[ September 2, 2004 ]
This is Hull: From Chart Beats to Posh Brit Eats
This is Hull
From Chart Beats to Posh Brit Eats
a.houghton@hdmp.co.uk
02 September 2004
Courtesy of Gina Dipper
09:30 - They've been cooking up the idea for a year and a half.
Now top chef Simon Rogers and Beautiful South drummer Dave Stead have joined forces to open a distinctively English restaurant.
They want the Boars Nest in Princes Avenue, west Hull, to provide the finest quality British meals, using local suppliers where possible.
Mr Stead, who describes himself as Mr Rogers' "silent partner", said: "It started when we thought, 'Where can you get English food in Hull?' There's nowhere except pubs.
"But everybody likes English food.
"If they were on death row and were asked what they wanted for their last meal, they would say shepherd's pie or roast beef and Yorkshire pudding - good English dishes.
"But people don't have to want it that badly - they can visit our restaurant."
The 32-seat restaurant, which also has an upstairs bar, opens on Saturday.
A former butcher's shop, Mr Rogers and Mr Stead have restored the building's original features, including early 20th century tiles, a meat rack and an art nouveau fireplace.
Mr Stead has scoured local markets to find original furniture for the Boars Nest, to help create what Mr Rogers calls "shabby chic".
The "relaxed and friendly" restaurant is named after the bar favoured by Boss Hogg in the 1970s television series The Dukes Of Hazzard.
Mr Rogers said: "We've known each other for four or five years now and opening this restaurant seemed like a logical progression.
"David has always wanted to invest in it. He likes his food and eating."
Mr Rogers is one of the region's leading chefs and has cooked at the Savoy and The Four Seasons in London.
Mr Rogers said: "I've been round the houses and decided this kind of food is as good as it gets.
"This is a learning curve for us. I am very experienced in the restaurant trade, but I've never owned my own restaurant. We have had to go through planning, obtain licences and renovate the building."
Simon's friend Lee Glen, who was lead chef at the Soho House private members' club in New York, will be helping the restaurant in its opening weeks.
Mr Stead is not the first musician to try his hand at the restaurant trade.
American shock-rocker Alice Cooper owns the all-American Alice Cooper'stown in Cleveland, Ohio.
And rap mogul P.Diddy runs Justin's restaurant in Atlanta, Georgia.
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