Esteemed food critic Giles Coren has declared that his standout meal of the summer took place inside a tent at a picturesque location in Gloucestershire. Writing in The Times, Coren highlighted a unique travelling restaurant called Circus Sauce as his most memorable dining experience this season. Offering a three-course menu priced at a reasonable £50, Circus Sauce sets itself apart by operating seasonally and relocating roughly every week. During Coren’s visit, it was situated in Minchinhampton, but those arriving now will find only an empty field as the venue has since moved elsewhere.
Circus Sauce is part of the renowned Giffords Circus, which is better known for its traditional big top, spectacular acrobatics, and thrilling knife-throwing acts than its culinary offerings. Nevertheless, the restaurant’s innovative approach to dining under the circus tent made a profound impression.
Giles Coren also praised other Gloucestershire establishments, notably naming the Woolpack Inn in Slad-near Painswick and Stroud-as home to “the best burger in the UK, no question.” He additionally complimented Juliet, a small yet superb restaurant in Stroud, describing it as “on peak form.”
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Coren credited Dan Chadwick, who owns both the Woolpack Inn and Juliet, for introducing him to Circus Sauce during its stay in Minchinhampton. Reflecting on the experience, he wrote: “My most exciting meal of the summer came at Circus Sauce, the travelling, no-choice, three-courses-for-£50 restaurant in a tent that travels around the West Country alongside the inimitable Giffords Circus.
“Dinner was served family-style at long oak tables, starting with a large squid stuffed with pork and ’nduja, sliced onto a tomato and guindilla sauce. This was followed by a whole roast chicken for the four of us, neatly jointed and served on a deep green watercress velouté with pickled lemon. Sides of baked hispi cabbage with anchovy and boulangère potatoes complemented the meal. The cooking was imaginative and of a top standard - far from the kind of mass catering I had feared.”
Among the highlights were the “immaculate” profiteroles, and Coren awarded the entire dining experience an impressive 9.33 out of 10. He encouraged readers to visit Circus Sauce during its upcoming run in Stroud later this month. His full review includes photographs and additional details.
According to Giffords Circus organisers, Circus Sauce is “a unique, travelling licensed restaurant” offering a weekly changing three-course menu starting at £50 for adults and £30 for children. The restaurant aims to create a “rustic extravagant inspired three-course feast” under the guidance of head chef Eva Maddison.
In 2023, the circus was based at Minchinhampton Common for a 12-day run in July and August before relocating to Marlborough, Wiltshire. Since 27 August it has been located at Stratton Meadows in Cirencester, remaining there until Monday, 7 September.
The season ends back at its home base, Fennells Farm in Stroud, where the circus will perform from 10 to 27 September. Tickets for Circus Sauce must be purchased separately from the circus show, allowing diners to enjoy the meal without attending the performance, though some might feel they are missing out.
Beyond the restaurant, Giffords Circus also offers various concessions, including hot food such as hotdogs, fries, candyfloss, popcorn, and ice cream. The Cantina Wagon serves Mexican dishes, and a recent addition, The Woolpack on Wheels, is a collaboration between Giffords Circus and The Woolpack Inn, offering drinks and bar snacks.