Chef patron Adebola Adeshina has today announced the opening of The Yard, an alfresco dining restaurant at the acclaimed, Michelin-recognised Chubby Castor in Cambridgeshire this month.
Situated in the village of Castor, the 50-seater venue, located behind the Grade II listed, thatched Chubby Castor, will offer a more relaxed alternative to the fine dining restaurant menu.
It will also focus on sustainability, using seasonal produce and vegetables grown in raised beds beside the outdoor restaurant’s terrace - from edible flowers to runner beans - by a team of local gardeners.
Ade, who has worked alongside Gordon Ramsay, Marcus Wareing, Philip Howard and Eric Chavot, explained, “My love of nature and being outdoors has grown since opening The Chubby Castor four years ago. I first started growing a small amount of produce myself, in the garden behind the restaurant shortly after opening, which increased my passion for growing my own ingredients, which is every chef’s dream.
“At The Yard, 70% of our vegetables and herbs will be homegrown and we use local suppliers where possible, which means that produce we use is seasonal and has low mileage.”
He added: “Sustainability is at the heart of our approach to modern British cooking. We care about the provenance, sourcing and ethics of the ingredients we use and we believe that food that has been raised correctly, grown responsibly and sourced locally, wherever possible, heightens the enjoyment of our guests and the planet as a whole.”
It’s always been Ade’s plan to open an outdoor dining space, which will have undercover areas and patio heaters, and he and his team often receive feedback from diners who say there is nowhere locally to go for a burger or steak.
On the menu at The Yard, the logo for which was inspired by Ade’s two dogs, Sage and Basil, you can expect gourmet burgers, spatchcock chicken, fresh lobster, fish and oysters, steaks, plus vegan and vegetarian options.