Caterer Graysons buys Essex restaurant

Foodservice firm Graysons Restaurants has acquired an Essex restaurant, making it the second site in its Fulton's Restaurants portfolio.

The company has bought Grahams on the Green in Writtle, and has plans to create and individual casual dining venue, with an emphasis on fresh and locally sourced food.

The company said it would upgrade the kitchen, bar area and frontage of the restaurant over the next 12 months. It also plans to rename it Fulton's on the Green.

Grahams on the Green is the second acquisition for Grayson's high-street leisure service Fulton's restaurant, following its purchase of the 100-cover restaurant and hotel, the Starr at Great Dunmow, in 2012.

Commenting on the new acquisition, chef director of Fulton's Restaurants, Simon Silvester, said: "It is our intention to build on the excellent work carried out by the previous owner Graham Aldis, who has established a successful business in a picturesque location overlooking the village pond in Writtle.

"We are fortunate to have inherited a fantastic team both front and back of house whose expertise will help us to create a really fantastic place to eat, meet and socialise."

He will work with the restaurant's existing team to develop a new menu and inspire an ethos of seasonal eating using local produce.

Graysons Restaurants, which owns Fulton's, is headed up by Francis MacKay and runs a commercial and contract catering business, with a focus on business and industry and event catering.

In May last year the business sold its education catering arm to the Brookwood Partnership for an undisclosed sum.