Inside thriving restaurant ’ s Star Wars-themed first floor
FEATURE
MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU
Fans – Star Wars fans Sean Wilkinson , left , and Alan Robinson in their Hangar 7 creation .
Inside thriving restaurant ’ s Star Wars-themed first floor
WORDS : DAVE ROBSON PICTURES : TOM BANKS
In a galaxy not that far away – Stockton , to be precise – something out of this world is happening when it comes to a quirky but topquality eating experience . The Warehouse Kitchen and Bar on Stockton ’ s Preston Farm industrial estate has already built up a loyal and growing following for its mix of first-class food and imaginative décor .
But go upstairs and you enter surely one of the most individual and eye-catching eateries anywhere in the UK , never mind Teesside .
And if you ’ re a Star Wars fan , you ’ ll be blown away .
Warehouse Kitchen owners and founders Alan Robinson and Sean Wilkinson are both Star Wars fans . Although to call Sean a ‘ fan ’ is something of an understatement .
He smiles : “ I ’ ve loved it for as long as I can remember . I love the villains – Darth Vader is my ultimate hero . I was born with a defect in my hips , so I was in a wheelchair for six years . I remember meeting Darth Vader in Scarborough when I was in my chair and I bawled my eyes out . I was terrified – but I loved it too . But he ’ s such a formidable figure , isn ’ t he – 7ft 4ins ?”
Sitting in the first-floor “ Hangar 7 ” at Warehouse Kitchen and Bar , the conversation
Glow – The ‘ armoury ’ is just one of many creative additions to the unit .
regularly returns to Star Wars – largely because you ’ re surrounded by it .
The whole Hangar 7 concept is based around the Cantina Bar in the first Star Wars film , where Hans Solo meets Luke Skywalker and Chewbacca .
Our conversation takes place to an audio background , played through a state-of-the-art sound system , of dialogue from the films and , of course , that unmistakable , John Williamspenned theme .
And as you sit at one of the tables – all illustrated with Star Wars motifs , of course – your eyes wander to the characters placed around the room – a Royal Guard , Chewbacca , Salacious B Crumb , a Tusken Raider , Deathwatch Mandalorian , Biker Scout , BD-1
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