New planning proposals have offered a glimpse of the work taking place behind the closed doors of Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, as the celebrated Oxfordshire restaurant and hotel undergoes its most significant transformation in decades.
Two applications submitted to South Oxfordshire District Council this month concern the entrance driveway and historic stable buildings at the Great Milton estate. The applications have opened for consultation as the wider redevelopment of the two-Michelin-starred destination continues.
The proposals come as Le Manoir remains closed following the start of its extensive refurbishment programme. Belmond, which owns the property, says the hotel and restaurant are expected to reopen in summer 2027.
For a property that has been part of Oxfordshire’s culinary landscape since Raymond Blanc founded it in 1984, the redevelopment represents a significant new chapter.
Repairing the historic stables
The listed building application, P26/S3392/LB, covers a programme of repairs and alterations to the Dovecote and southern stable block.
The proposals include removing and replacing existing glazed rooflights, reinstating sections of the roof covering and introducing a new lead canopy at the entrance to the Dovecote. The application describes the works as part of a coordinated programme intended to preserve and renew the historic buildings.
The planning record shows the application was received by South Oxfordshire District Council on 05 August 2026 and validated on 17 August.
A related application, P26/S3391/FUL, also concerns the removal of the existing glazed rooflights and reinstatement of the roof covering, alongside the proposed canopy.
The emphasis is therefore less on dramatic expansion than on repairing and updating elements of the historic estate as part of the broader renovation.
A new approach to the entrance
A separate application, P26/S3345/FUL, concerns the Manor House entrance driveway.
The proposal involves trenching and resurfacing the existing driveway, with the stated aim of improving its quality while ensuring the materials remain sympathetic to the historic setting.
The application was validated on 17 August 2026 and is currently listed as pending.
For guests returning to Le Manoir in 2027, the entrance will be one of the first visible signs that the property has entered a new era.
A new chapter for Le Manoir
The applications form only part of a much larger redevelopment announced by Belmond last year.
The company described the project as a “visionary redevelopment”, promising changes to the accommodation, culinary experiences and gardens while retaining the character and philosophy that have defined Le Manoir for more than four decades.
The closure began at the start of 2026, giving the project an unusually long construction period for a property that has operated continuously as one of Britain’s best-known luxury dining destinations.
Raymond Blanc marked the closure with an emotional message to guests and friends who had supported the restaurant over the years.
“I would like to thank all of our loyal guests and friends who have supported us throughout the years,” he said, reflecting on the parties, weddings and celebrations held at the estate.
“This is not goodbye; this is a bientôt.”
Blanc founded Le Manoir in 1984 and has remained closely associated with its identity even as ownership passed to Belmond. He has now moved into the role of Founder and Lifetime Ambassador, while Belmond has appointed three-Michelin-starred French chef Arnaud Donckele as Culinary Director for the next chapter.
The changes to the stables and driveway may appear modest beside the scale of the overall project. But they offer something that has so far been relatively scarce: a physical picture of what the redevelopment actually means for one of Oxfordshire’s most recognisable buildings.
For now, the gates remain closed. The next time they open, Le Manoir is expected to look familiar enough to retain its sense of place — but sufficiently changed to mark the beginning of its next forty years.
Reporting contribution by Isabella Harris, Local Democracy Reporter (LDR) for Oxfordshire, covering local politics, council meetings and planning decisions across six councils in the county.
