Worrall Thompson to open two more grill-style eateries

Chef and restaurateur Antony Worrall Thompson is building on the success of his Notting Grill operation with the opening of two new restaurants.

The first, the 50-seater Kew Grill, will open on Kew Green, south-west London, at the end of this month on the site of now-closed restaurant Off the Square.

A second new opening will see Worrall Thompson take over the Angel Coaching Inn in Heytesbury, near Warminster, Wiltshire, where he will add a grill-style restaurant to the pub with rooms. It's expected to open mid-March.

Both operations will serve Worrall Thompson's trademark grill menu of simple meat dishes with good quality ingredients, including chickens and Middle White pigs from his own farm.

"People are fed up with poncy food," he said. "They just want comfort food that doesn't make them feel threatened by the chef."

He said he wouldn't be "spending millions" on the refurbishment, and said of the Angel: "I don't want to be perceived as the flash boy from London ruining everyone's country pub." He plans to recoup the modest outlay within eight months.

Both new ventures are in partnership with Tim Etchells, managing director of Single Market Events. Viz Anendon has been named as head chef for the Angel, while the head chef for Kew Grill hasn't yet been confirmed. Worrall Thompson said he and operations director David Wilby would be visiting both operations in the initial stages.

Source: Caterer & Hotelkeeper, 5 - 11 February 2004