HOSPITALITY
Hallmark
WORDS : JULIE BURNISTON PICTURE : CHRIS BOOTH
Plans - Simon Fletcher outside Pinchinthorpe Hall .
New Tees restaurant aims to set the culinary standard
The owner of a popular
Teesside restaurant has proudly announced the opening of his new eaterie – with a lofty aim of creating a leading new venue for the region .
The Stables at Pinchinthorpe Hall opened its doors to great acclaim following the second national lockdown .
The restaurant , which offers a mix of fine dining and gastropub classics , is the culmination of part one of Simon Fletcher ’ s three-tiered plan to renovate Pinchinthorpe Hall and create not only a top-class restaurant but an events and wedding venue , together with a boutique hotel .
Simon , who also owns Middlesbrough ’ s Baker Street Kitchen , fell in love with Pinchinthorpe Hall , near Guisborough , during the first lockdown in March 2020 , seeing in it the potential for greatness .
“ There ’ s been a building on this site since the 12th century , but the hall as you see it today was started back in the 1600s and had various extensions added over the years until around the 1800s ,” Simon explains proudly .
Certainly , few could fail to be moved by Pinchinthorpe ’ s rugged beauty , watched over by the majestic Roseberry Topping .
“ When I found the hall on the internet ,
I knew immediately it was the project I ’ d been dreaming of ,” said Simon , who began his career as a chef and became manager of the Michelin-starred Old Vicarage in Sheffield .
“ I ’ d been looking for another business for about 18 months ,” he says . “ Baker Street Kitchen is doing really well and I knew the management could handle things without me and that the time was right to move onto the next challenge .”
Simon aims to turn Pinchinthorpe Hall into one of our region ’ s premier venues . Already he has completed phase one – the creation of The Stables – and the venue has even hosted its first wedding reception , for local couple Lydia and Hugo .
“ Despite restrictions , it was a total success ,” says Simon . “ The wedding breakfast took place in our newly renovated Drawing Room and all guests were seated in socially distanced family groups .
“ We were honoured that Lydia and Hugo chose our venue and we ’ ve had a wonderful letter of thanks from them . We hope it ’ s the first of many weddings here at Pinchinthorpe .”
With bookings streaming in , the team are looking forward to continued success , although Simon does admit to waking up in a cold sweat at times , given the size of his undertaking .
“ I ’ ve lost some sleep !” he laughs . “ But I ’ m confident The Stables will become one of the region ’ s favourite restaurants .
“ We have a great head chef in Shaun who has come over from Baker Street Kitchen and a great general manager in Joe , who I worked with at Cena and who was the manager at the Devonport .”
Once the restaurant starts to bring in a steady cash flow , it will be all systems go to finish the ground floor of the hall .
Two further rooms have recently been completed , with the help of Simon ’ s mum and dad . Then it ’ s the turn of the six bedrooms to be renovated and the hotel to get up and running .
“ We hope to be open by spring or summer 2021 , Covid permitting ,” says Simon .
“ What I ’ d love is for Pinchinthorpe Hall to be the place people come for all their needs – private dining , corporate events , christening parties , wakes .
“ We have the space and the vision and the determination to make this a venue to remember .”
For more information about the Hall or to reserve a table at The Stables restaurant visit pinchinthorpehall . com
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