Business Details
21 Years
experience
Modern European Fine Dining Restaurant in Berkhamsted
Established in 2005, The Gatsby has evolved into Hertfordshire's premier destination for modern European fine dining and social occasions. Originally housed within a beautifully restored 1930s art deco cinema, our venue combines historical charm with contemporary culinary excellence. Our menu showcases meticulously crafted dishes using seasonal ingredients, complemented by an extensive wine and cocktail selection curated to elevate every dining experience. We offer a diverse range of services including private hire for weddings and corporate events, bespoke catering for intimate or large-scale gatherings across multiple counties, and live piano performances that enhance Sunday lunches.With dedicated front-of-house teams ensuring exceptional service standards, our award-winning establishment maintains a commitment to quality through in-house preparation of sauces, desserts, and artisanal bar snacks. The restaurant operates seven days a week with flexible dining options from pre-cinema meals to extended evening service, supported by a heated outdoor terrace and customizable event spaces.
Services
Fine Dining
Cocktail Bar
Private Hire
Catering Services
Live Music
Sunday Roast
Bottomless Brunch
Wedding Reception
Alfresco Dining
Corporate Events
Details
- Year established: 2005
Highlights and features
- We offer award-winning European cuisine since opening in 2005
- Our private hire includes full venue customization for weddings and corporate events
- We provide tailored catering services across six counties
- Our cocktail bar features extensive wine and spirit selections
- We host live piano music during Sunday lunches
Associations and certifications
- Rosette Award
Services
Fine Dining
Our award-winning European cuisine features seasonal ingredients transformed into refined dishes by skilled chefs. The menu balances traditional techniques with modern presentation across starters, mains, and desserts. Customers enjoy dedicated service from experienced staff within our art deco restaurant space seven days a week.
Private Hire
The entire art deco venue accommodates events from intimate dinners to weddings with customizable layouts and menus. Packages include full-service coordination, audio-visual support, and minimum spending options varying by day. Complete venue control ensures exclusive experiences for all occasions.
Catering Services
Our catering team delivers fine dining experiences to external locations with tailored menus matching client requirements. Services include on-site event management, professional staffing, and equipment provision across six counties. Minimum food spends and per-hour labour charges apply for personalized events.
Cocktail Bar
Extensive drinks selection features premium wines, spirits, and signature cocktails served in our art deco bar area. The heated terrace provides outdoor drinking space while bar snacks complement drinks purchases. Professional mixologists create bespoke beverages for special occasions.
Live Music
Sunday lunches feature live piano performances from 13:00-16:00 by resident musicians. The venue's acoustics enhance musical atmosphere while private hire options allow booking James Reader or other musicians for special events through direct contact with performers.
People
James Reader
Live Musician
Our resident pianist provides live music during Sunday lunches and available for private event bookings. James creates captivating musical atmospheres with his extensive repertoire.
Matthew
Head Chef
Executive chef combines French fine dining traditions with modern techniques using seasonal British produce. Matthew designs menus that balance luxury with contemporary presentation across restaurant and catering services.
Questions
What dining options does The Gatsby offer?
We provide fine dining with seasonal European cuisine, bottomless brunch, Sunday roast options, and light bar snacks across our restaurant and heated terrace spaces.
Can I book The Gatsby for a private event?
Yes, the entire venue or specific areas are available for weddings, corporate events, and private parties with customized menus and minimum spending requirements.
Do you offer catering services beyond the restaurant?
Our 'At Home' catering service provides fine dining experiences at external locations across six counties with professional service teams and tailored menus.
How can I make a restaurant reservation?
Book via our online calendar system for meals during operating hours, or contact us directly for special requests or larger party arrangements.
What are your opening hours?
The restaurant serves lunch and dinner daily from 10:30–23:00 (until midnight Friday/Saturday) with food service varying by day.
Is the venue available for daytime-only events?
Yes, weekday and Sunday lunchtime hire options are available with minimum spending requirements of £2,500-£5,000 depending on the day.
Reviews (7)
Brett Hughes
Jan 07, 2022
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Great decor. Service good and food also. The piano playing was pleasant though a bit like elevator music...would have preferred music that was recognisable.
Peter Yardley-Jones
Dec 17, 2021
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Lovely food, service and cocktails. Very reasonably priced. During dinner there was a fab pianist too. Would highly recommend
Connie Smith
Oct 20, 2021
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Went to have a Sunday roast with some good friends. The amazing and attentive staff overhead us talking about our recent engagement and they sent us a beautiful congratulations message written in the desert. It was so so thoughtful. The Sunday roast was also delicious. Highly recommend especially if you like art deco and live piano music.
Amdp
Sep 30, 2021
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Had my wedding day at home and gatsby catered for us and helped make the day run smoothly. All the guests commented on the excellent food and how helpful the staff all were. Would recommend to anyone
Kiradog
Sep 09, 2021
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This is a very nice place indeed. It's a converted 1930's cinema and has been converted with a very sympathetic touch. The staff as excellent and looked after us very well. Now to the food. Absolutely beautiful food cooked and presented perfectly. Not too flashy and just the right portion size. Price wise just what I would expect to pay for quality food, service, surroundings and atmosphere. Not cheap but not overly expensive. If I did have one negative comments it would be that it got a bit noisy at one point but it is popular and we sat next to the pianist, but it did get better. In my opinion
A. Leksus
Aug 30, 2021
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Pretty nice place. I enjoyed the flavour of my food (tofu, kimchi and rice), however the menu suggested it was a large dish but what arrived looked like a side dish and was served on a small plate. I felt like a child eating. There's suggestion, why not double the portion, increase the price and sell it as a normal dish?
Lynn Hutchinson
Aug 20, 2021
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Went in a group of 8. Meals arrived in good time (can be an issue with group bookings which I have experienced at other venues). Menu choice excellent giving you a choice of prices. Menu for celiacs too. Service excellent. Nice venue with good atmosphere. Would go back again and recommend to others. A good night out with friends.
