A gourmet restaurant and bar opened by a packaging entrepreneur is celebrating its first six months in business with a recruitment drive.
Billy Hutchinson, who runs large box packaging specialist Lesters, in Burntwood, invested £1 million into the opening of The Lesters Arms, in Brewood, which launched earlier this year.
Thirty jobs were created at the venue within the first three months and, to cope with growing demand, new members of staff are now being sought to help with front of house and bar/waiting work.
“The first six months has been a challenging, yet extremely rewarding experience,” explained Deputy General Manager Mia Williams.
“We’ve been able to create quality experiences for diners, whether they’re celebrating a special occasion or simply enjoying a weeknight meal.
“Importantly, we’ve also crafted an ambitious team, who really believe in The Lesters Arms and what we can achieve and there’s an opportunity for likeminded people to join us with our latest recruitment drive.”
The venue, transformed from the derelict New Inns pub, has also just launched its summer menu described by Head Chef Phil Jones as ‘a celebration of local seasonal produce, perfectly designed to complement alfresco dining and celebratory meals’.
Highlights include chargrilled Tiger prawns and roasted scallops, shellfish bisque, chervil cream starters and a signature rosemary roasted rack of lamb with creamed peas, minted new potato cake and rosemary redcurrant jus.
Mia added: “To mark our first six months of trading our very talented Head Chef has created a special summer menu for diners to enjoy – it really needs to be tasted to be believed, with fillet of stone bass, dressed Cornish Crab and pea and mint tortellini.”
The Lesters Arms has placed a lot of emphasis on building strong partnerships with local suppliers, already signing up The Egg Sisters and Wells Farm Dairy, both based near Stafford.
A local Baker of the Month is also selected, the latest one being Brewood’s Yvette’s Cakes.
Mia said: “There are so many fantastic pubs and venues closing and we wanted to reverse that trend. It is a difficult sector to operate in, but we have the team, the location and the blossoming reputation to be one of the West Midlands real destination bars and restaurants.”
- Read the Daily Focus story about the launch of The Lesters Arms and some of its high-profile appointments here.
