Around Ealing Winter 2016-17 | Page 22

MANOR HOUSE Dishing up opportunities The historic Southall Manor House is undergoing a delicious change, which is being described as ‘lighting a beacon’ for the hospitality industry Jamie Grainger-Smith out the back of the building, where courtyards and the new kitchen and conservatory will be T he £1.5million project will transform the Grade II manor house into a centre of excellence for training people wanting to work in hospitality. It will also become a high quality restaurant in its own right, guided by a business partner of celebrity chef Jamie Oliver. It is being carried out by Ealing Council in partnership with Ealing, Hammersmith and West London’s College; and is supported by the Mayor of London. Construction work has already started. Southall Manor House 22 around ealing Winter 2016/17 ‘SOMETHING COMPLETELY ORIGINAL’ Jamie Grainger-Smith from consultancy Think Eat Drink is helping the council and the college to bring the project to life by offering a creative and commercial focus. He was founding business partner of Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen Restaurant project in east London and also founded ecofriendly training restaurant, Acorn House. He said: “This project is something completely original, with enormous potential and great ambition; it’s such a beautiful building and setting. The challenge is huge and that’s why I couldn’t resist getting involved, we are going to try and create something extremely special here in west London. “It’s an exciting project which can set a benchmark and light a beacon of excellence for the food and drink industry. It’s what more colleges should be trying to achieve, because there is a huge shortage of high quality staff