Former Gordon Ramsay chef to open Yorkshire restaurant

JAMES ALLCOCK, a former chef at Gordon Ramsay’s Petrus, is to launch a restaurant in Yorkshire in March.

The Pig and Whistle in Beverley will be a 25-cover restaurant serving small plates, cured meats and cheeses, The Caterer reported.

The small plates concept will encourage diners to share 4-8 individual dishes, including: smoked Dexter beef tartare with 62° hen’s egg yolk; prosciutto di Parma ham with walnuts and honey; Staal’s cold-smoked salmon with radish, buttermilk and dill; baked St. Marcellin cheese with Riesling, thyme, fig ‘press’ and sourdough toast.

Mr Allcock and his business partner have invested money in the restaurant and are currently in the process of securing funding through a start-up loan. They have also had leasing support with the kitchen equipment. Overall, the total investment is £60,000.

Mr Allcock started his career a commis chef at the Francois Restaurant in Willerby and moved to Petrus in 2004 at the age of 18.

In 2005, he took on the role of chef de partie at the Michelin-starred Pipe and Glass. He then went on to work at The Westwood Restaurant Bar & Grill in Beverly, before accepting his first head chef role at the Hull Truck Theatre.

He opened restaurant 1884 Dock Street Kitchen in Hull, in October 2011, where he worked as head chef for almost two years before taking the next step to chef patron.

More recently, Mr Allcock worked with chef Gary Usher to launch Burnt Truffle in Heswall. Speaking of Usher,

He told The Caterer: “I see us as having two options for the future; we either roll this out, or do another small niche concept within the area. I think there is a gap in the market locally and nationally for restaurants that offer small, specialised plates to share, be that a fish or steak.

“Since being part of the team opening restaurant 1884, I have wanted to open my own spot, and I’ve always wanted to run a group. But for now I’m firmly focused on the Pig and Whistle.”

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