A POPULAR restaurant has reopened with the former front of house manager at the helm.
Thomas Brown and his wife, Christine, relaunched The Bridgewater Arms, in Winston, last week after purchasing the lease earlier in the year.
The restaurant, formerly run by chef Paul Grundy, has been closed since the start of the pandemic.
Mr Brown, who was born and brought up in Piercebridge, is a familiar face at the restaurant and bar, having worked as front of house manager on and off since 2004 with stints at the Raby Hunt and Headlam Hall between.
Mr Brown said: “This is the fifth time I have returned to the Bridgewater. The first four were as an employee and now as owner.”
“I was offered the lease by Alan [Hardy] but I didn’t want to take over until I had a chef in place and when I found Matthew [Waters} it was full steam ahead.”
The couple, who are passionate about good food, good service and good wine, had planned on getting the restaurant open in July but had to delay after a fall landed Mr Brown in plaster for two months.
He added: “I fell three or four feet through an open manhole and broke my left leg and it set everything back.”
The delay has increased the couple’s enthusiasm to serve mouth-watering dishes using produce from the surrounding area.
He added: “We want to celebrate this area and have more emphasis on local produce. We’ll be keeping the menu seasonal so it will change throughout the year depending upon what is available. For example, this time of year we want to focus on game.”
The restaurant will offer lunchtime sitting from noon to 2pm, Wednesday to Saturday, with early bird dining from 5.30pm and evening bookings from 7pm. Sunday lunches are also making a return with a choice of roasts.
Mrs Brown said: “Covid provided us with the best opportunity at the worst time and we want to make sure this premises is known as a special occasion place where you can come and enjoy good food, atmosphere and service.”
