Here’s a reason for foodies to look forward to the New Year – a fine dining restaurant is coming to one of York’s leading hotels.
Aldwark Manor Estate, at Alne, has revealed plans for Chartwell, a £3 million fine dining restaurant opening in spring 2024.
It will offer tasting menus with locally sourced, seasonal ingredients, classically cooked.
The hotel team describe it as “British cuisine with a modern Savoy twist, influenced by French chef, restaurateur and writer August Escoffier”.
They are promising a “breathtakingly glamorous” design for the main restaurant.
Meanwhile, there’ll be a mezzanine floor offering a private dining room, a speakeasy, and bespoke wine tasting room.
Overseeing it all will be new executive chef Chris O’Callaghan. He has worked in some of the most highly-regarded kitchens in the country, including Heston Blumenthal’s legendary restaurant The Fat Duck in Bray, Berkshire.
The investment in Chartwell brings the spending by the hotel’s owners to £18 million – “with more investment in the spa, conference facilities and additional bedrooms yet to come”.
Christophe Gitton, Aldwark Manor estate director, described the new restaurant as “an incredibly exciting chapter.
“We can’t wait to introduce this exceptional dining experience to our guests which will capture 1940s glamour whilst bringing the individuality and ‘never ordinary’ stamp that you’d expect from our wonderful estate.
“We’re also delighted to welcome Chris O’Callaghan as our new executive head chef and there’s no doubt that Chartwell will put Aldwark Manor Estate on the foodie map.”
Chris O’Callaghan said: “I’ve come on board at a time when the hotel has many ambitious and inspirational plans and I look forward to helping create a unique fine dining offering for people in Yorkshire, that those further afield will want to make a special trip to visit.”
Find out more about Aldwark Manor Estate on its website.