With a £400,000 refurbishment currently in progress this vast public house is undergoing a serious transformation in its offerings, culture, style and décor, in time to open its doors to the public once again from 5pm on Friday 6th March.
Appealing to locals and visitors alike, the newly named, The Wollaton, will be open from mid morning to serve hearty breakfasts, through to lunch, afternoon teas, ideal for those making the most of the nearby Wollaton Park, to post work tapas and finally, evening meals. And if there previous venues are anything to go by, Sunday
lunch will be an absolute must at The Wollaton.
Executive Chef and co-owner, John Molnar, will be hands-on as the pub gets underway and instilling his belief that local is best. “We’ve found that serving local ingredients, from beef to lamb, locally grown vegetables and so on, is a real hit with the customers and it means we can guarantee freshness, quality and seasonality with the dishes we put on the menu.” He adds, “it also enables us to do our bit for
producers in the area.”
And it doesn’t stop there… John’s intention is to convert some of the outdoor space into a mini small holding with pigs and chickens, not only adding an attraction for families visiting, but ensuring that the produce they use in the kitchen, is fresh as
fresh as it gets!
Poly tunnels and a smoke house will also help them evolve the menu and will play a fundamental part in supplying salad ingredients, herbs and, with the chickens, fresh eggs and much, much more.
So what can you expect from the various menus? Breakfast, served from 10am daily, offers tasty treats such as Eggs Benedict to a hearty full English; lunch and dinner are a mouth-watering haven for those who enjoy local lamb, beef and pork and succulent seafood and fish; there’s no shortage of options and all equally moorish; and with full hams, ripe cheeses and piquant peppers on display to tempt the diner the only quandary will be whether to eat in or out or to opt for the tapas plate or a full evening meal.
And you’ll be pleased to hear that the group’s award winning chips and gravy served in an enamel bucket will also be on the menu. Recently awarded ‘The coronary & cholesterol award for best chips’ by Terry Durack of The Independent on Sunday, himself an award winning critic, these, you might guess, are an extremely popular item on the menu! In keeping with their other venues, The Wollaton, will also be selling a range of real ales and an excellent selection of wines, including English wines, to suit every pocket and every palette.
John’s not the only member of staff who will be working across the sites, General Manager, Andy Hunt, is moving over from the Larwood and Voce to ensure the smooth running of the new venue. Andy has an extensive hospitality and catering background, from the fine dining Merchants restaurant in the Lace Market to the Queens Head in Belton, a gastro pub in the Leicestershire countryside. Andy moved over to the Larwood and Voce in April 2008. Andy’s joined by Jez Wain who leaves one of Nottingham’s much loved, award
winning delis, Delilah. With his vast knowledge of local produce and his skill and experience in running a deli, Jez will be running the deli and tapas service for The Wollaton.
So for those that frequented the Willoughby at some time during its previous existence, be prepared for a very pleasant surprise. The décor is now an eclectic
mix of textures, fabrics and colours and having opened up the space within, the flow of the pub now works with the customers rather than against them!
Dining is no longer restricted to the restaurant area, but to be enjoyed anywhere you wish. A large open kitchen offers diners a sense of theatre and a chance to keep a beady eye on your order. An area to the rear of the previous restaurant area can be screened off to private a private dining/meeting area for up to 20 people – ideal if you want your own area to enjoy dinner or lunch with close friends but that allows you still be part of the action or if you’re looking for a casual meeting place for colleagues with hot and cold running food and drink and, importantly, privacy.
So, from deli to tapas, from traditional pub lunch or dinner to al fresco dining in the
huge outdoor space, The Wollaton has it all.
