Food, Glorious Food

Perhaps it’s because OUs are known for their gregarious and hospitable nature that so many go in to the restaurant and hospitality trades. Whatever the reason, we are delighted to feature a range of eateries around the UK which are run by OUs. So, if you’re planning a day trip or staycation in the UK, why not visit one of these great venues for a drink, something to eat or even stay a night (or two).

Shamil Thakrar (LH 85)

www.dishoom.com

With restaurants in Birmingham, Edinburgh, Manchester, as well as London locations of Carnaby, Covent Garden, Kensington, King’s Cross, Shoreditch, and Canary Wharf opening soon, Shamil’s sophisticated venues, all with their own unique style, offer delicious food and drinks. Dishoom pays homage to the Irani cafés of Bombay, where people of any culture, class or religion could take cool refuge from the street with a cup of chai, a simple snack or a hearty meal.

Soak up the atmosphere in any of Dishoom’s restaurants and enjoy the food of all Bombay.

Dishoom King’s Cross

Photo credit: John Carey

Robert Gough (LH 79)

www.southwoldpier.co.uk

Owner of three award-winning restaurants, The Eaterie @ The Angel Hotel in Bury St Edmunds, The Eaterie @ The Salthouse Harbour Hotel and The Boardwalk Restaurant on Southwold Pier, Robert offers his guests perfect culinary experiences, inspired by local ingredients, in spectacular settings. Whether you’re catching up with friends for tea, treating your family to lunch, enjoying a special evening à deux, or simply in the locality on the spur of the moment – you’re assured of a wonderful meal.

The Boardwalk Restaurant, Southwold

Simon Thomas (WD 78)

www.hippodromecasino.com

Voted the Best Steak House in London and threetime winner of Best Casino Restaurant at the British Casino Awards, Heliot Steak House at the Hippodrome Casino has become a West End legend.

The Hippodrome has just celebrated its 10th anniversary and, while the core business is the three casino gaming floors, the restaurant serving Heliot’s prime USDA steaks has an equally important role to play in the experience offered to guests as the roulette wheels, the eight bars, the hit show Magic Mike Live and the new three-tier skyline terrace.

Charlie Anderson (LH 82)

www.laraza.co.uk

If you’re out and about in Cambridge – day or night – then Charlie has just the venues for you.

La Raza, a tapas restaurant and bar in the heart of Cambridge, serves seasonally varying tapas from ingredients shipped in from Spain. With tables set along the historic Rose Crescent, dine al fresco and soak up the Cambridge atmosphere. After 10pm the venue transforms into a lively cocktail bar with DJs or live bands performing on most Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

Sitting above La Raza, Pinch is a café and Spanish deli specialising in hot and cold pinchos with locally roasted coffee and a wide range of Spanish deli items including cheeses, cured meats and olives.

Also part of the La Raza umbrella, Ta Bouche opened its doors in 2005 and has gone on to become one of Cambridge’s most loved and well-known bars, specialising in cocktails. With a glass frontage that fully opens, Ta Bouche’s customers spill out onto Market Passage especially during summer nights.

Paul Milsom (Hf 77)

www. milsomhotels.com

The five Milsom venues, located throughout Essex and Suffolk, are synonymous with luxurious, relaxed and friendly hotels which provide the perfect base to discover the local areas.

The venues offer a unique dining experience, as well as exquisite hotel accommodation, presenting stunning food created through a skilful mixture of the classic and the exciting, and outstanding service – well worth a visit.

Milsoms, Kesgrave Hall

Rick Stein (WD 60)

www.rickstein.com

Probably the most well-known OU restaurateur, writer, television presenter and celebrity chef within OU hospitality circles, Rick Stein runs a number of renowned restaurants, shops and hotels in Padstow along with other restaurants in St Merryn, Newquay, Sandbanks, Marlborough, Winchester and Barnes.

Served within a wide variety of beautiful venues, Rick’s menus celebrate the finest local ingredients and locally caught fish and seafood, offering dishes inspired by his worldwide travels.

Rick Stein, Fistral, Newquay

Phil ‘Trev’ Baker (Fgh 77)

www.ronniesbar.com

Ronnie’s Bar, in Warwick, takes the glamour of Southwest London, the bohemia of Soho and the effortless shabby chic of Shoreditch and transports it all to the quintessentially British town of Warwick.

‘Trev’ has created a modern, lively bar, with a mixture of indoor and outside spaces, where guests can kick back and enjoy a cocktail and live music. It was a perfect venue for the OU Midlands’ Drinks held in February this year!

David Lamyman (WD 79)

www.thegintrapinn.co.uk

The Gin Trap, located only a stone’s throw from the scenic North Norfolk coast, is a 350-year-old coaching inn that excels as a fine dining destination within the informality of a pretty country pub, also providing an interesting mix of 16 ensuite bedrooms.

Whilst David owns the pub, the talented Gareth Rayner, pictured above, runs the kitchen. He comes from a 4 AA Rosettes background and presents recognisable dishes with flavours that combine perfectly. The pub aims to be one of the best in the country for dining, producing outstanding à la carte pub food, while the public bar also maintains its popularity with local farmers and fishermen in their wellington boots.

If you are running your own hospitality venue and would like us to share details with the OU community in a future edition of the magazine, we’d love to hear from you, email ou@uppingham.co.uk.

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