I was once again commissioned by Stratton House Hotel, on the outskirts of Cirencester to work alongside their Head Chef Oli to create the images for their Spring 2026 Food Menu.
The spring food menu for 2026 which is currently being served at Stratton House hotel is all about the flavours of springtime here in the Cotswolds.
My Clients wanted to highlight the freshness of the ingredients and the vibrancy of the dishes with an elegant feel. There is a strong emphasis on lightness and colour to reflect the seasonality of the new menu with local produce a highlight.
Supporting local food businesses and reducing the distance food travels is one of the many considerations the kitchen team adds into the equation when creating new menus.
“There is so much inspiration, skill and a story behind each dish that Oli, our Head Chef, creates so it is integral that we to have such quality images to reflect the work that goes into their creation, from building the bones of the recipe to our guests table post-launch.”
Working together with Oli, we captured a really strong selection of hero images that will represent the Soring 2026 Menu across multiple platforms.
These hero images are then supported with macro and detail images which highlight the precision of the dishes.
The core focus for this shoot was to capture cohesive imagery that works together visually to create the content bank for Spring 2026 dining to support the marketing activity for the Garden Restaurant over the coming months. Promoting the new menu and keeping the Hotel’s online presence engaging and up to date.
This project reflects the ongoing commitment of Stratton House Hotel to evolving their food offering whilst staying true to their roots as an independent, family-owned Spa Hotel in the heart of the Cotswolds.
Stratton House Hotel welcomes its guests with a Cotswold country house feel with all of the conveniences of the town of Cirencester being just a short walk away. There are 43 stylish and comfortable bedrooms, dining in the Garden Restaurant with views over a large and listed walled garden. And there is the traditional Oak Bar and of course their award-winning Spa.
This new Spring menu for 2026 celebrates seasonal produce and a lighter style of dining, designed to appeal to both returning guests and new visitors. The imagery plays a key role in communicating that experience before guests even arrive, giving them a genuine sense of what to expect. It’s all about creating anticipation and showcasing the care that goes into every element of their experience at Stratton House Hotel, whatever that’s an unwind in the spa, romantic spring stay, or a family dinner.
“Working with Nikki again has been an absolute pleasure. Nikki has an incredible way of understanding not just what we do, but the direction we are heading in and how we aim to show up for our guests. She has a very thoughtful, creative approach to every shoot, balancing technical skill with an instinct for storytelling. Throughout the process, she is always professional, adaptable, and genuinely invested in achieving the best possible outcome for us. The final images feel perfectly aligned with our new menu and Stratton House on the whole – fresh, inviting, and full of character. We’re delighted with the results and look forward to continuing our collaboration with Nikki. A menu launch isn’t complete without Nikki, after all!”
We used the Carlé & Moss backdrop ‘Chateau Summer’ once again to ensure consistency and to keep the focus simply on the food to showcase it at its best.
A: “Absolutely. As with any live environment, there are always small timing adjustments, as the shoot commences just after breakfast service concludes in our semi-private dining room, but Nikki is always flexible enough to adapt around service and the pace of the team.
Nikki’s calm & organised approach meant everything stayed on track, and we finished right on time with a more than stunning selection of images which you can almost taste through the screen!”
A: “There is always so much creativity flowing in Nikki’s makeshift onsite studio, with ideas bouncing between Oli and Nikki, making the whole process fun and enjoyable for everyone.
The dishes evolve hugely from Oli’s hands to the camera, through Nikki’s small styling adjustments and guidance to completely transform their result.”
A: “Consistency across our brand is incredibly important. Having worked with Nikki before, we already understood her ability to capture our menus (well, not just our menus!) so beautifully.
For our new Spring menu, we wanted fresh imagery which is truly food-focused and in line with our style – so Nikki was of course the natural choice to bring that vision to life again.”
Please get in touch to chat through your needs for food photography to provide you with this high level of imagery to enhance your business.