Rick Stein has secured a high street position in Winchester and will be opening a restaurant in late autumn that will seat 70 for lunch and dinner.
The newly named ‘Rick Stein’ restaurant will offer classic dishes including turbot hollandaise, slip sole meunière and grilled lobster, as well as dishes inspired by Rick’s travels around the world.
Rick commented, “I love Winchester; it’s steeped in heritage, with beautiful architecture and seems to have a love of great food. Our new restaurant is about fresh fish, simply cooked. This is a big and exciting move for us, our first outside Cornwall, and we can’t wait to bring our passion for seafood to Winchester.”
Since Rick and Jill opened their first flagship seafood restaurant in 1975, their Padstow based business has grown to include five restaurants, accommodation, retail outlets and a cookery school, but it is still very much a family-run operation with Rick, Jill and all three sons involved in the business.
Renovation of the Winchester interiors will now begin with eldest son Edward working with Jill on the design. Jill comments “The interior design of our Winchester restaurant will be understated with an urban feel and a subtle nod to our coastal roots. We want to create a space where people can enjoy relaxed dining.”
Executive chef and middle son, Jack, is overseeing the menu development and kitchen, “With a great local supplier base already established in Cornwall, we will be looking to work with high quality food and drink producers from the Winchester area.” Youngest son Charlie works for The Vintner in London and will be supplying some of the wines for the restaurant.
Pictured top: The Seafood Restaurant, Padstow