), or make a de-tour to visit (2 star), but one for which you should make a special trip for the privilege of dining at (3 star). I believe Aven is just such a restaurant. It is a rare find and words do not do it justice.

Excellent cuisine and very friendly service. Very good value for money in what is the only fine dining restaurant in the city. Cannot recommend highly enough.

Wow !! This place is such a find. We planned to take friends as a special birthday treat. We all love fine dining and this place surpassed our expectations. They have the most delicious tasting menu. Every course superb and carefully prepared and presented. We ate in moor hall last year and this is every bit as good. If you want Michelin star level food then this is the only place in Preston at that level. The staff were friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. I cannot recommend this place highly enough. We will visit again when the season and menu change.

Following on in the tradition of Roux alum Mark Prescott at the late lamented Mulberry Tree in Wrightington; Oli Martin and Sean Wrest at Aven are focused principally on their locally sourced Food as the real star of the show. Which in a nutshell means like the Mulberry Tree you are getting very close to 2 Star Michelin food quality, at no Michelin star prices . The £50 six course lunch tasting menu has to be Lancashire's culinary bargain of the year. With standout menu items like the Salt Aged Filet with Ox Cheek almost singing with depths and delicacies of flavours and sauce combinations that will stay with you for a long time. Service is personable, attentive, friendly and efficient, in a compact and eclectic dining room with a lovely 'grown up' atmosphere; and which isn't at all suitable for children under 12 - nor is there a kid's menu, so don't bring them.

Our fist time here since the change from it's former incarnation as 263. 263 was one of my all time favourite restaurants and Aven perhaps even surpasses this legacy Everything about this place is special. The food is exceptional - we had the extended menu and wine pairing A great deal of care and attention has clearly gone into everything here - top marks all round! Flavours were incredible (stunning use of smoke) and desserts very balanced with wonderful acidity (the Apple dish is one of the best things I've eaten anywhere and I'm not the biggest dessert fan) Service was unbelievably warm and welcoming - it was like eating at a friend's house (one who can cook Michelin standard food and has encyclopedic wine knowledge 😆). Zero stuffiness Clearly not cheap (and it shouldn't be) but worth absolutely every penny. A real treat. Book yourself in right now I look forward to seeing Aven get the Michelin star is clearly deserves

What a wonderful place. We came for the tasting menu and it was the best I’ve had. Each course was stunning and paired beautifully with wines. The staff are all amazing. I can’t wait to come back.

Lovely dining room, relaxed yet classy. Off the beaten track. Absolute bargain!!!! Delicious food - nice mix of flavours and textures. Took us on an exciting culinary journey..... Staff were fabulous. Been to a number of Michelin star/plate/bib gourmand restaurants and Aven surely has to be in the next book!!! Our only gripe is that the menu only changes seasonally (every 3 months) - otherwise we'd be here every week!!!!!! x

Fine dining...excellent service, friendly atmosphere...

Had a great birthday dinner last night at the newly rebranded Aven restaurant. The staff were friendly, attentive and knowledgeable and food was on point. Some minor feedback would be around the lighting and potentially creating a better ambiance by dimming it slightly. Other than that, no complaints.

This restaurant is fabulous - the food, atmosphere and ambience (real fire) The Lancashire Potato Pie is like no other, FAB U LUS

Highly recommend this fabulous dining experience. Staff and food are both amazing. Lovely cosy atmosphere and will definitely be going back.

A gem of a restaurant. First class food and service.

Aven is exceptional! Fine dining in a quintessential Preston space. Just off Avenhem Park and Winkley Square, this offering is unlike anything else in Preston. Tasting menus are well put together and the team behind Aven are welcoming and Knowledgable. A must visit!

This was my first fine dining experience & it was very nice indeed. The restaurant is in a quiet part of Preston near Avenham Park. In fact it's easy to miss if you don't know where it is. Very unassuming location. Each course served was amazing & introduced me to some flavours I've never had before. I also had the butter pie as a supplement. Very much worth the money. Yeah, really good. My favourite course was the cod, artichoke & shrimp. Seafood isn't usually my favourite but this was outstanding with so much flavour. A nice surprise was the bread served made from reclaimed grains used for beer making. And I'm unlikely to ever have better butter than that which was served with it. Sublime. Each dish had a surprising flavour & I literally couldn't wait for each course to be brought out. All in all no complaints & only praise for the quality of the food served. There is a very extensive wine list & a lot of other drinks to choose from, some sourced from the local area. The staff were all really nice & described each dish as it was brought out. They all knew their stuff & were extremely polite. This restaurant is not cheap but is definitely worth the expense, especially if you'd like an introduction to this kind of dining.

Absolutely fantastic experience. Been a fan of this restaurant from the start. The restaurant name may have changed but the quality, atmosphere and food just got better! If you are looking for quality food and good value there is nothing in the North West that compares. Would recommend for any occasion and you won't be disappointed. Congrats to the team for the attention to detail and divine flavours. Sure there will be more awards to follow.

Absolutely fantastic experience! The food, wine and service were exceptional.

Unbelievable what an amazing experience.

Excellent lunch tasting menu with matching wine. Service was first class, a great little restaurant.

Good food on tasting menu and wine selection is great. Hotel on site also.

Sam is great and good with people. I loved her personality and acts of service.

I was taken here for a birthday surprise & I was blown away. We were greeted kindly by Samantha and the whole experience was exceptional. All staff were very polite & knowageable, giving informative desriptions of each of the 12 courses, along with the paired wines. The food was incredible... so many delicious flavours & it is clear to see the tremendous effort put in for presentation & precision. Would highly recommend for anyone who enjoys the fine dining experience.

Food was incredible, served by a knowledgable and skilled team in a relaxed venue. Loved it.

Excellent lunch tasting menu with matching wine flight. The food was superb, and the staff were attentive, polite and knowledgeable.

Had lunch today at 263 the meal from Start to finish was superb, the front of house were amazing. Certainly destined for a Mitchell star. Thank you Sam Sean and team for a wonderful experience xx

Such a lovely treat, relaxing atmosphere beautifully presented food . Would highly recommend.

We had a lovely meal and experience at 263. The food was excellent and the service was amazing with all our waitresses being knowledgeable, courteous, patient and enthusiastic. It's expensive but an absolute treat and definitely worth it. We would love to visit again and it really made my husband's birthday feel special.

What a fantastic restaurant! We had the 12 course tasting menu with wine pairing. Every course and wine was wonderful. Lovely, relaxing atmosphere too. All of the team at 263 were informative and friendly. We would certainly recommend 263 for a special occasion.

Fine dining in a select venue without being pretentious. After having lunch with friends we rebooked for an evening meal for our ruby wedding anniversary some weeks later. Loved the wine pairing which perfectly complemented each course. Staff friendly and knowledgeable and contributed to a perfect evening. Can't wait to return!!!

The food was good but not excellent, considering the price. The staff were friendly and helpful, but the atmosphere was a bit too noisy. Extra star for the amazing Bloody Mary cocktail 💫

Excellent tasting menu, great attentive service. Recommended.

I went to 263 with the intent being to have a nice dining experience at a Michelin-star type restaurant in Preston. However, even when I tried to arrange a booking, I was met with hostility and rudeness over the phone. The receptionist who I later learnt to be the manager Emese Pogany had a hostile tone throughout. Firstly, I tried to make a simple booking and tell her about my dietary restrictions, however, when I tried to confirm what I told her, she responded by saying, "Yeah that's what I said isn't it"? Sounding as if I was wasting her time. As well as this, when reaching the restaurant she asked if I wanted to hang my coat, I then asked her if she was going to take my coat or if I should hang it somewhere, to which she responded by saying, "That's what I just said", in a snobby and condescending manner. During the course of the dinner, the other servers were quite friendly and had a refreshing change of pace from Emese. Nevertheless, the food was quite amazing and did live up to the reputation, even if the service didn't. Lastly, the cherry on top of this was when it came to paying the bill. When asked to pay the service charge I declined as a result of the rude service I received both during and before booking my reservation, to which she questioned my decision by asking, "Oh did you not think the service was good" while making a snarky and disgusted face as if I had just spit on the floor. Overall, I would say while the food at this restaurant was amazing, it is equally juxtaposed by the uninviting service given by Emese.

Outstanding restaurant, completely lives up to its excellent reputation. Best food I have had in Preston by a long way

Excellent food highly recommend

Incredible place for food.. Definitely a hidden jem in Preston 👌

Wonderful way to spend a wet Friday lunchtime. Small but delicious dishes... couldn't decide which was favourite because all were terrific. Lovely atmosphere too, well done all the staff!

A super little restaurant. Fine dining tasting menu and basic wine flight. Some imaginative, excellent courses, the North Sea Pollock as a stand out, plus glorious bread, and very tasty smoked potato course. Obviously on course for a Michelin star, just a few tweaks away. Well worth a visit, we will be back.

Went for Saturday lunch and what a treat! Everything we had hoped for and more as the food was excellent, with taste and texture experience. Always good when you have a split table on a dish. Loved it!

Personell all have an excellent provenance and WOW they deliver. The best excuse to visit Preston Town centre for years.

Amazing taster menu. Emmie and Alex amazing customer service and made our night.

Had tasting menu, very average,had a voucher for evening meal and got a bill for 63pounds for a water and 2 wines.not for us,2 fab courses and the rest take or leave.

This place is a hidden Gem , The food is equisite and different wines to compliment the food .The staff are so welcoming and friendly and describe the food and wines to you .I so recommend this place !👩🏻‍🦰😍❤ what 💯 treat , Will come back , Thankyou to all the Team for making my experience wonderful Xx👩🏻‍🦰❤

Absolute delicious food but it’s made better by the front of house team. Loved it today.

What an incredible experience! The food was remarkable and the attentiveness of the staff was excellent. The wine selection was amazing and paired perfectly with each course. What a way to celebrate your birthday.

We had a lovely evening at 263 to celebrate a birthday. First time visit and so glad we have discovered this bijou restaurant which gives Michelin places a run for their money. Varied and great value tasting menu with a special pescatarian version so I didn’t miss out by having the vegetarian menu. Excellent wine to accompany each course and perfect service. Everything was delicious - will be back to have the butter pie again in particular!

Had a fantastic meal tonight, the staff are so lovely, the food outstanding!

Great little gem in Preston. Got the train from Blackpool for our anniversary and we weren’t disappointed. Food was spot on and reasonably priced. Wine was fantastic. All staff very knowledgable and friendly. Been to worse Michelin Star places, this chef deserves one!

Following a few taster menu sessions this year, this restaurant is my favourite. From the service staff to the amazing food. What a fantastic night

My wife and I are partial to nice restaurants that serve good food and that has friendly, attentive staff. 263 scored maximum points across the board. As a birthday treat, I wanted to take my wife somewhere special that was in reasonable travelling distance from where we live. After reading the reviews on here 263 was the obvious choice. The day after I confirmed booking online I received a telephone call enquiring if we had any food allergies! A restaurant has never done this before. From that point I knew we were going to be looked after. The restaurant itself is understated, in a quiet little back street off Winckley Square in Preston. The dining room is not huge and has a view into the kitchen. The ambiance was relaxing. We were given a warm welcome from the manager and her waiting-on team. We has the tasting menu with wine pairing with each course. I cannot stress enough how sublime the food was. Prior to the main event, we were give 3 "snack" courses. Each one was a joy. I have to mention that the third snack consisted of 4 slices of bread and a pot of butter! We both thought it rather odd, but when we tasted the beautifully freshly baked bread with the butter, it was like flavour-bombs had gone off in our mouths. it was glorious! The following 6 courses were exquisite. What kind of chef can make sweetcorn exciting? The butter pie is like no pie I've ever eaten before (and I've eaten a few of those over the years...). I'm not a big fish fan but the halibut was delicious. For me, the star of the meal was the venison loin which was served with black pudding, pickled cabbage, onions, pearl barley and a gloriously rich jus. It was complemented perfectly with a Uruguayan red wine. I don't eat malt loaf, but I will eat the one created at 263. I'm no fan of blue cheese, however the one prepared and served to us rounded off a truly fantastic experience. I cannot heap enough praise on this restaurant. Thank you for making my wife's birthday an extra-special one this year. We cannot wait to return.

Fantastic tasting menu and wine flight!

Excellent food and service. Only place in Preston we've been that actually offers the fine dining experience.

Superb words will not do justice to the food served tonight. Food. Fantastic Service. Fantastic An 11 from me 😀

Wonderful cuisine and staff. Many thanks. See you soon

It's a fantastic experience that we've ever had and we love every dishes including the grain bread. It's a 5 star experience and we will definitely revisit it again

Delicious, sophisticated cooking. Laid back vibe considering the formal setting, which is a huge plus. Will definitely be back.

Great tasting menu experience. Nothing to complain about. All course flavoursome and well presented. Attentive and knowledgeable staff. I'll be back.

Fantastic food, service was great. Really nice birthday treat. Would definitely recommend. And you do get value for money. And you are full after the taster menu.

Fantastic food and experience. Taster menu excellent value, as good as some of the michellin star restaurants. Fabulous to have this on our doorstep in Preston.

My husband and I had the Tasting Menu last night for our Anniversary. It was FABULOUS, from the moment we arrived the staff were attentive, friendly, professional and very knowledgeable about the dishes they were serving. The food was superb from the first dish to the last. Particular stand out dishes for us were Goosnargh Fried Chicken, North Sea Cod, Gariguette Strawberry and the Crispy Lamb Breast was a taste experience I just can’t put into words. Highly recommend and we will definitely be back.

Amazing food, really friendly and helpful staff. Would definitely go again. :)

Excellent taster and great value. Desserts sublime and good vegetarian menu substitutes. Will definitely be back when the menu changes!

Never had an experience like this before, food was outstanding and I wasn't left hungry........definitely a one off as the prices are quite high, but it was a special occasion 😀 😉 xx

Exceptional food, friendly and attentive service, definitely going to become a regular diner here

Exceptional menu and superlative service ....

Absolutely amazing food & the chocolate cake is a taste sensation. That term is often overused but I've never eaten chocolate cake like it! Definitely worth a visit if you're wanting a something a little bit special!

Been to a good number of top end restaurants for tasting menus and this is up there with the best, brilliant that it is so local to us. Tasting menu is swapped every 4 weeks, not sure we will be able to come back every month but will certainly return as a regular treat. Food sensational, staff absolutely brilliant, set up and feel is nice but relaxed and the pricing i think is very fair. We paid around £110 pp for the 12 courses and wine flight. Would comfortably be double that in Manchester. Last place i went to was wood in Manchester and this knocks spots off it. Its not one of these over complicated places that adds ridiculous stuff just for the sake of it. They provide knockout food that the majority of people will enjoy but is different enough to still be an experience. It’s definitely a place for foodies, but also for people who are perhaps a bit nervous about going to these types of places. If you are then don’t be, so book in! Also good portion sizes so you actually feel nicely full when you leave. Knockout dish for me was the cured trout, my wifes was the butter pie. Have already recommended to friends and family, some of whom have already booked! Hope to return soon

My wife and I dined there on Saturday night. The food and service were exceptional. One slight disappointment was no wine flight available. Having said that, the wines from the menu were very good indeed.

Taster menu £35 was worth every penny. Food was amazing.

Excellent food and service. Menu options limited, likely due to covid restrictions

Best restaurant in Preston without a doubt

We had an excellent meal here last night. They have not lost the plot to hope to achieve a star at some point. All I can say is that we are lucky to have this in Preston so it would be great if poeple made an effort to support them. We also stayed in the hotel which was very good as well.

Went to 263 for my birthday dinner and had the tasting menu, it was an absolutely amazing experience. The food was spectacular and the service was flawless and I could not fault it in anyway. Would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone who wants to treat themselves for a special occasion.

Fantastic food, great service, smart place.