Former Hotel Terravina chef Gavin Barnes to open fine dining restaurant in Lymington
Chef Gavin Barnes, who spent seven years working with Gerard and Nina Basset as head chef at Hotel Terravina and oversaw its transformation into Spot in the Woods, is opening a fine dining restaurant in Hampshire.
The High Street Kitchen will open at the former Pizza Express site at 68 High Street, Lymington. The unit covers approximately 2,660 sq ft over a basement and ground floor restaurant area, seating approximately 68 covers with a small rear courtyard terrace.
Barnes said: "It has long been my dream to open a restaurant and I am delighted to now have the opportunity to do so in my adopted hometown of Lymington.
"The High Street Kitchen is built around the vision of a relaxed fine dining experience which champions the incredible seasonal produce available locally supplemented by the finest ingredients from around the world. My dining style is based on simple food well-cooked so you can expect an honest and uncomplicated but perfectly crafted meal when you join us for a meal - which I hope will be soon!"
Barnes also made it to the final 10 of the BBC's MasterChef: The Professionals in 2015 and previously worked as executive head chef at Brooklands hotel in Weybridge, Surrey.
Chris Bickle, director in the licensed leisure team at Savills Southampton, which advised landlord the Whitelock Group on the letting, added: "Lymington is one of the most sought after market towns in Hampshire and is increasingly a target for regional and national retail and hospitality businesses. The campaign generated multiple expressions of interest and Gavin's enthusiasm and vision for this long established local restaurant unit won through."
