The Nettlefold Restaurant to open at Burgh Island Hotel

The Burgh Island Hotel in Burgh Island near Devon has announced it will be opening The Nettlefold Restaurant, named after the hotel’s founder, theatre producer Archie Nettlefold.

The seafood restaurant will use locally sourced produce and will be available to non-residents and guests from 14 May 2019. The opening of the restaurant is the latest initiative in the island’s multi million pound refurbishment.

The Nettlefold will serve food infused with a range of British, French and Asian inspired flavours. The menu will reflect seasonal changes and will be varied to ensure that guests staying more than one night will have the opportunity to sample contrasting culinary themes, flavours and produce.

A celebration of Devon’s coast, The Nettlefold will serve food sourced within 30 miles of the Island, including lobsters and scallops caught in Beesands some 10 miles away, kept fresh in the island’s Mermaid Pool, as well seabass and sole caught from the day boats in Brixham 28 miles away.

Serving as an alternative to The Ballroom, the hotel’s main restaurant, The Nettlefold will be led by executive head chef Tim Hall, who has been at the hotel for more than 15 years. Hall started his career at a Michelin star restaurant in Brittany, and he brings that level of culinary skill and expertise to his role at the Burgh Island Hotel.

New dishes announced include; sole veronique, a classical French dish of pan fried sole (landed in Brixham), with Vermouth butter sauce and white grapes fresh oysters from the estuaries’ of Devon and Cornwall served with Granny Smith and wasabi, ginger, soy and spring onion or shallot vinaigrette smoked cod croquette, poached egg sourced locally from Cuckoo Farm, Modbury.

There will also be plateaus de fruits de mer, dressed Brixham crab, oysters, Falmouth mussels, razor clams, clams and prawns and for dessert, apple tart tatin- the classic French ‘apple pie’ made with British Bramley apples and served with Devonshire clotted cream.

The restaurant is a homage to theatre producer Archie Nettlefold, who built the Burgh Island Hotel in 1929 as a retreat for his friends and London’s social elite. Nettlefold’s ‘Great White Palace’ was designed in accordance with modernist architectural principles and art-deco features, reflecting his theatrical taste. Burgh Island Hotel was widely considered ‘the best hotel west of the Ritz and is considered one of the UK’s most iconic properties.

The first phase of the hotel’s multi-million-pound refurbishment has just been completed. Staying faithful to its art deco heritage while delivering new standards of modern contemporary luxury, the renovations have included upgrading of all the public areas, as well as the gardens. Addition of further bedrooms and a spa is planned for 2020. The team of craftsmen and tradesmen working on the project are all locals from the surrounding areas of South Devon, providing a major boost for the local economy.

Tim Hall, head chef of The Nettlefold Restaurant, said: “The Nettlefold restaurant will make a great addition to the hotel’s dining option for guests and it’s been an exciting experience designing the new menus focused on locally sourced seafood of extraordinary quality and bursting with flavour.

“It will be an authentic seafood restaurant offering a more relaxed atmosphere compared to the fine dining at The Ballroom and I’m confident the excellent food will match the beauty of the view.”

Giles Fuchs, co-owner, of Burgh Island, added: “I’m really pleased to be opening the new Nettlefold Restaurant, as it represents a further link to the hotel and the island’s history and heritage. It was thanks to Archie Nettlefold’s foresight and vision that the Burgh Island Hotel was built and it’s great to have his role remembered and reflected in the service and hospitality that we offer to our guests today.”