Final Countdown - Granary Grill opens Saturday 1st May

By Olivier Ansquer, Food & Beverage Operations Manager

I write my first blog at a hugely exciting time for Weston Park as we prepare to extend our year round food experience in the Granary – the new Granary Grill opens on 1st May!

We have been planning, measuring and imagining for the last 12 months and it is all quickly becoming a reality, with all the worries and excitement a project of this size. It is all hands on deck as everything falls into place, sometimes it feels like we are launching a satellite into orbit!

Weston is always an exciting place to be at springtime, the farm shop and art gallery opened last spring and now the new restaurant will open in May and the team is always proud to open the gates even wider.

All the last specifications have to match everybody’s expectations; the brand new open plan kitchen, which is a new build between the old malt house in the west wing and the old slaughter house has been fitted, you wouldn’t believe how many ducting pipes and exhaust systems are involved. At the heart of the kitchen will be the grill, which will open onto the restaurant through a large pass – ‘Ladies and gentlemen – how would you like your steak cooked!” which we hope will create a real sense of theatre and a great atmosphere with the chefs sizzling steaks in front of you.

The west wing of the Granary building used to be the malt house where grain would have been malted before going to the brew house. In keeping with the buildings former use, the ‘malting shelf’ now forms the mezzanine area, with beautiful views over the Church Pool where diners will be able to watch the sunset behind the Old Curatage and Victorian Conservatory.

On the main floor, three large glass doors open out onto a terrace in the Granary Courtyard, where you can enjoy the sunshine in the summer months.  The design of the restaurant has been sympathetically conceived in-keeping with the heritage of the building but with some contemporary twists.

As well as sourcing great local food we have applied the same principles to fitting out the building. All the crockery, cutlery and glassware have been sourced from a local company in Birmingham, the furniture is being made in Stoke-on-Trent, draught organic lager comes from the Freedom micro-brewery in Staffordshire, farm pressed apple juice from Herefordshire and ales and ciders from Warwickshire.

As far as the meat is concerned, we are sourcing beef from Shropshire and Staffordshire, UK assured and from the famous Buccleuch estate in Scotland. All other meats are also locally sourced through our farm shop butcher; in season we will offer lamb from the Weston Park estate.  It’s all about fresh, quality food, simply cooked! All complimented with a wide range of diverse and interesting wines by the glass.

I am now ready to start a few intense weeks of training the team, taking them through the fine detail of the concept. The Granary Grill will be relaxed but professional whether you are popping in for a quick lunch or dinner with family and friends. I just want you to feel at ease and enjoy the modern space and sense of theatre which the grill will create and look forward to welcoming you in May. 

To book your table please call 01952 852100