Around Ealing Winter 2016-17 | Page 23

MANOR HOUSE within the hospitality industry.” When work is finished next summer, the revitalised manor house will host a restaurant, bar, kiosk café and spaces for events. Underpinning all of this will be a range of employment and training opportunities where people can experience working in a top restaurant and events venue. The project also aims to build a network of relationships with other hotels, restaurants and companies, broadening the range of training opportunities in venues across the capital. Mr Grainger-Smith added: “We want local people to be proud of what we’re trying to achieve here at the Manor House. No one else in London is quite doing this at this capacity. As proud and passionate as I am about Fifteen Restaurant, this is taking things a whole step further because we are going to be offering all areas of training here. It is not just about the chef training, but also front of house, events management, reception, business guidance and general start-up support. We can make something just as important as Fifteen Restaurant here in Southall, if not even more so. It will be accessible and welcoming. And, to top it all off, we’ll have a top quality restaurant and events offer.” WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW? The building is being completely refurbished and extended. A new purpose-built kitchen will be constructed, as well as a large glazed extension at the rear for event hire. And the east wing of the building will be turned into an education and business hub, Artists impression of how the site could be laid out. The kitchen is on the far left including conference facilities, meeting spaces and seminar rooms. ‘THE OLD WITH THE NEW’ Council leader Julian Bell is excited by the plans. He said: “Southall Manor House is an historic local landmark and the project is going to build on that status and bring the building back to life. This is part of our wider programme to improve Southall and our plans combine the old with the new, bringing this beautiful building into the modern era and ensuring that it is protected and cherished for years to come. “We want our investment to attract more people into Southall and to benefit as many local people as possible; whether that’s through providing a beautiful venue to hire for a family party, creating a place to enjoy a delicious dinner or as a training centre where people can learn marketable skills to secure them a job. That is why we have partnered with Ealing, Hammersmith and West London’s College on this project and we are also working with