Signature Living's Exchange hotel launches restaurant
Signature Living's Exchange hotel in Cardiff launches its restaurant tomorrow named after Welsh philanthropist and entrepreneur Richard Palethorpe Culley.
Following a £42m investment into the Welsh capital's former Coal Exchange building, which saw the first phase of the hotel open last year, the restaurant RP Culley & Co has been dedicated to Culley, who held the catering contract for the Exchange restaurant during the late 19th century.
Head chef Keith Clash's menu features locally sourced Welsh produce and ingredients, with starters such as baked Perl Wen with sourdough and plum and boss ale chutney; and Cardiff Gin and passionfruit-cured salmon, pickled cucumber, crab and pea shoot salad. Clash previously worked as an executive sous chef for Hilton.
Mains will include Abergavenny lamb rack with pommes anna potato, baby veg, lamb and port jus; and baked cod fillet with shellfish broth and baby vegetables. Desserts feature Culleys bara brith bread and butter pudding with rum-soaked raisins and custard; and warm pear and almond tart with ginger clotted cream and pear crisps.
The restaurant is also described as being themed around "the haves and the have nots", illustrating the extremes between the poverty of the Welsh coal miners and the fact that the building was where the price of the world's coal was set and the first £1m cheque was signed.
The restaurant also has a 40-cover private dining room called Carruthers @ Culleys for private dining, weddings, afternoon tea and special occasions.
Signature Living chairman Lawrence Kenwright said: "The Exchange hotel has been a labour of love for us and has required a huge amount of investment so it's absolutely thrilling to see our new restaurant RP Culley & Co come to life at the Exchange."
Cardiff Exchange hotel to open in April >>
Cardiff Coal Exchange to undergo £40m hotel conversion >>