The team behind the forthcoming York Minster restaurant and café has now been revealed.
Known as the York Minster Refectory, the venue has just received planning approval – and now the cathedral is going full steam ahead.
Michelin starred chef Andrew Pern – whose acclaimed restaurant The Star Inn at Harome was devastated by fire last month – is one of those on board.
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He is joint director and partner in the new venture, alongside Gem Construction’s chairman Mike Green.
And award-winning chef Bex Toppin and partner Will Pearce of Robinsons Cafe, York, have been brought on board to run the refectory.
Andrew, of The Star Group of Restaurants, said: “This is an ambitious, high quality but accessible restaurant launch in an historically sensitive refurbishment of The Minster School, York, that will benefit the people and the city of York with new jobs and a fabulous restaurant while embracing the vision of the Chapter of York, the governing body for York Minster.”
Dean of York, the Right Revd Dr Jonathan Frost, was delighted to get the go-ahead for the restaurant from planners.
“We are confident that the new Refectory Restaurant will operate very much in the caring spiritual, historical tradition of York Minster as a place of sanctuary and alms for feeding and watering pilgrims and the needy,” he said.
“The venture remains ‘subject to contract’ and we continue to work closely with Gem and The Star Group to finalise the detail.”
Accessible spot
Founded in 1997, GEM Construction employs 35 full-time staff, alongside Gem’s sister company, Lanstone Conservation, which specialises in the maintenance, restoration and conservation of ecclesiastical and historic buildings.
“At Robinsons, Bex and Will have really made a name for themselves since they opened the cafe in 2016 and will bring good quality but very affordable dining in an accessible-to-all refectory-style restaurant cafe,” said Gem chairman Mike Green.
Looking after the interior design side of the project is Rachel McLane Ltd, an award-winning business based in Pickering.
Rachel said: “We want the Refectory’s design to be an honest, community space, unpretentious, public focused and accessible, making it look like it belongs and won’t take away from the essence of the building, by doing justice to its historical importance.
“The design concepts that we have come up with really respect and enhance the old school – the main floor Refectory restaurant space will be the space in which school pupils and staff ate their meals and hosted school concerts.”
Mike Green added: “Although Andrew and I have been working very closely together on this project as we have on our other Star restaurants, people can expect the Minster Refectory restaurant to be a distinctly different concept to the Star.”
Rachel, Bex, Will, Andrew and Mike say they are “all from the area, or live, work and have close connections not just to York, but to York Minster and the former school itself.
“So, it goes without saying, that we want to see that the building’s history is respected and that any project is done well and to the highest standard.”