From Bar To Bistro In Derbyshire Village

Published On Saturday 26 Jan 2019 by Sticky Beak
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The owners of a village pub saved from redevelopment by a grassroots campaign are again ringing the changes and creating new jobs to boot.

The Angel in Spinkhill near Chesterfield was bought by Chris and Jean Norfolk in 2015 after community-minded residents fought off plans to turn the building into flats. Three years on and the couple have further invested in the business to cement its place at the heart of the rural community.

It opened its doors on Friday 25th January as Angel & Harlequin Bistro, a licensed kitchen open daily for breakfast through supper. The move has created new jobs in the kitchen, front of house and cleaning.

The venue in College Road has been closed to customers since Monday while refurbishment and staff training takes place. Work includes painting and decorating, new windows fitted to the front and bespoke ledges added above, installation of new signage, specially made furniture and a handcrafted wooden feature wall.

The relaunch has been marked by a limited edition pale ale called The Guardian, courtesy of Fuggle Bunny Brewhouse in nearby Holbrook. The ale will be available to guests from tomorrow, as well as freshly roasted coffee and cakes and treats made daily by the in-house pastry chef.

Award-winning chef proprietor Chris, also of The Elm Tree at Elmton, has developed bistro-style menus for breakfast, brunch, lunch and supper, staying true to his principles of using quality ingredients and seasonal, locally sourced produce.

A new stone baked pizza oven will be fired up daily from 12 midday and fresh pizza will also be available to takeaway. The new menus ensure that diners with special dietary requirements including gluten free will be well catered for.

The hard-working couple, who have two daughters, aged six and three, hope the community will once again show their support for the local landmark, parts of which date back to the 1850s.

Chris said: “Pubs, like any business, have to adapt to what customers want in order to stay relevant and be successful. We invested heavily in The Angel when we bought it and we are investing again now because we are committed to it. Historically, The Angel has been a community linchpin and our hope is that Angel & Harlequin Bistro will pick up that baton.”

Angel & Harlequin Bistro will be open daily from 9:00 am. The venue offers free customer parking and WiFi. Well-behaved dogs will be welcome in parts of the bistro and dog-friendly tables can be booked to avoid disappointment.