Danny Parker to launch new restaurant Fern at Jesmond Dene House

Jesmond Dene House in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne will reopen on 19 May with a new restaurant and dining concept launched by executive chef Danny Parker.

Described as an "upmarket neighbourhood dining room and bar", Fern will serve a contemporary and "non-fussy" menu created by the MasterChef: The Professionals finalist.

Parker said: "Fern will present a seasonally changing à la carte dinner menu, showcasing the team's relationship with suppliers and the incredible British larder, drawing on inspiration from memories, and of course, embracing the classics. Serving breakfasts, afternoon teas, Sunday lunches, cocktails and evening dinners, the intention is to offer a relaxed area to enjoy for both guests and locals alike."

Parker joined Jesmond Dene House as executive chef in 2018, after working at Kenny Atkinson's House of Tides as head chef, and has competed in MasterChef: The Professionals, Great British Menu and National Chef of the Year.

He plans to celebrate the launch with an exclusive dining experience for guests on 30 May, where he will serve the same menu he cooked when he returned to MasterChef for its festive competition in December 2020.

Parker added: "Since the show aired, I have been asked on many occasions if we will be serving the MasterChef dishes on our menu, and after having our doors closed for over a year, now feels like the perfect time to celebrate reopening with this exclusive one-off menu – and we have a brand-new restaurant to showcase it in."

Photo: Alexandria Dawn Photography