Major works are underway to double the capacity of one of south Cheshire’s most popular dining destinations. Residence Restaurant and Bar is going full steam ahead with a £350,000 scheme to transform an outdoor courtyard at the back of the building into a new attraction in the heart of Nantwich. The 1,000-sq-ft single-storey structure, with partially glazed pitch roof, will offer a striking new cocktail bar and theatre kitchen with wood-fired sourdough pizza oven. Foundations have been laid and works are progressing well ahead of a September opening.
It will be business as usual throughout the scheme which includes a high-end refurbishment of the existing restaurant. A giant marquee, sited on the Residence car park, will offer pop-up dining, socialising and function facilities over the first three weekends in September while work progresses. Customers can enjoy cocktails, live music and tastings of the new autumn menu. Over Food Festival weekend, September 1-3, the marquee will host a busy programme of fun activities including the National Chilli-Making contest and free gin and cocktail-making masterclasses with guest bartenders from The Ginstitute on Portobello Road, London.
Overseeing the works is Residence owner Ben Rafferty who promises Nantwich a new cutting-edge attraction with the ‘wow’ factor. “We’re currently working to a capacity of 62 covers in the restaurant and increasing the size of the ground floor by utilising the outdoor area will allow us to double that and create new jobs,” says Ben. “There will be the same focus on quality food and customer service but in fantastic new surroundings which will become a talking point putting Nantwich on the map as a five-star culinary destination.”
Residence, a Georgian mansion once home to the Lord Mayor of London, has employed more than 350 people since opening as a restaurant in 2007 and has been the launch-pad for many careers in hospitality. The scale of the scheme, which includes £50,000 spent on soft furnishings alone and thousands more on mood lighting, will be unveiled at a VIP opening night marking Residence’s 10th anniversary. The new-look venue will be officially opened to the public on September 22. Meanwhile Residence remains open for bookings and walk-in trade.