St Monica Trust consults with Josh Eggleton for second Chocolate Quarter restaurant

The St Monica Trust has opened a second restaurant in Bristol, following consultation with Michelin-starred chef Josh Eggleton.

St Monica Trust head chef Gareth Cartledge and food development manager Adrian Kirikmaa (pictured with Eggleton) received advice from Eggleton about "menu design, presentation" and "how to deliver the dining experience".

The Chocolate Quarter, in Keynsham, has undergone a £60m redevelopment to transform the site of a former chocolate factory into a retirement village. St Monica Trust opened its first eatery, B Block pizzeria, late last year, with new restaurant, Somer, opening next to it last week. Both restaurants are open to residents and the public.

Somer's menu offers seasonal British dishes including starters of whitebait with garlic aïoli, homemade soups, main courses of homemade pies, fish and chips and a ploughman's lunch.

Kirikmaa said: "With Somer we wanted to create a very modern British dining experience, bringing the kinds of food you find at some of Bristol's best gastropubs to the Chocolate Quarter. We've had terrific success with B Block, which neighbours Somer, but obviously this is going to be an entirely different feel and experience."

The Chocolate Quarter offers apartments for people aged 55 and over. It also houses a gym, swimming pool, spa and cinema.

Somer is open to residents and the public from 12:00 - 15:00 Monday to Saturday and 12:00 - 16:00 for Sunday lunch.

As well as offering resident and visitor dining, Somer will also cater for private functions such as meetings, conferences, family celebrations and private dining in the Cocoa Room.

Meet the Eggleton family, owners of the Pony & Trap >>

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