James Martin partners with The Lygon Arms to open two restaurants
The chef will open Grill restaurant at the 600-year-old coaching inn in February, followed by Tavern, which will open in March.
The partnership follows on from the success of The Kitchen Restaurant & Cookery School, which Martin launched at The Lygon Arms’ sister hotel, Chewton Glen, in Hampshire, in 2017.
Grill (pictured below) will be located in a large hall with a vaulted ceiling and will serve a regularly-changing menu that will feature launch dishes including Thai-spiced Cornish crab risotto; burnt aubergine, vegan ricotta, harissa, bulgur wheat and soft herbs; and Laverstoke ‘buffaloumi’ with confit roscoff onion, chilli jam and treviso.
As the name suggests, there will also be a grill menu featuring the likes of market fish of the day; and ribeye, sirloin, and fillet steak as well as Cotswolds lamb shank; and Middle White pork chop with mash, apple sauce, gravy and roasted hispi cabbage.
Tavern, meanwhile, will serve a menu of nibbles and grazing dishes such as a sausage roll with mustard, relish and pickles; Little Oak Middlewhite and scotch egg with piccalilli relish; hot pork pie; Cotswold ploughman’s; shepherd’s pie; and baked aubergine with tabbouleh.
“We are delighted to welcome James to The Lygon Arms following the enormous positive impact he has made to The Kitchen at Chewton Glen – a restaurant which our valued guests delight in daily,” says Andrew Stembridge, executive director at Iconic Luxury Hotels.
“Housed in an incredibly historic building with roots reaching back to the 13th century, The Lygon Arms is a piece of history and James’ additions will add another chapter to the storied hotel. Both our team and James have a shared outlook for what we see as the culinary future at The Lygon Arms; one which will incorporate fabulous, top-quality ingredients from the best suppliers.
“Ultimately James is exceptionally talented when it comes to creating fun and atmospheric dining experiences and I am sure his involvement with The Lygon Arms will take everything to the next level.”
As well as regularly visiting The Lygon Arms, Martin will host 'Dinners with James Martin', which will showcase his seasonal ‘greatest hits’. He also has plans to invite some of his fellow celebrity chefs to the hotel.
