Key Points
- Bicester Village has launched a new culinary programme called ‘Dish & Tell – Tastemakers’, celebrating the creativity, craft, and personal stories behind exceptional dining.
- The initiative pairs chefs and food experts with the outlet’s best-loved restaurants, starting this month with cook and creator Justin Tsang.
- Five intimate dining events planned for the inaugural year, each featuring a one-night-only supper club and a hero-dish on the restaurant menu for four weeks.
- Partnering restaurants: Shan Shui, La Tua, Cecconi’s, Ottolenghi, and the Double Red Duke.
- First event launches during Lunar New Year week at Shan Shui Chinese restaurant, hosted by Justin Tsang (known as Justin ‘Dustbin’ Tsang) on Thursday, February 19, 2026.
- Event details: Exclusive eight-course sharing-style experience; Shan Shui closes doors for the evening; tickets £69.95 per person, including welcome glass of bubbles, eight-course menu, and choice of digestif.
- Justin Tsang’s background: Celebrated for indulgent, home-style Asian cooking inspired by upbringing and early work in parents’ Chinese restaurants.
- Tsang’s statements: Emphasises engaging audiences in person, storytelling through food, cultural roots, and creating generous, shareable dishes.
Bicester (Oxford Mail) February 3, 2026 – Bicester Village has unveiled ‘Dish & Tell – Tastemakers’, a brand-new culinary programme designed to spotlight the creativity, craft, and personal stories behind exceptional dining experiences. Launching this month, the initiative pairs renowned chefs and food experts with the shopping outlet’s most cherished restaurants, beginning with cook and creator Justin Tsang at Shan Shui. Guests can anticipate five intimate dining moments throughout the inaugural year, each featuring a one-night-only supper club and a hero-dish that remains on the restaurant’s menu for four weeks.
What is ‘Dish & Tell – Tastemakers’?
The programme promises to forge deeper connections between diners and the artisans behind their meals. As detailed in the official announcement covered by Jennifer Manning of the Oxford Mail, it offers visitors a rare chance to engage directly with the people crafting the food at Bicester Village’s acclaimed eateries.
“Dish & Tell – Tastemakers will celebrate the ‘creativity, craft and personal stories behind exceptional dining’,” the outlet stated in its launch reveal, as reported across multiple outlets including the Oxford Mail. This series of events transforms standard dining into narrative-driven experiences, blending culinary innovation with storytelling.
Which Restaurants Are Partnering with the Programme?
For its debut year, Bicester Village has selected five of its ‘best-loved’ restaurants to collaborate on the programme. These establishments are Shan Shui, La Tua, Cecconi’s, Ottolenghi, and the Double Red Duke, according to the comprehensive coverage in the Oxford Mail article by Jennifer Manning on February 3, 2026.
Each partnership will host one of the five intimate supper clubs, ensuring a diverse range of cuisines and perspectives. The choice reflects the village’s multicultural dining scene, from Chinese flavours at Shan Shui to Italian influences at La Tua and Cecconi’s, Middle Eastern and Mediterranean at Ottolenghi, and British pub fare at the Double Red Duke.
Who is Justin Tsang and What Does the First Event Entail?
The inaugural event kicks off during Lunar New Year week, spotlighting Justin Tsang—affectionately known to followers as Justin ‘Dustbin’ Tsang—at the Chinese restaurant Shan Shui. Tsang is celebrated for his indulgent, home-style Asian cooking, deeply inspired by his upbringing and early days working in his parents’ Chinese restaurants, as highlighted in the Oxford Mail report.
Scheduled for Thursday, February 19, the one-night-only supper club will see Shan Shui close its doors to the public for an exclusive eight-course sharing-style experience. Bicester Village emphasised the event’s intimacy, limiting access to create a memorable, communal atmosphere.
Tickets are priced at £69.95 per person and include a welcome glass of bubbles, the full eight-course menu, and a choice of digestif. Reservations are available through Bicester Village’s official channels, with the hero-dish from this collaboration set to feature on Shan Shui’s menu for the following four weeks.
What Did Justin Tsang Say About the Collaboration?
Justin Tsang shared his enthusiasm in statements captured by Jennifer Manning of the Oxford Mail. “I’ve always loved engaging with my audience online, but since the cookbook it’s not often people get to try my cooking first hand,” Tsang remarked. “Having this chance to connect with people in person felt special. Bicester Village brings together such a strong mix of cultures and cuisines, and food has always been about memory for me, so I loved that this series focuses on storytelling.”
He continued, explaining the natural fit with Shan Shui: “Working with Shan Shui felt very natural and gave me the space to cook flavours I grew up with to tell my story and upbringing through food, while creating something generous and designed to be shared around the table.”
Tsang further elaborated on his creative direction: “This project really reflects where I’m at creatively right now. I’m drawn to cooking food that feels personal and rooted in my cultural background, but in a way that’s meant to be shared and enjoyed, so creating a one-off menu and limited-edition dish felt like the perfect way to celebrate that. I hope guests leave feeling connected to the food, the stories behind it and, of course, with a very full stomach!”
These quotes underscore the programme’s emphasis on personal narrative, positioning ‘Dish & Tell – Tastemakers’ as more than mere dining—it’s an invitation to savour stories alongside flavours.
When and How Does the Programme Launch?
The series launches this month, aligning the first event with Lunar New Year celebrations to honour cultural significance. As per the Oxford Mail coverage, the timing at Shan Shui ties into Tsang’s heritage, amplifying the storytelling element from the outset.
Subsequent events with La Tua, Cecconi’s, Ottolenghi, and the Double Red Duke will follow throughout the year, though specific dates for these have yet to be announced. Each will mirror the format: a exclusive supper club paired with a menu mainstay.
Bicester Village’s initiative arrives amid a surge in experiential dining post-pandemic, where consumers seek authenticity and connection. The outlet, renowned for luxury shopping, is extending its appeal into gastronomy, potentially drawing food enthusiasts alongside retail visitors.
Why is This Launch Significant for Bicester Village?
Bicester Village, a premier designer outlet in Oxfordshire, has long been a magnet for shoppers seeking high-end bargains. Introducing ‘Dish & Tell – Tastemakers’ signals a strategic pivot towards holistic lifestyle experiences, blending commerce with culture.
Jennifer Manning’s reporting in the Oxford Mail notes the programme’s role in elevating the village’s dining profile. By partnering with celebrity creators like Tsang, it positions Bicester as a culinary destination, fostering loyalty among its 12 million annual visitors.
Local context adds layers: The announcement coincides with broader community discussions, such as MP calls for youth funding in nearby areas and inquests into regional incidents, as linked in the Oxford Mail coverage. Yet, this launch stands as a positive, forward-looking development for Bicester’s vibrant scene.
How Can Visitors Participate in the Events?
Prospective guests should monitor Bicester Village’s website and social channels for ticket releases. The £69.95 price point offers premium value, encompassing bubbles, courses, and digestifs in an intimate setting.
Images credited to BellCo, featured in the Oxford Mail, depict Shan Shui’s elegant interiors and Tsang in action, hinting at the visual allure of these evenings. Early booking is advised, given the exclusivity.
What Makes ‘Dish & Tell – Tastemakers’ Unique?
Unlike standard pop-ups, this programme integrates one-off events with lasting menu impacts, ensuring accessibility beyond the supper clubs. It champions diversity—spanning Asian, Italian, and more—while rooting each in the chef’s personal journey.
As Bicester Village stated, per the Oxford Mail: “Offering guests the chance to connect with the people behind the food.” This human-centric approach, amid sponsored distractions in online coverage (such as tips on household hacks or cruise tales), underscores genuine innovation.
In summary, ‘Dish & Tell – Tastemakers’ enriches Bicester Village’s offerings, promising a year of flavourful narratives. With Tsang’s event mere weeks away, anticipation builds for what could become a staple attraction.
