Marcus Wareing-trained chefs to open Pentonbridge Inn in Cumbria
Jake and Cassie White, formerly head chef and pastry chef at the two Michelin-starred Marcus at the Berkeley, respectively, are set to open the Pentonbridge Inn pub with rooms in Cumbria.
Pentonbridge Inn is the couple's first joint venture where they will both head up the kitchen. Located in the small Cumbrian hamlet of Penton, the pub will open officially in September, having been extensively refurbished from its previous incarnation, the Bridge Inn.
The inn will comprise a 45-cover main dining room, a separate pub area and conservatory. Guests visiting the dining room will have the option of a five- or seven-course tasting menu with canapés, priced at £50 and £70 respectively.
On Sundays, diners will be able to enjoy a four-course set menu, priced at £28 per person, with the option of pre-ordering a specific cut of meat. Dishes will be served personally by the chefs.
The majority of fruits, vegetables and herbs will come from the 1.5 acres of Victorian walled garden and greenhouses at nearby Netherby Hall, which the chefs have been cultivating alongside the head gardener. Local game will be used when in season, and meat will be sourced from Lake District Farmers and Millbank Venison, with fish coming from the Solway Firth and suppliers such as Keltic Seafare.
The dog-friendly bar will serve local ales and offer a more informal menu of classic pub dishes with a twist for lunch and dinner. An array of snacks and small plates designed to share will also be available throughout the day.
The interiors have been designed by BusbyWebb and will reflect the Cumbrian landscape using natural materials such as timber, slate and stone, while the original beams of the building will be retained.
The restaurant dining room will also feature a statement fireplace, open kitchen, and a mixture of banquette and regular seating, with a colour palette of greens, blues and yellows.
The nine bedrooms will be split between the main building and adjacent converted barn. The design includes velvet, tweed and wool and soft, natural colours, and the rooms will feature stand alone roll top baths, DAB radios, Egyptian cotton sheets, fresh coffee, fresh flowers and fluffy towels. Room amenities might include freshly baked biscuits or homemade preserves and syrups, which will also be available to purchase.
Further self-catering accommodation will be available at Netherby Hall four and a half miles away, which has been recently renovated by Gerald and Margo Smith, who own both the hall and inn, and plan to run a shuttle bus between the two. Charles Oak of the Quercus Partnership is heading up the re-brand and re-launch.
Jake White said: "We are beyond delighted to be opening Pentonbridge Inn. We've loved our time at the heart of London's culinary scene but this opportunity to create something truly special is an opportunity we've leapt at. For me this is a return to my native north of England and the chance to add something unique to an internationally renowned food destination. Pentonbridge Inn will be a real showcase of the passion we feel for the food of the area and something we're sure will be enjoyed by both locals and visitors alike."
Shauna and Mark Froydenlund appointed joint chef patrons of Marcus >>
Videos from The Caterer archives
