TREADWELL LAUNCHES NEW LITERARY DINNER SERIES IN THE HEART OF OXFORD
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TREADWELL LAUNCHES NEW LITERARY DINNER SERIES IN THE HEART OF OXFORD
The new seasonal series brings together great books, British food and live readings, in partnership with Blackwell’s Oxford and supporting Sobell House.
September 7th 2026: Treadwell at The Store, Oxford is launching a new series of Literary Dinners, bringing together great books, British food, music and live readings in the heart of the city.
Beginning with F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby on Friday 20 November, the seasonal series will continue with Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility on Friday 19 March and Evelyn Waugh’s Brideshead Revisited on Friday 11 June.
Each dinner will take its inspiration from the world of the featured novel, with a specially created menu drawing on its food, drink, characters and settings. Selected readings and conversation throughout the evening will bring the novel into the room, accompanied by music and an atmosphere inspired by the book.
The Literary Dinners are presented in partnership with Blackwell’s Oxford, with every guest receiving a copy of the featured novel to take home. The series will also support Sobell House, with £10 from every £95 ticket donated to the Oxford-based hospice charity.
All you need to know
The Great Gatsby
Friday 20 November 2026 | 7pm seated start
The first dinner takes its cue from the lavish world of Gatsby’s parties: evenings defined by abundance, spectacle and seemingly endless hospitality.
Broadcaster, cook and author Rosemary Shrager will guide guests through the evening with selected readings from Fitzgerald’s novel and observations that draw out its characters and atmosphere.
The menu begins with devilled eggs and Oyster Rockefeller, followed by ham hock terrine with sausage Wellington, harlequin salad, Branston pickle and Oxford sauce. Corned beef hash with crispy hen’s yolk follows, before lemon curd madeleine and lemon posset, with a final savoury bite of boneless stuffed chicken wing.
Music and carefully considered details will evoke the glamour and energy of Gatsby’s world without recreating it literally. The result is an elegant evening inspired by the novel rather than a literal interpretation of it.
Sense and Sensibility
Friday 19 March 2027 | 7pm seated start
Spring turns to Jane Austen and the world of the Dashwood sisters.
The dinner will take inspiration from the novel’s world of country houses, hospitality, sociability and courtship, with a seasonal menu and an evening shaped by Austen’s story and characters.
The full menu and special guest will be announced in due course.
Brideshead Revisited
Friday 11 June 2027 | 7pm seated start
The summer dinner brings the series home to Oxford with Evelyn Waugh’s Brideshead Revisited.
Inspired by Charles Ryder and Sebastian Flyte, Oxford, Brideshead, long lunches and the memory of an idyllic English summer, the evening will draw on the food, wine and nostalgia running through Waugh’s novel.
The full menu and special guest will be announced in due course.
Tickets for The Great Gatsby dinner are available to book now at Treadwell. For future events, bookings can be made three months in advance.
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Editors notes
Notes to editors:
Treadwell Literary Dinners are priced at £95 per person, with a 7pm seated start. Each ticket includes the literary dinner and a copy of the featured novel, with £10 from every ticket donated to Sobell House.
About The Store, Oxford: Set within the walls of the former Boswells department store, The Store reimagines an Oxford institution as a seven-floor, 101-room hotel where heritage meets contemporary style. Opened in May 2024 in partnership with hospitality experts Reef Origin and EQ Group, the hotel is the convergence of two historical buildings sensitively restored by Urban R, Reef Origin’s team of architects and designers. Shaking up the city’s social scene, the result is a striking fusion of history and chic, modern interiors – defining a new era for Oxford where elegance meets energy.
More than just a place to stay, The Store is a hive of activity drawing locals and visitors alike with its vibrant atmosphere, immersive experiences, and striking window displays – showcasing collaborations that celebrate its retail heritage. The first of three distinct dining options, destination restaurant Treadwell serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner in an intimate, urban setting. Offering a fresh take on British classics, enjoy inventive dishes with seasonal ingredients and a classic Sunday roast. Ascend to the rooftop bar where floor-to-ceiling glass frames unrivalled views of the city, with an outdoor terrace perfect for cocktails at golden hour. The ground floor bar is open daily for coffees by Oxford-based Newground Coffee, with a ‘Sips & Scavenger Bites’ menu for casual dining with street-side views. A destination in itself, The Store houses a spa by OSKIA with extensive treatments, a steam room, sauna, thermal relaxation area and sleek gym by Nohrd. Whether indulging in wellness, sipping cocktails with a skyline backdrop, or exploring the city from its heart, The Store is Oxford’s new cultural hub.
