Kitchenware giant sends for Doherty

Steven Doherty, chef-proprietor of the Punch Bowl Inn at Crosthwaite in Cumbria, has taken over the daytime restaurant at the new flagship store of kitchenware giant Lakeland.

Doherty, a former head chef at Le Gavroche in London, confirmed to Caterer that he has signed a five-year contract to run the 100-seat First Floor Café at the firm's new Windermere headquarters. Commenting on the deal, he said: "I always keep my options open. They didn't want to run it, and we could give them what they wanted."

Although neither Doherty nor Lakeland, which owns the site, would discuss the details of the contract, Lakeland marketing director Julian Rayner said: "Lakeland has an interest. If Steven does well, then we do well."

The kitchen brigade, headed by Punch Bowl-trained chef Alan Kay, is serving breakfasts, lunches and snacks - including sandwiches, bistro-style main courses and stuffed baguettes. The five-man team expect to serve as many as 500 covers per day.

Rayner said that the restaurant's aim was to make shoppers' visits "as relaxing and as enjoyable as possible". It will be open from 9am until 6pm seven days a week.

The dining concept includes supplying shoppers with pagers to let them know when their tables are ready. There is also an internet and newspaper lounge next to the café.