Gary Rhodes plans two Dorset restaurants with Harbour Hotels

Celebrity chef Gary Rhodes has signed an agreement with hotel group Harbour Hotels to launch two restaurants in Dorset.

The Michelin-starred chef is to open two restaurants, Rhodes South and King's Rhodes, in Christchurch within the next few months.

The eateries will form part of a £7m restoration programme of Harbour Hotels' Avonmouth and King's Arms properties.

The 80-seat Rhodes South, will be located in the grounds of the old Avonmouth hotel, which will be renamed as the Christchurch Harbour hotel, in a harbour-side location.

It will serve a menu focused on local seafood and will be housed in a custom built, carbon neutral building.

King's Rhodes will be a 100-seat bar and brasserie, comprising a contemporary casual dining outlet at Christchurch's King's Arms.

Harbour Hotels general manager Adam Terpening said that bringing Rhodes to Christchurch will help to put the town on the culinary map.

"Working with such a renowned chef is a very exciting step forward for our business," he said. "The combination of Gary Rhodes, a unique building and the water's edge setting will make Rhodes South a top destination in the area."

Rhodes added: "Rhodes South's harbour-side location along with the fresh seafood and local produce available in Christchurch as well as the vision of creating an environmentally friendly restaurant made this project a must for me."

Gary Rhodes gained a Michelin star this year for his restaurant Rhodes W1 at London's Cumberland hotel. He now holds two stars including one at Rhodes Twenty Four.

Gary Rhodes opens new restaurant aboard P&O's Oriana >>

Exclusive: Gary Rhodes and Anthony Demetre on winning another Michelin star >>

Gary Rhodes recipes >>
Gary Rhodes website >>

By Kerstin Kühn

E-mail your comments to Kerstin Kuhn here.