A York restaurant is proving so popular it is moving to bigger and more central premises.
Fish&Forest on Micklegate will be moving to Grape Lane in the city centre, increasing covers by 50 per cent.
Founded by chef Stephen Andrews as a pop-up, the restaurant is based around seasonal and sustainable food.
The Grape Lane move is scheduled for May 2024, with the existing restaurant running as normal until then.
Its exact location on the street is being kept under wraps for the moment as another business is still trading there.
Stephen said: “We’ve loved our time on Micklegate but we’re definitely ready to take on a bigger premises and broaden the Fish&Forest offering.
“But it’s really important that we can keep the heart of Fish&Forest alive. Our ethos is to create innovate dishes for our guests, in a friendly and approachable way.
“We want our guests to feel comfortable, to relax with a glass of wine, or even come up and watch as we prepare their meal. We really want you to enjoy the space as if you were dining at a friend’s house.”
‘Very lucky in Yorkshire’
Fish&Forest launched as a pop-up concept in 2018 then opened its doors at Spark York in 2020 before the move to Micklegate.
It’s been recognised in the Michelin Guide for its commitment to sustainable gastronomy, listed on Harden’s restaurant guide and received an AA Rosette.
Specialising in seasonal and sustainable seafood and game, the crab comes directly from the fishermen in Whitby, oysters from Lindisfarne and game from small local farms and estates.
The team forage for herbs and other ingredients from the countryside around York.
“I actually start forming my recipes by thinking about what seasonal veg I want to use, and then build from there with protein,” Stephen said.
“We’re very lucky in Yorkshire to have access to some incredible produce, so it’s very important to me that we utilise this and really celebrate this with our guests.”
Yorkshireman Stephen Andrews is a self-taught chef who has worked and trained in Australia and Canada. His background has included working at a bistro in Sydney which focussed on sustainability and zero-waste.
Fish&Forest is trading as normal on Micklegate. Find out more on the website.